More resorts are creating gardens to service not just the kitchen, but the spa. Sorrel River Ranch near Moab, UT, is a beautiful ranch-resort, wedged between Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, and on the banks of the Colorado River. The ranch's Garden Manager, Jason Metz, tends to 1.5 acres of organic produce, which finds its way into Chef Richard Potts' farm-to-table fare, but also into the spa's treatments and retail.
Jason's wife, herbalist and founder of Sister Root Medicinals, formulates medicinal concoctions utilizing harvested plants and retails them in the ranch's spa including the Birch Sunbutter SPF and the Salve-ation to protect and heal parched skin.
Sorrel River Ranch plans to debut a Juice menu poolside and in the spa. Fresh juices will be pressed using the garden's bounty, including the Safari Desert Refresher made with beet, carrot, prickly pear, cucumber, cilantro, ginger.
Also, the ranch's Garden Manager, Jason, harvested 30 pounds of basil during the summer. The chef made pesto and basil infused oil, which will be incorporated in a new spa treatment.