Overview
The Patricia Davis Community Garden is a CRA initiative to bring urban gardening to the Northwest Pompano Beach CRA district. Formerly three vacant lots totaling one-acre located in the Blanche Ely neighborhood, the Garden focuses on teaching the local community how to grow seasonal organic produce which is shared throughout the local community. In collaboration with the Fruitful Field Inc., the Community Garden has facilitated apprenticeships, local community programs and urban gardening education. As a result, this creative partnership has become an educational resource for local gardeners and students while also creating a sense of community pride and neighborly spirit. In early 2018, the Pompano Beach CRA hosted the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Patricia Davis Community Garden.
Funding:
- CRA funds $60,000 per fiscal year for the Patricia Davis Community Garden
- Grow City Youth, a paid internship program, began with a $37,000 grant from The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation.
Before
After
Gardening with Purpose
The purpose of the Community Garden is to improve people’s quality of life by providing a catalyst for neighborhood and community development, stimulating social interaction, encouraging self-reliance, beautifying neighborhoods, producing organic nutritious foods, reducing family food budgets, conserving resources and creating opportunities for recreation, exercise, healthy eating, workshops, therapy and education.
Each year, the Patricia Davis Community Garden produces over 1,000 pounds of produce with a portion sold at the bi-weekly seasonal Pompano Beach Farmer’s Market. 40% of the harvest is donated to nearby food pantries and kitchens, and families in need through programs with the E. Pat Larkin Center, Blanche Ely High School Culinary Program, the Blessings Food Pantry and Our Father’s House Soup Kitchen. The Garden provides dynamic hands-on opportunities for people of all ages to include training as well as volunteer and employment opportunities. The Community Garden also has 10 smaller plots available for lease to local families for their exclusive use.
The Fruitful Field, Inc. Partnership
The CRA contracted with The Fruitful Field to manage the Garden’s operations and programming. To ensure success for The Fruitful Field, the CRA installed electric for irrigation and lighting onsite, and a shed for storage of tools and material; all required for the Garden’s operations. These improvements ensure participants have the resources needed to maintain their plots as well as an overall productive Community Garden. Since the Garden’s construction and establishing of plants, The Fruitful Field has continued to maintain the garden to ensure its overall health and long-term viability as a community resource.
For the 2023-2024 season, additional information on the Community Garden can be found below:
- 2023 - 2024 Plot Holder Agreement
- Fresh Food Box Program
- Join the Farm-to-Table Movement
- View Upcoming events at the Garden