September 8th marks six years since we launched our first Overalls Farm. You may have missed it in the beginning because we didn’t post publicly about it for years. Growing up-an-alley in Jacksonville’s Springfield neighborhood- tucked in a residential backyard (mine, as it were)- it was intentionally kept on the down-low, except as far as the neighborhood was concerned. But then, in June 2023, I shared the origin story on the stage of Florida Theater ending with the dream to replicate our neighborhood farm model. Now, with Overalls Farms One and Two thriving, we’re growing Farm Three to fruition, and we need a little help making it happen. When we started, to ensure we were growing in service of our...
"So, I want a garden, but I was wondering if you could build and plant it using the principles of Square Foot Gardening?" Well, "um..." I squirmed. What was Square Foot Gardening? This was back in 2009, just as I was putting on my Overalls. Carol, a friend and the customer asking the question offered, "I've got a copy of the book. I can lend it to you to review, and then when you come tomorrow,...
Welcome to mid summer in the Deep South! If you're anything like me, you're actively looking for excuses to avoid going outside this time of year. The heat doesn't so much radiate down from the sun as it seems to risefrom the side walk. Rain helps- for about ten minutes- and then simply adds to the humidity as it vaporizes on the payment, so that it feels like you need a snorkel to make it from...
Check it out!I've been working with the FL Dept of Ag to create a bunch of "How To" Food Gardening Videos. For example: "How to build raised beds," "How to plant," "How to water," and all kind of other basics. Below are a few to get your started. For the rest (and for the ones still to be released), stay tuned to the Fresh for Florida Kids Youtube Channel. While I'm at it, I'll go ahead and...
 My largest and most exciting project this spring has been the Fresh for Florida Kids Food Garden at the Holland Building, downtown on Calhoun Street.Here are a couple pictures:The garden has received a lot of press:Florida Helps Mom with Age Old Message (Tampa Bay ch 10) Commissioner Putnam Opens Fresh for Florida Kids Food Garden (Capital Soup)Adam Putnam Plants Healthy Eating Gardens in...
