South Melbourne Food Forest - 3rd Planting Day

Rooted in Community: Jackson Street Food Forest Planting DAY 3!

Continue what we've started! Join Little Growers Inc. as we continue to grow our first community food forest and restoration site in South Melbourne. Previouis planting days were April 4th and 24th, and this will be our third planting day.

We are transforming 1.5 acres of vacant grass into a thriving food and pollinator-friendly oasis. This project is a bold step toward food sovereignty in an area currently classified by the USDA as a "food desert." Our goal is to turn this lot into a community asset that feeds our neighbors for generations to come, while reducing flooding and adding shade.

Whether you are a master gardener or have never touched a shovel, we want you there. This event is a community gathering designed for everyone.

• Low Pressure: You don't have to stay for the whole event! Whether you have 3 hours or just 30 minutes, your presence is helpful.
• Watch & Learn: Not ready to dig in? That’s perfectly fine! You are welcome to show up just to watch, learn about food forests, and see how the restoration process works.
• Family Friendly: Kids are welcome! Please let us know if you are bringing small children so we can prepare age-appropriate activities.

The restoration of this site is an ambitious multi-step process. Phase 1 includes:

• 16 raised garden beds for fresh annual vegetables and herbs.
• 70 fruit trees in a diverse community orchard.
• Florida-native plantings to attract pollinators and aid in stormwater absorption.

On this third planting day, we will focus on two major milestones:

1. Building: Constructing and filling the next 5 raised garden beds.
2. Planting: Planting the first round of fruit trees for our fruit orchard.
3. Soil Building: spreading mulch into the fruit orchard area.

As a thank you for your help, every volunteer (including those who just come to learn!) can choose one of the following to take home:

• A fruit tree cutting (likely elderberry or mulberry)
• A seed pack (likely pigeon pea, radish, butterfly pea)
• Fresh Herbs (likely Oregano or Rosemary)

• Time: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (please sign up for a 2 hour shift at checkout)
• Volunteer Hours: We provide signatures for Bright Futures and other community service requirements.
• What to Bring: A reusable water bottle, sunscreen, and a hat. We have tools and gloves, but its helpful to bring your own gloves and shovels in case we don't have enough for everyone.
• We Provide: Cold water refills, light snacks, shade, and seating for breaks.

Please let us know if you have any of the following to lend or donate:

• Wheelbarrow(s)
• Large pointed shovels
• trowels/hand shovels
• pitch forks
• hard rake
• post hole diggers
• hoses and/or hose reels
• tarps
• Tool shed
• hand pruners
• shears
• pruning saw

Register today and help us grow a resilient future for South Melbourne!

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Host or Publisher Little Growers, Inc