Senior Facility Grows Own Herbs

Gary Veruni, Metz General Manager at the RiverWoods senior living community in Lewisburg, PA, shows off the fresh herb garden grown on the grounds with the help of some green-thumbed residents.

Residents of RiverWoods, a senior living community in Lewisburg, PA, are enjoying the taste of fresh herbs when they dine in the community's Ridgecrest Restaurant. Operated by Metz & Associates, Ltd., Ridgecrest serves lunch and dinner daily to residents as well as staff and people from the surrounding community.

“The restaurant's fresh herb garden was started this past fall, with the help of Ridgecrest resident, Bea Spielman, who supplied us with a variety of plants she had started on her patio,” says Metz General Manager Gary Verruni. “Richard Stover, another Ridgecrest resident, helped set up, transplant and label the herbs in a greenhouse on the grounds, where they can supply us with fresh herbs all year long.”

Verruni is growing the herb garden organically, using no pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers. He currently harvests 10 different herbs and uses them in dishes such as his fresh rosemary and thyme rubbed prime rib and fresh basil chicken cacciatore with homemade pasta.