Western Morris farm grows tropical paradise

WASHINGTON TWP. (Morris County) -- At Tucked Away Farm & Nursery, Joe Gorda is proving such a thing as a year-round tropical paradise exists in New Jersey.

Gorda, who co-owns the 59 Beacon Hill Rd. farm with wife Lise, grows palm trees and various tropical plants and grasses one would not associate with this region. Gorda, who said he is the only grower/distributor of these type palms in New Jersey, noted people are especially surprised when they learn certain types of palm trees and other tropical-style offerings from his farm survive the winter.

Among the many offerings available at the 11-acre Tucked Away Farm, which include both perennials and annuals, are cold hardy palm trees, yucca, canna, Hibiscus, banana (musa), grasses, hardy sugar cane, farm rich topsoil and mushroom dirt.

Gorda's full-time passion of running Tucked Away Farm started as a hobby many years ago when he was still working in the construction industry and living in Marlboro Township. "I started growing palm trees there as a hobby for my own landscape, but when I found out certain ones survive through the winter, I started planting more and more," he said, noting the absolute surprise of friends and neighbors when palm trees planted outside his Marlboro home survived the 1996 blizzard.

The hobby eventually evolved into the decision to move to Washington Township in 2005 and start Tucked Away Farm. "I moved up here because I liked the open space and the farming aspect of the area," he stated.

Gorda said his farm draws visitors from throughout the region and customers from throughout the country and beyond. Thanks to word of mouth and the Internet, the farm has shipped products to as far south as Key West and to as far north as Canada.

Gorda said first-time customers usually get hooked. "I always look to carry the unique individual plants no one else has," he said. "I carry everything that lends to that tropical feeling. We can take a completely barren landscape and transform it into a tropical paradise."

Tucked Away Farm offers the option of installing trees and other plantings for customers or providing complete instructions on proper planting techniques and maintenance. Gorda noted palm trees and other tropical plantings require less maintenance than many native plants.

Gorda's farming practices are dominated by green energy elements. Solar panels provide much of his energy and water is captured and released into drywells for re-use. Gorda is also readying to plant an acre of sugarcane he hopes to make available for bio-diesel production. He noted the importance of growing sugarcane for bio-diesels so that industry doesn't become over-reliant on corn to manufacture of the fuel.

For more information about Tucked Away Farm & Nursery, which is holding a weekend sale May 2-4, visit www.TuckedAwayFarms.com or call (732) 887-1035.

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