Underground gardening

We all know that plants grow in soil.... but did you know some flourish underground?

In California, and sometimes called Fresno's best-kept secret, a hand-built network of underground rooms, courtyards and passageways are reminiscent of the ancient catacombs.

Visitors to this state landmark will find unique fruit-producing trees, shrubs, and vines growing underground - some of them over 90 years old!

Reflecting the founder's heritage the architecture resembles that of ancient Rome with arches, vaults and stone-built walls. This was the underground home of Sicilian visionary and self-taught artist and builder Baldassare Forestiere.

With his extensive knowledge of gardening and by making use of underground micro-climates - with temperature variations of 10 to 30 degrees - he was able to successfully nurture and grow a wide variety of plants.

In the early 1900s, this Sicilian immigrant, citrus grower and visionary Baldassare Forestiere began turning what was useless farmland into a vast network of rooms, tunnels and courtyards as a subterranean escape from the sweltering Central Valley summer heat.

Using only shovels, picks and other hand tools, Baldassare was inspired to excavate for forty years, going as deep as 25 feet underground and spanning over 10 acres. He grew fruit trees and grapevines underground - many of which are still thriving today!

Today, guests from around the world tour through his grottoes, passageways and underground homes. Although he never officially opened the Mediterranean resort of his dreams, we think Baldassare would be thrilled by all of the guests marveling at his life's work today and finding inspiration underground.

As he once said: “To make something with a lot of money, that is easy; but to make something out of nothing - now that is something.”

Read more...

Add comment

Www.Foodandtravel.Com.Au - Australia

Best Food Travel Website 2021

foodandtravel.com.au has been awarded

Best Antipodean Culinary Travel Expert, 2019

by the prestigious UK-based magazine...

Ready for a taste treat?

Embark on an unforgettable culinary adventure through the vibrant tapestry of Malaysia.

Led by the charismatic Malaysian ex-pat Chef Wanitha Tanasingam, this intimate journey promises to tantalize your taste buds and ignite your senses, sending you home with memories to last a lifetime.

Find out more....

The flipside of travel...

How not all of it is joyous.