Here at my farm, there is always a long list of tasks to complete - among the most recent, replacing an old refrigerator in the prep kitchen of my guest house studio.
Because my prep kitchen is used for multiple events and shoots, sometimes with several chefs and assistants working in the space at once, it's important to ensure all the appliances are always in excellent condition. Some time ago, I noticed my Viking refrigerator was more than 27-years old and in need of updating. I replaced it with another durable and dependable Viking unit that is energy-efficient and able to cool a large supply of foods effectively.
Here are some photos and tips for selecting and installing one of the most important appliances in the home, enjoy.
I’ve used Viking for years. And after almost three decades of reliable performance, it was time to replace this side-by-side Viking refrigerator. While it was still functioning well, it was starting to show some regular wear and tear on its components, which could not keep up with the heavy demand of our food prep sessions.
How a refrigerator is used directly affects its lifespan. For busy families, a unit constantly overloaded with items may not cool as effectively. One that is also under high traffic, frequently opened and closed, can experience temperature fluctuations, impacting its longevity. Here is the team removing the old refrigerator.
This team works methodically and carefully. This old unit is wheeled out without touching a thing.
The new Viking professional VCBB5364RSS00 refrigerator is unloaded from the truck. This unit is a 36-inch bottom-freezer refrigerator. I felt this design may be more suitable for the prep kitchen.
When measuring for a new refrigerator, be sure to get height, width, and depth of the new space as well as any doorways that are in its transportation path.
The team manually transports this unit into the kitchen the same way the old unit left – without marring any walls or furniture.
Modern refrigerators are generally lighter than their predecessors because of the use of lighter construction materials and energy-efficient parts. It doesn’t take long to get the new unit into the kitchen.
The new refrigerator fits perfectly – thanks to good measuring.
Before rolling it completely into place, check the refrigerator for adjustable feet. Most modern units, like this Viking, will be equipped with leveling systems that can be raised or lowered to ensure stability and good fit.
The fridge is now level and can easily be wheeled into its permanent position.
All the protective cardboard and plastic wraps, and any information cards are removed.
The refrigerator’s main compartment is very roomy. The bottom-freezer design allows for easy access to all items. The Adjustable Humidity Zone™ Drawers have humidity controls for food preservation and a soft-close feature to prevent any damage.
Lighting inside the compartment uses bright and energy-efficient LED elements at the top and on the sidewalls.
The temperature panel provides ProChill™ Temperature Management with electronic controls and a digital readout. It is also built with a single and quiet compressor system.
The door is outfitted with metal bins to securely hold all necessary items.
The Plasmacluster™ Ion Air Purifier uses advanced technology to eliminate any airborne bacteria and mold particles and odors.
It has deep, roomy, and durable freezer compartments for storage.
And the freezer has a large-capacity automatic ice maker and bucket.
The exterior is stainless steel, which is highly resistant to rust, corrosion and staining – a long-lasting option for heavy use kitchen appliances. I know I will get many years of use out of this Viking refrigerator.
I have many hornbeam hedges around my farm. They're hardy and provide changing texture and color during the year - green foliage in summer, golden yellow leaves in fall, and natural gray bare branches in winter.
Last week, I decided to plant 22 hornbeams, Carpinus betulus 'Frans Fontaine,' in my orchard, just outside the north end of my pool - two rows, 11 on each side, creating an allée all the way to the carriage road fence. All the hornbeams are from Select Horticulture, Inc. in Pound Ridge, New York. My gardeners and outdoor grounds crew worked quickly - the area was measured, the holes were dug, and then the trees were transported, positioned, fed, and planted.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
The handsome European hornbeam, Carpinus betulus ‘Frans Fontaine,’ is slow-growing and has an upright oval form and lush green foliage that provides multi-season interest.
I decided to plant them outside the fence surrounding my pool at this end.
Planting any row of specimens always starts with a carefully measured line. Landscape flags indicate where each specimen will go.
Chhiring uses the trusted Kubota and its forklift to transport each tree to its designated location.
All the trees are positioned first before any planting begins.
Alex continues the hole digging started by the backhoe.
Remember the rule of thumb for planting – dig a hole that is two to three times wider than the root ball, but only as deep as the height of the root ball.
The protective wrapping and any wire or rope are removed from the root ball. If left untouched, these wrapping materials could reduce the ability of a tree’s roots to grow out into the surrounding soil. Some gardeners leave them in the ground, but I prefer to remove everything, so there is nothing blocking the root growth.
Alex cuts the strong wire cage, so it can also be removed.
Here is Phurba removing the protective burlap.
Next, fertilizer is sprinkled into the hole and the surrounding soil.
Our go-to fertilizer is Miracle-Gro Organic All Purpose Plant Food specially formulated to help grow stronger, vibrant, and more productive plants.
Each tree is carefully rolled into its hole by its center stem, trunk, or base – never handle by its branches, which could break.
The tree sits in the hole at the right depth, which is “bare to the flare,” or where the first main roots attach to the trunk. Tree roots need oxygen to grow. By placing the root flare at or slightly above ground level when planting gives the tree the best chance for survival, growth, and development.
Pasang and Alex step back and look at the tree from afar to assess its position – they agree it needs a little adjusting.
The two turn the tree slightly to make it level and perfectly straight.
The European hornbeam, Carpinus betulus is native to Western Asia and central, eastern, and southern Europe, including southern England. Because of its dense foliage and tolerance to being cut back, this hornbeam is popularly used for hedges and topiaries. Hornbeams are often confused with the common beech because of their similar leaves; however, the hornbeam leaves are actually smaller and more deeply furrowed than beech leaves. The leaves are deciduous and alternate, with serrated margins. These are the leaves in summer…
… and these are the leaves now, golden yellow in autumn. All the leaves will soon fall completely off the trees for winter.
Once the specimen is positioned correctly, it is backfilled.
Alex uses a hard rake to give the area a finished look.
Here, one row is complete and looks great. These trees are sure to develop so beautifully here in my orchard – the soil is so rich with nutrients.
For anyone passionate about gardening, it's always so rewarding to plant new specimens and watch them flourish.
This week, I received a delivery of Japanese maples from Monrovia, a wholesale plant nursery specializing in shrubs, perennials, annuals, ferns, grasses, and conifers with several nursery locations across the country. They're widely known for their Japanese maples and grow more than 30 varieties of Acers. These plants will be added to existing gardens around my farm. Among them - Ryusen Weeping Japanese maples, Waterfall Japanese maples, Coral Bark Japanese maples, Shaina Japanese maples, Autumn Moon Fullmoon Japanese maples, and more.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
Monrovia grows such beautiful specimens. These Japanese maples are in such excellent condition.
Once plants arrive at my farm, they are immediately placed in organized rows according to type so they are easy to see, count, water, feed, and access when it is time to plant.
This is a Ryusen Weeping Japanese maple, Acer palmatum ‘Ryusen.’ It is known for its cascading branches and vibrant seasonal foliage.
The leaves are generally green and palmate with five lobes each.
Coral Bark Japanese maple, Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku,’ is a beautiful small deciduous tree that thrives in bright dappled shade in warmer areas or in full sun in cooler regions.
During spring and summer, its foliage is a light yellow to almost neon green in color that turns a striking yellow or salmon-red hue in autumn.
Autumn Moon Fullmoon Japanese Maple, Acer shirasawanum ‘Autumn Moon,’ is admired for its vibrant fall foliage and interesting leaf shape.
The leaves are fan-shaped and emerge in spring with a bright yellow to burnt orange color. As the season progresses, the leaves display a range of shades ,including peach and apricot, especially when grown in full sun.
This is the foliage of a Shishigashira Japanese Maple, Acer palmatum ‘Shishigashira’ – a compact, slow-growing tree that typically reaches seven to 15 feet tall. It features heavily curled and crimped green leaves that turn to brilliant yellow with fiery orange and red highlights in autumn.
The Red Dragon Japanese maple, Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Red Dragon,’ has an attractive lacy appearance and as fall temperatures cool, the foliage changes to a bright, apple red color.
The leaves are deeply cut, feathery, and fern-like. My other Red Dragon Japanese maples do so wonderfully here at the farm and add such great color to the gardens – this one will too.
The Waterfall Japanese Maple, Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Waterfall,’ is loved for its cascading green foliage, and elegant weeping form.
It is known for its finely dissected leaves that emerge almost fluorescent green in spring, then mature to a dark green in summer, and bright golden-yellow in fall.
‘Shaina,’ or Acer palmatum ‘Shaina,’ is a handsome dwarf Japanese maple with a compact form. The freely branching growth becomes dense with maturity, and its foliage emerges bright red, then a deep maroon.
Twombley’s Red Sentinel Japanese Maple, known botanically as Acer palmatum ‘Twombly’s Red Sentinel’ is columnar and narrow in form and shows off a rich green to burgundy foliage.
It is known for its striking red leaves that emerge in spring, darkening to burgundy in summer, and turning brilliant scarlet in the fall.
In contrast, this is the lacy foliage of a Ribbon-Leaf Japanese Maple, Acer palmatum ‘Atrolineare.’ It is a small tree with elegant, fine-textured, palmate leaves. The finger-like foliage emerges red in spring, is bronze-red and green in summer, then turns brilliant red and orange in fall.
Monrovia also sent me this silver-blue evergreen, The Blues Blue Spruce, Picea pungens ‘The Blues’. It has weeping branches and an irregularly spreading and drooping top.
The Blues Blue Spruce is known for its bright silver-blue foliage and large, bright blue needles. It will do nicely in my pinetum.
Here’s my head gardener, Ryan McCallister, checking each and every specimen as it is unloaded. I can’t wait to place these Japanese maples in their new permanent garden locations. Stay tuned to find out where they go.
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