Pepe's Plants

Jason “Pepe” owner of locally based Pepe’s Plants is a man on a mission. He wants more people to start planting and harvesting sub tropical fruit and growing herbs and vegetables.

"Pepe" wants people to know that growing fruit trees is not very difficult so long as you understand some basics. He is eager and pleased to share his knowledge with anyone who visits his booth.



His experience is extensive. In the late 1990's he and his family managed 7.5 acres of land with a wide assortment of tropical fruit trees and exotic palms. His grove and nursery was located in Southwest Ranches near Griffin Road and 178 ave.



Today his family owns a 2.5 acre nursery in Jupiter Florida and he also operates a small backyard nursery from his home in Davie.



"Pepe" joined our Yellow Green Farmers Market Family in October of 2010. He often brings exotic fruits like Atemoya, Ilama, Pitaya, Rollinia and new varieties of fruit hybrids to share with customers. The Ilama is a fantastic fruit with complex flavors. Illama is a rich sweet fruit and a real special treat.



Pepe's booth also draws traffic for “miracle fruit,” a berry that temporarily alters taste perception from sour to sweet. Beyond the novelty, he says, some people believe it may benefit diabetics and chemo-therapy patients.



"Pepe" hopes that farmers’ markets can one day come full circle - customers buy and grow fruit trees and the following season sell their local harvest at Farmers Markets near them.



"Everyone should look at backyards & vacant lots, no matter how big or small, as micro farms for fresh fruits and vegetables. By thinking this way and taking action, we’ll increase the local food supply available to our community,” he says.



"Pepe" Recommends several methods of growing herbs and vegetables. One great product he offers is the Earth Box. According to Pepe the Season for vegetable growing is almost here so stop by soon and say hello to him.



To visit Pepe's Plants stop by booth #163 on the South side of the Market. You can also visit his very informative and educational web site at http://www.pepesplants.com

Best South Florida Farmers Markets « CBS Miami

Best South Florida Farmers Markets « CBS Miami

Your food, your future?

Your food, your future?

"The times they are a changing" Truer words could not have been spoken in the song by Bob Dylan in 1964. Today it's a different world. It's an ever growing competitive and demanding world at that.

Our current means of obtaining food and feeding our families could someday be in jeopardy. We need to see and prepare for the potential new realty. Most Americans eat from a box or a can. We nuke our foods and call it a home cooked meal. We eat on the run and at fast food outlets too often.

Today more than ever food manufactures are making packages smaller and prices higher. They say that food costs are skyrocketing and that things are only going to get worse. Higher prices are the result of higher fuel costs, transportation costs, manufacturing cost etc. Since profit is the driving force and demand continues to climb, the picture is getting uglier.

Do you agree that, we are less healthy as a society because we eat out of a box on a shelf? Do you feel that you pay more, work harder and it seems food prices are climbing?

Well maybe you shop at the organic market. Well, I am not convinced that "Organic “always means it's really pesticide free. For me it's organic if I grew it and I know what I sprayed on it, fertilized it with etc. Today many hard working farmers produce excellent organic produce. I am sure you know it's not cheap.

What if you could grow your own food and it was cost effective for you.

Here's an example: Three months ago I planted heirloom eggplant seedlings. Cost $2.49 cents for 12 seeds. Today I have harvested over 15 eggplants from just two full grown plants about three feet in height and four foot wide. I am doing it 100% organically in Florida soils. My friends can't believe how big and tasty they are. The same is true of tomatoes and other vegetables like beans.

We all may not be able to grow our food for several reasons. Our busy schedule, we live in apartments, we have no clue how to grow or maybe we just hate the idea of exercise, perspiration and dirty finger nails.

If you are one that prefers to let others grow your food, then here is a suggestion.

Join a CSA group (Community Supported Agriculture). A CSA teams up and buys in bulk from local farmers and the members take shares of food.

Or you could actually grow as much as you like yourself. My family grows some of our food in our backyard. We have set aside an area that is 30 feet x 4 feet and in this area grow tomatoes, corn, pumpkin, herbs and much more. You can do the same. Enjoy eggplant, Broccoli, strawberries and more. You can grow organically and never have to spray a synthetic pesticide. The difference in quality, taste and yield is magnificent. No need to break your back or get heavy equipment. You need no fossil fuels either. The secret is permaculture and its principles.

While you think about the vegetable garden, don't forget all the amazing nutritionally rich fruits you can grow as well.

Do a search for Permaculture on the Internet and study the basics of what it is all about. You, your friends and family do have control. Why not take control and begin to grow your own food?

Do it because it is healthier for you in so many ways. Do it to get some exercise, spend quality time with family, save money and learn that you can be self sufficient.

The world is a complicated place; you can choose to make it simple. Just get going and do it! 




SALE: Grow your own food easily without breaking your back: Follow this link: http://www.pepesplants.com/vegetable-gardening.html

Guillaume Nery base jumping at Dean's Blue Hole, filmed on breath hold b...

The Amazing Miracle Fruit

We all want to be green! Right?

Really? What are we doing about it? The only way we will have organic pesticide free foods and save the planet is if we begin to grow our own food. Why not start right on our own 1/4 acre lots. When we begin to utilize sustainable practices we will reap huge rewards. Today very few farmers are offering organic produce. Most of what is grown is imported and usually not organic. Importing food is detrimental to our economy, national security and well being.

The world we live in is changing fast and if we have not gotten our wake up call yet then consider the phone ringing right now. "Ring"...... Hey it's me Pepe wake up! 

Let's go folks start looking at land differently, realize that times they are a changing. The sooner we begin growing our own food the faster we will learn what works and the better our results will be. Our families will be eating food that is fresher and without pesticides. We can grow fruits and vegetables not found in grocery stores. Heirloom tomatoes like the Zapotec variety are more heat tolerant and less susceptible to insects, fungus etc. Do we see the picture yet? 

The important thing we all should understand is this!  The air, water and soil are critical components to our food supply and are directly related to our survival.  So now let me tell you about permaculture and keep in mind that it is more than just organic growing. 

Please note that I am no expert on permaculture. I do know and have practiced many of these concepts for years. My Grandfather and uncles learned these techniques as farmers and ranchers in Cuba, many years ago. Many of my family have passed on over the years but what they taught me lives on today in me and in my son. My hope is that more and more people practice and enjoy growing fruits, vegetables and raise livestock. The experience of growing your own food is rewarding and can bring people together in so many wonderful ways. I urge you to get involved. 

This year my goal is to promote and begin to incorporate more and more the principals of permaculture. Permaculture is being practiced at home in the nursery and in our grove operations. I hope you take a closer look at permaculture and how it can make our world a better place. We may have no choice!          

let's start tearing up the concrete and turn the city into a green sustainable place we can all nurture and enjoy.           

Here are the permaculture guiding principles as I understand them.  They are listed in order of most importance:

Earth Care
People Care
Fair Share

With this in mind I leave you to decide if this is for you or not. 

Peace,

Pepe's Plants