Pompano Beach CRA Project Promotes Education, Healthy Lifestyles and Neighborly Connections
By Kay Renz
In early 2018, the Pompano Beach CRA hosted the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Patricia Davis Community Garden, a one-acre parcel located next to Blanche Ely High School. Now, two years later, the garden, named for a Northwest CRA Advisory Committee member, is flourishing with collard greens, tomatoes, peppers, herbs and beautiful flowers. However, what has taken root in this garden is more than the produce it yields, as it has created a sense of community pride and neighborly spirit. In addition, the garden has become a tremendous educational resource for the local gardeners and students who are learning first-time job skills through a program run by the Fruitful Field called GrowCity Youth.
“We are very proud to see how beautifully this community garden has developed,” said Nguyen Tran, CRA Director. “Thanks to Chris Reesor of the Fruitful Field and David Miller, the assistant garden manager, our residents are learning the principles of organic farming and gardening, while creating a food source not only for themselves, but for the community.”
Produce from the garden is sold at the weekly Pompano Beach Green Market; in addition, 40% of the harvest is donated to families in need through programs with the E. Pat Larkin Center, Blanche Ely High School Culinary Program and the Blessings Food Pantry.
Chris Reesor is the Executive Director of the nonprofit, Fruitful Field, which oversees the Patricia Davis Community Garden. For Reesor, gardening is a passion he developed in his youth, coming from a long line of Canadian farmers and ranchers.
“You don’t need to have a green thumb to become part of the community garden,” explained Reesor. “You just need to want to learn about gardening and commit to tending your plot a couple of times a week. We are here to support you as you learn about organic gardening techniques, the best types of crops to plant according the cycle, and how to care for and harvest your crops.”
Willie Ponder, a retired Pompano Beach resident, was one of the first to sign up for this community garden and when you view his plots of mustard greens, collard greens, cabbage, beefsteak tomatoes, peppers and more you cannot help but be impressed.
“I have been gardening since my youth,” he said. “My mother was a sharecropper. But here, I have learned so much about gardening without pesticides. What Chris has taught us is amazing.”
Ponder enjoys eating his fresh produce but also donates much of it to the seniors at the E. Pat Larkins Community Center.
Another original gardener is Alicia Howard who has planted rosemary, basil, collard greens and watermelon in her plot over the past two years.
“There is a magic and synergy about digging in the dirt,” she explained. “A relationship develops with the plants. You care for them and they will care for you.”
Teaching the benefits of healthy eating is part of what the community program focuses on, in addition to providing young people with the opportunity to learn about gardening and work skills through the GrowCity Youth program that Reesor oversees.
“Watching our residents come together, from our youth to our seniors, is a wonderful experience,” said David Miller. “We are here to help people learn more about gardening, even if they just come for a visit or to enjoy a special event, such as our Earth Day Celebration on April 18.”
The free Earth Day event will feature the unveiling of a new bench and bird feeder and will be attended by Commissioner Beverly Perkins.
The Patricia Davis Community Garden is open to the public 7 days a week from dusk until dawn.
Currently there are several plots available for city residents to cultivate in varying sizes with a seasonal cost of $25 to participate between the months of October 1 to April 30. Applications are available by contacting Chris Reesor via email at chrisr@thefruitfulfield.org or by calling (954)849-2408.
The Patricia Davis Community Garden is located at 1089 NW 6th Avenue in Pompano Beach.
