CELEBRATING OUR PLANET: EARTH DAY 2023

April 2023

Gleaning Event

In recognition of Food Waste Prevention Week (April 10-16), 4Roots teamed up with the City of Orlando and Society of St. Andrew to glean thousands of pounds of cabbage from a previously harvested field at Long and Scott Farms. The freshly picked cabbage was then distributed to our neighbors in need.

EARTH DAY WORK DAY

4Roots participated in the City of Orlando’s Earth Day Work Day 2023. Held at City Hall Plaza, this sustainability fair educated visitors about supporting sustainability initiatives such as zero waste, clean energy, transportation, and water, and local food systems, as well as other ways to protect the environment.

USDA Farm to School Field Trip

Over the past six months, 4Roots has collaborated with Orlando Science Center on the development of an agricultural workshop curriculum as part of a USDA Farm to School grant. The 5th grade science classes at Lakeville Elementary participated in two workshops where they learned about plant science and soil health. This month, as a culminating activity, Lakeville students attended a field trip to the farm at Hope Charter School.

During the field trip, the 5th graders toured the farm’s greenhouse and food forest, where they learned about different types of plants and participated in a plant identification scavenger hunt. They also had the opportunity to build and power their own “greenhouse” and enjoy a picnic lunch on a beautiful day. One of the highlights of the day was snacking on mulberries that the students picked fresh from the tree themselves.

FARMER SPOTLIGHT: Hank Scott with Long & Scott Farm

Every year, the University of Florida’s Institute of Food & Agricultural Science (IFAS) hosts, Flavors of Florida, an opportunity to connect Florida scientists, growers and business leaders who are working together to make our world a healthier and tastier place.

This year the event was held at the Champions Club at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to showcase local farmers and the restaurants that support them. Jenny Byrnes, Regional Catering Sales Manager, 4R Restaurant Group in Gainesville collaborated with 4Roots Farm Network Manager Jordan Johnson to host Hank Scott from Long & Scott Farms. It was an honor to share how 4Rivers and 4Roots are supporting farmers like Hank, who is a UF grad and felt right at home in Gainesville! 

Thank you to UF/IFAS!

Get to Know Hank

How long has your farm been in operation? This is our 60th year for Long & Scott Farms.

What made you decide to become a farmer? I grew up in farming with family and cousins, and it gets in your blood, I guess.

What type of farming do you do? We do a mix of regenerative and conventional farming. Our cabbage is close to organic. Pickle cucumbers are the crop that has kept us in business all these years.

FARM CAMPUS UPDATE

Construction of our education building and greenhouse continues on the Farm Campus.

Recently, a floating wetland system providing an eco-friendly method for nutrient removal in lakes and ponds was installed on the Farm Campus.

As the plants on Beemats Floating Treatment Wetlands grow, the bio-available nutrients in the water are taken up by roots and stored in the growing plant tissues. Periodic harvesting of the mature plants prevents the stored nitrogen and phosphorus from entering the water when the plants die and decompose. The drivers of aquatic nutrient removal are actively growing plants. This floating wetland system optimizes nutrient harvesting through efficient biomass removal and rapid regrowth of established plants.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Packing District Farmers Market + YMCA Healthy Kids Day: April 29th from 9am – 1pm. To celebrate Healthy Kids Day, The Packing District Farmers Market is giving away free plant/seed starter kits for kids. YMCA festivities will include family-friendly activities, community health screenings, youth sport and group exercise demonstrations, aquatic activities, and more

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