Dr. Phillips Charties Award $5 Million To 4Roots

Grant Will Support First Phase of The Farm Campus

Dr. Phillips Charities recently awarded $5 million over the next three years to 4Roots for the construction of its 4Roots Farm Campus in The Packing District.

The grant will support the construction of the first phase of the 4Roots Farm Campus, expected to break ground this fall, including educational classrooms, a greenhouse, barn, apiary, fields and gardens and a compost area. These facilities and the programs offered on the Farm Campus will teach the public about urban and community gardening and allow school children to learn where food comes from, how to grow it and prepare it, and about agriculture and food science careers.

The 4Roots Farm Campus will invite the community to gather and collaborate on the creation of a strong local food system. Featuring a diverse range of growing systems, it will offer a unique hands-on learning experience that highlights innovative and sustainable practices and technologies from around the world.

4Roots’ mission is to create a sustainable and equitable food system in Central Florida. To do this, we need to get our community on board. That’s why the focus of the first phase of the Farm Campus is education,” said John Rivers, Founder and CEO of 4Roots and 4Rivers. “By providing our students and neighbors with hands-on agricultural education and dynamic experiences, they will be empowered to build a better food future that will benefit us all. We are very thankful to Dr. Phillips Charities for providing uswith this grant that will assist us in bringing this phase of the Farm Campus to life.”

Farmers’ Market Opening In The Packing District

4Roots and Dr. Phillips Charities, in partnership, announce ‘The Packing District Farmers’ Market’ on Saturdays beginning October 2, 2021. Once the first phase of the 4Roots Farm Campus is open in the fall of 2022, the Market will relocate to its permanent home on the 4Roots Farm Campus.

Feeding Our Future

In September, Feed The Need received two grants that will provide the underserved healthy and nutritious meals, strengthen connections between consumers and farmers and inform and inspire youth to further their education and careers in food and farming.

Thank you Publix for your $5,000 grant.

Thank you Verizon for your $2,500 grant.

Florida Fall Gardening Guide

Florida has two major growing seasons, Spring and Fall. With the Fall season in full swing, there is no better time than now to start your at-home garden! Farming your own produce is cost-effective, wholesome and brings fresh, new flavors to the table year-round.

Learn how to get started on your at-home garden here:

1. When choosing an area for your garden, you want to start by picking an area that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. Make sure that you can reach the site with water from a hose or irrigation system.
2. Remove debris and level. Depending on in-ground, or raised beds, amend or bring in organic compost or quality organic potting soil. If starting an in-ground garden, work the compost and new soil to the existing “ground dirt” and remove grass, roots. If doing raised beds, lay cardboard inside of the box as a weed barrier, and add soil to the top, filling the bed. 
3. Choose your crops wisely. A good rule of (green) thumb is if you’re comfortable hanging outside, your plants are, too. There are several crops that can survive and thrive in cooler weather including arugula, beets, broccoli, cabbage, collards, kale, lettuce, mustard, peppers, radish, tomatoes and turnips.
4. Get growing! Anyone can garden and grow food; the hardest step is the first one— getting started.