A community garden taking shape in Winter Haven's Florence Villa neighborhood aims to improve access to fresh produce. Organizers say families can struggle to afford healthy food. Volunteers began tilling the soil and installing the first section of fencing in August, and the site already includes a little free pantry stocked with non-perishable food that stays open around the clock.
The project is the work of Roots of Florence Villa, a group founded by Marissa Fenton that focuses on improving food access, promoting food justice, and supporting healthier lifestyles in the neighborhood and surrounding areas, according to Daily Ridge. The garden operates as a grow-and-give initiative, with volunteers working together to plant, maintain, and harvest crops meant to go directly back into the community, especially for low-income households.
Organizers expect the first harvest next spring, the outlet reports, and they say the garden has now entered its initial planting phase. The biggest hurdle right now, according to the same report, is not soil or seedlings but visibility: spreading the word about the project so more people know it exists and can get involved.
A Founder's Pitch for Food as Medicine
Fenton has framed the garden as more than a produce source. She said the project aims to bring people together, encourage healthier lifestyles, and empower residents through fresh food and community education, per the Daily Ridge report. She added that neighbors, local businesses, community leaders, and supporters are effectively investing in community health and well-being by backing the effort.
Fenton also tied the garden to broader health goals, saying nutrition is a foundation of health and that food can help prevent diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity, the outlet notes. She said the hope is that community members will feel supported, connected, and reminded that their health matters — and that the project will ultimately help address food insecurity while strengthening neighborhood pride.
Winter Haven Mayor Brian Yates has voiced support for the effort, according to the same Daily Ridge account, though the extent of his remarks was not detailed. Organizers say additional volunteers, sponsors, and donations are still needed to keep the project moving.
A Resident's Numbers Before the City Commission
Separately, Athia Pugh, who said she represents RUSA Villa Inc., asked the Winter Haven commission to recognize and help the community garden at 1701 Broxy Court NE, according to CitizenPortal.ai. Pugh told the commission the garden is approximately 1,400 square feet and, based on her own production estimate, has the potential to produce approximately 2,800 pounds of fruits and vegetables annually — figures she presented as projections rather than confirmed harvest results.
Florence Villa is one of two districts overseen by Winter Haven's Community Redevelopment Agency, which was established in 2000 alongside the Downtown district, according to the City of Winter Haven. The neighborhood is also home to the city's Northeast Culture and Recreational Center, a $23 million facility that opened after five years of work, as reported by the Winter Haven Sun.
The Numbers Behind the Need
The garden is one local effort to improve access to fresh produce.
The garden is intended to improve access to fresh produce.
Organizers hope the garden will help address food insecurity while strengthening neighborhood pride.
