THEO operates the Veggie Village Community Garden which utilizes and trains area volunteers to prepare, plant and harvest healthy vegetables for Baker Senior Center and Interfaith SWFL food pantries. The grant is for three FLEX towers which they have already have had tremendous success using at their Lee Health Coconut Point FLEX Tower Garden. All vegetable beds at Veggie Village Community Garden were destroyed by hurricanes in summer 2024. The FLEX Tower is an innovative, mobile growing system which allows the “veggie garden” to be moved to a protected area when weather conditions are unfavorable. To support self-sufficiency and sustainability the Veggie Garden program will use a solar power system for the Towers.
The Towers will be planted with vegetables and herbs. The Project’s coordinator expects to cultivate greater amounts of fresh produce while using significantly less space and water than traditional raised beds. St. Monica’s Episcopal Church, Estero, will provide the site, power, and water to support the community garden. Workshops will provide information on how to grow your own healthy foods to volunteers and community members. May – November 2025: Towers will be monitored at least 3 times per week. Harvests of vegetables and/or herbs will be done at least every five weeks. Produce will be distributed to Baker Senior Center and Interfaith SWFL food pantries. Excess produce will be sold to local restaurants