It’s hot and sultry here in the Northeast, but still, a great time to get together with colleagues for a fun summer outing.
I just hosted a company party at Cantitoe Corners, my farm in Bedford, New York. About 80-employees from our new partner, Marquee Brands, attended the event. I opened my gardens and set up games to play on my expansive party lawn. We enjoyed an array of delicious foods, cocktails, and other summertime refreshments. And, everyone participated in a giant scavenger hunt to learn about the farm, my pets, and the many gardens, groves, and allees I designed over the years.
Enjoy these photos. Tomorrow, I’ll share images of our delicious feast - stay tuned.
I greeted everyone down in the stable and introduced them to my team at the farm. (Photo by Paytn Leigh)
It was expected to be a very warm and humid day with temperatures in the 90s, but everyone was enthusiastic and excited to partake in all that we planned.
All the guests enjoyed meeting my horses and donkeys. My handsome Friesian Rinze and all the other stable residents loved the attention. (Photo by Paytn Leigh)
Here are Billie and Clive, two of my five donkeys, eating and watching the activity from their stall. (Photo by Paytn Leigh)
Many guests were visiting my farm for the first time – there were lots of photos taken. (Photo by Paytn Leigh)
Here are Diane Bekhor and Marquee Brands Chief Operating Officer Cory Baker before the first activity of the day – the Cantitoe Corners Scavenger Hunt. (Photo by Paytn Leigh)
After I called out the names for our scavenger hunt teams, each team leader received a bag containing a list of 25 questions, a map of the property, and several “specimen” bags for found “treasures”. This group includes Isabella Monaco, Rachel Stewart, Marquee Brands President Michael DeVirgilio, Robert Romero, and Ann Akiri.
Here’s another group ready to start the hunt – Neuberger Berman Managing Director Sam Porat, Colin Hagen, Mario Silva, Jessica Hopen and Steven Antosy.
There were 11 groups in all – each with up to seven team members. Here are Jonathan Leibowitz, Philip Nguyn, Marquee Brands Chief Financial Officer Warren Cleman, Jenny Levtchenko, Andrew Burke and Kavita Thirupuvanam.
This team includes Katie Reeves, Mike Winner, Diane, James McVay, and Benjamin Broerman.
And here are Sloane Denzinger, Neuberger Berman VP Jackie Reshef, Talia Spiegel, Eric Gottschalk, Marquee Brands Home Division President Carolyn D’Angelo, and Jerry Haggerty.
Another group includes Hosanna Houser, Max Isaacs, Managing Director for Neuberger Berman Zachary Sigel, and Talbot Logan.
Here’s a fun photo of Erin Maguire, Emily Foster, Pam Levine, and Alex Roberts. (Photo by Paytn Leigh)
On this team – Mia Rothstein, Neuberger Berman VP Kevin Chiu, Claire Basile, Danielle Vitt, and Reetika Gupta.
Amanda Favorite, Susanne Ruppert, and Greta Anthony look over the map to plan their strategy. (Photo by Paytn Leigh)
I sent teams in different directions to start their hunt – this team walked between the paddocks up towards my Winter House. Among the list of well thought out questions – “I am red, yellow, orange, and green, but people enjoy me most as a golden amber nectar, what am I?” I have many of these at the farm – do you know the answer? (Photo by Paytn Leigh)
Thomas Joseph, Cathryn DelaRosa, Paul Delmiche, Sabrina Blaustein and Lindsey Groginsky started their journey down by the pigeon and peacock coops to find a “pair of eyes” and two “black fans?”
These hunters are on the other side of the farm under the Pin Oak Allee – not far from my Pinetum where groups were asked to “pick yellow, blue and green needles.”
These hunters strolled through my flower cutting garden to find the appropriate specimen used for the game “he loves me, he loves me not.” (Photo by Paytn Leigh)
Everyone had two hours to answer all the questions – the first group to answer them would be victorious. (Photo by Paytn Leigh)
Mia and Danielle are on a mission – perhaps trying to find some Rubus Idaeus for their specimen bag. (Photo by Paytn Leigh)
Emily, Max, and Talbot take a short break before resuming their hunt.
Anthony, Mario, Jessica, and their team leader Sam, are in the back hayfield, about a mile from my Winter House. One of the tasks was to find a charming hideaway I built for my grandchildren, Jude and Truman. At this juncture, they’re pretty close.
Hosanna made it to the Woodland Cottage, but did she find something sweet to eat inside?
Here I am with my longtime publicist and friend, Susan Magrino – we visited all the groups to see how they were doing, and maybe to offer a few hints to help.
Everyone enjoyed the hunt. By 1pm, it was time for the groups to head back to my house for a delicious lunch.
Lunch was served under my large carport. With a chance of rain in the forecast, I wanted to be sure we were under safe cover – just in case. (Photo by Paytn Leigh)
Visit my blog tomorrow to see all the delicious foods we enjoyed – and to find out the winners of our scavenger hunt. (Photo by Paytn Leigh)
The season's outdoor vegetable crops are all thriving and looking great.
Earlier this week, I showed you how we support the growing tomato plant vines at my Bedford, New York farm. We do a similar process for our eggplants and peppers. Staking various vegetables is necessary to keep fruits off the ground and to reduce the risk of disease and rot. My outdoor grounds crew foreman, Chhiring Sherpa, has made several different types of trellises and support structures for the gardens - all using natural elements, such as wood from felled trees and jute twine.
Here are some photos - enjoy. And be sure to tune-in today at 5pm ET when I am back on QVC sharing more summer pieces from my popular Apparel Collection.
I am always interested in trying new ways to improve productivity in the gardens. This year, we’ve streamlined our process for staking the eggplants and peppers, and I think it looks fantastic.
For all our projects, I always encourage the use of materials we already have on hand. Chhiring was able to find suitable branches in the woodland that would work for our eggplant and pepper supports. Because these structures are outdoors, it is important they be very strong and secure, so they could hold the weight of the plants and fruits, and any strong winds we may get during the growing season.
We also use a lot of jute twine for many of our outdoor projects. Jute is the name of the fiber used to make burlap cloth. The fibers are also woven into curtains, chair coverings, carpets and of course, twine and rope.
The wood is cut into lengths measuring about three feet. Then, using a spade bit, Chhiring drills three holes into each of these upright pieces of wood.
The holes are about six to eight inches apart. And all of them are measured equally, so all the holes align perfectly with each piece of wood.
Each hole is about one-and-a-half inches in diameter.
Each of the beds was dressed with weed cloth, so Chhiring cut an “x” where each wooden upright would be positioned and then folded each of the four flaps underneath. The weed cloth cutouts were made as small as possible to limit the weeds that would eventually grow in any uncovered spots.
A tamping bar is used to help create the holes for the wooden posts. Because the soil was cultivated for planting, digging the holes was easy to do. Chhiring creates deep holes – at least six to eight inches down, so each support is really secure.
The holes all face across the beds width-wise. Chhiring secures four upright wooden supports along each row of plants and then threads the twine through the holes, starting at the bottom.
Chhiring ties the twine from one end to the other using simple knots.
Several lengths of twine are run down the length of the bed to create lined pairs that will hold the plants upright. The twine is also secured in a single knot on the center supports.
At the other end, Chhiring secures the twine tightly and ties another knot.
Chhiring does this for the first two bottom holes of each piece of wood.
Once secured, the eggplant and pepper plants are carefully placed in between the twine lengths.
In some areas, the twine pairs are crossed to add extra support for the plants.
Here one can see how nicely the plant will be supported as it grows. Chhiring did the same for the bed of sweet peppers and the bed of hot peppers. Although many peppers are strong plants, sometimes they need a little help — especially toward the end of the season when some peppers may grow up to three feet tall.
Eggplants are prone to falling over when heavily laden with fruit, so supporting them will protect them from potential damage and fruit loss. Staking eggplant also makes for easier harvesting.
As the plants grow, twine will be secured to the higher holes in the same way so the plant stems remain upright.
Here is Chhiring securing another length of twine.
Each bed has two rows of plants, which are about a foot apart. When the plants are well supported, there is also ample circulation and room to develop.
Chhiring stopped to pose for this quick snapshot – looks great, Chhiring.
One week later, fruits are already growing and needing the support of the twine – we staked them all at the perfect time.
Here is a sweet pepper perfectly suspended above the ground with the help of our strong twine.
And here is one of our first eggplants of the season – ‘Calliope’. a small white and purple variegated, oval variety. I am so pleased with how our vegetables grow – I can’t wait to harvest more of nature’s bounty.
I always enjoy hosting summer outings at my Bedford, New York farm.
This week, I opened my home to more than 80-colleagues for a luncheon, garden tour and an afternoon of summer games and activities. Preparing for any special gathering takes a lot of effort, a lot of time, and a lot of advanced planning. With so much to do, all hands were on deck - cleaning silverware, setting up tables, installing sports nets, planting decorative containers and of course, devising the menu and cooking the food.
Enjoy these photos and party prep tips. Later this week, I’ll be sure to follow up with more images from our fun day at Cantitoe Corners.
I planned a Mexican fiesta for our party. All the necessary foods were placed in bowls on the Flower Room counter to see what we had and what else was needed. This is the first step in preparing the “mis en place”, which is a French culinary phrase meaning “everything in its place”.
Here is a crate filled with tomatillos, also known as Mexican husk tomatoes. They have a fresh, tangy flavor and are often used for salsa.
Bright green cactus paddles are trimmed of any spines, thorns, and eyes and then washed.
Outside, chairs are pulled, counted and set up to be checked and cleaned. These are some of my favorite wicker chairs. Care must be used whenever transporting delicate furniture – never drag, always pick up.
I decided lunch would be in my large carport just outside my Winter House. All the walls and floors had to be spotless. It’s the details that are most important – try to get ahead with any necessary cleaning during the days leading up to the party.
For tables, we made our own saw horses to place under the covered wooden tabletops. These were much less expensive than buying tables and they can be used time after time.
We also made these saw horses stackable for easy storage.
Faux bois oilcloth covered all the dining tables – oilcloth is easy to clean and is great for outdoor surfaces during a party.
And don’t forget the corners – always miter them for a clean, tidy look.
The silverware was washed and dried by hand – another task that can be done ahead of time. Be sure to find out exactly how many guests will be attending, so the table can be set perfectly. And no matter what – always be prepared for “extra”.
Over by my pool, Chhiring makes the holes for the volleyball net.
Chhiring makes sure everything is set up according to official game regulations.
Fernando sets up the corn hole beanbag toss on my Party Lawn. We made these corn hole platforms on my television show. http://www.marthastewart.com/996829/cornhole-beanbag-toss-game
The outdoor grounds crew edged all the interior carriage roads, so they look crisp and clean. This is something that can also be done days before the gathering.
Down by the stable, Phurba cleans the giant stone birdbaths.
And in the greenhouse, these fun Chinese money plants, Pilea peperomioides, are set aside for our table centerpieces. These handsome plants always attract lots of attention.
In my Winter House basement, bags are prepped with all the supplies needed for the day’s scavenger hunt – a fun activity to help people learn more about my farm. It’s also a way for me to teach the group more about who I am and what the Martha Stewart brand is all about.
Gardens are weeded and cleaned of any loose and fallen foliage. Here is my Multipurpose XL Garden Tote always within arm’s reach. These are a bestseller from my collection on QVC – I hope you have your own set for all those outdoor chores. https://qvc.co/2Y6ID6U
The carport is coming along nicely. Here’s a view from one end – all the tables are placed just right and measured to fit. When planning seating areas, be certain there is enough room for guests to walk. And sit in the seats to ensure it isn’t too cramped for dining – you want your visitors to be comfortable.
On the other end, one of our interns, Bailey Rizza, begins setting the table.
Ryan plants a number of antique pots on the stone wall outside the carport. Remember, whenever planting in an antique container, first line it with a plastic bag to protect the valuable and porous material.
Chef Aron Cutuc, our head chef for this event, is in the Flower Room peeling all the garlic – another part of our “mis en place” process.
Fresh raspberries, just picked from my garden, are pureed and prepared for the refreshing fruit ice popsicles.
The puree, with some added whole berries and sugar, is poured into four-ounce cups and then into the freezer.
Aron’s brother, Kevin, the sous-chef, prepares a tray of tomatoes.
And back in the carport, Enma and Sanu fold all the napkins for the table settings. Beautifully folded napkins set the scene for the meal. Depending on how they’re folded, they can serve both a practical purpose—by tucking in utensils, displaying menu cards—or used purely for decoration on the plate.
Enma and Sanu folded them and placed one on each plate – almost taco shaped to match the party’s theme. The tables and chairs are covered with sheets overnight to keep everything dust-free.
Here is the buffet area. I like to use heavy tree stumps for the umbrella bases – they are strong and made right here at the farm. The middle one is about six inches taller, so all three of the umbrellas can be positioned close together.
And here is the stone wall all planted, watered and looking beautiful for our party. The forecast calls for possible thundershowers in the afternoon, but fingers are crossed the weather holds up just long enough for the gathering. Be sure to check this blog again to see pictures from our summer outing at the farm.
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