South Melbourne Food Forest - First Planting Day

Start Earth Month off right! Join Little Growers Inc. as we break ground on our first community food forest and restoration site in South Melbourne.

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.

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 four 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 first inaugural planting day, we will focus on three major milestones:

1. Building & Planting: Constructing, filling, and planting the first 4 raised garden beds.
2. Pollinator Habitat: Planting 900 square feet of native Florida plants.
3. Soil Building: Planting 60 pigeon pea trees in the orchard area. These act as "nitrogen fixers" to naturally fertilize the soil for our future fruit trees.

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 free Mulberry tree cutting
• An Elderberry tree cutting
• A Pigeon Pea seed pack
• A Butterfly Pea seed pack

• Time: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• 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, but feel free to bring your own gardening gloves or a favorite shovel.
• We Provide: Cold water refills, light snacks, shade, and seating for breaks.

If you have any excess gardening tools in good condition—such as rakes, pitchforks, wheelbarrows, or shovels—we are gratefully accepting donations to help maintain the site for years to come.

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

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Host or Publisher Little Growers, Inc