An Overview of Two Community Garden Projects in Central Florida

Valencia College, located in Orlando, offers an A.S. Degree in Horticulture and Landscape Technology with a Horticulture Specialization or a Landscape Specialization, as well as several Technical Certificates. Over the past several years, Valencia’s horticulture program has developed several community partnerships. These include two community garden projects, one with Central Care Mission and another with the Edgewood Children’s Ranch. Central Care Mission is a long-term residential drug and alcohol program for men.  A box garden area (with 30 boxes) currently provides over 5,000 ft2 of growing space. This area has provided the residents and staff of this center with over 2,000 lbs. of fresh produce over the last two years. Students enrolled in Valencia’s horticulture program aid with planting the fall and spring garden. Valencia has also had a student complete an internship here during a spring semester to help with the daily tasks involved in the production of fresh vegetables and herbs. The student was able to assist with planning, planting, insect/plant disease control, fertilization, irrigation, and harvesting. The Edgewood Children’s Ranch is a non-denominational Christian home for children with emotional and/or behavioral issues. The Ranch has been in Orlando for 47 years and, what was once rural citrus land, is now a 107 acre oasis of agriculturally zoned land surrounded by subdivisions. The citrus trees on this property outlived their productive life and were removed approximately 4 years ago. The primary purpose of the project is to supplement the supply of fresh vegetables for the children who reside here and sell the excess to help support the Ranch. Additionally, we would like the kids to see agriculture as a possible vocation in the future. We have been meeting and planning this project for approximately one year, and the project began in earnest last Fall Semester (2013). Six students signed up for an independent study project to help with the growing of produce for the residents of the ranch. These individuals have helped plan then implement the design for the initial 4,000 ft2 plot.  The vegetable seedlings were started in the Valencia greenhouse and then planted at the ranch. There is now approximately 0.25 acres under production, utilizing several different methods. This will also be an ongoing project with new students participating every semester.