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Pasco County Extension Office

Planting the seeds of sustainable living

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Pasco County is pursuing a vision that’s aimed at giving people more opportunities to grow their own food, to learn the ins and outs of gardening, and to bring young and old together for a variety of activities.

A celebration was held recently at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., to unveil a new “Food for All” mural and to offer tours of a new community garden.

Dr. Whitney C. Elmore, director of the Pasco County Extension Office, told the crowd that the effort to create community gardens across the county began a few years ago.

Dr. Whitney C. Elmore, director of the Pasco County Extension Office, is working to expand the number of community gardens across Pasco County. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Feb. 15 to celebrate the new community garden at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park. (Christine Holtzman)

“No. 1, we wanted to provide recreational opportunities for folks of all ages and abilities.

“We also wanted to provide areas where we could beautify different parts of our county.

“We wanted to be able to provide a location for folks to be able to come and learn about a variety of topics, from horticulture all of the way over to water conservation, and composting and sustainable living practices.

“But, we wanted to ensure food sovereignty —  that anybody that was lacking, that was in need, would be able to have a place to go to grow their own food for their family; maybe even be able to start a small cottage industry, so they could be providing a source of income for their families,” Elmore said.

Such community gardens empower people, she added.

Elmore expressed gratitude to the Pasco County Commission for supporting the cause.

“They saw fit to see our vision to provide these spaces all across Pasco County, and you’re going to see more of these.

“We’re already on the east side of the county, here in Land O’ Lakes, and working on agreements for more community gardens on the west side of the county,” Elmore said.

She also expressed gratitude to master gardener volunteers who have been instrumental in helping to develop the community gardens.

“All of these plots are leased out for free to folks in our communities,” she said. “We have individuals. We have organizations. And, we have families, that are growing their own and learning to do so.”

Growing vegetables, and inclusivity, too
Elmore also noted the gardens can be used for special programs, such as the Gardening for Autism program, a six-week course that gives kids on the autism spectrum the chance to learn about horticulture.

Besides learning how to grow fruits and vegetables, they also can learn leadership skills, develop and hone social skills, and work on fine motor skills.

“And, we have been absolutely ecstatic at the response from the Autism Society of Florida and especially the impact that we can see these programs are having on children on the spectrum, as well as their families,” Elmore said.

Besides serving as the grand opening of the new community garden in Land O’ Lakes, the Feb. 15 event also featured the unveiling of the “Food for All Mural.”

Connor Laverty and Lucas Yingling, who are both on the autism spectrum, won the mural art contest. And, their work was transposed to the mural by Amy Nevins, an artist who lives in Palm Harbor.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore, who spoke at the event, expressed gratitude to the Autism Society of Florida and to Nevins, for their involvement in the mural project.

“In Pasco County, what we want to do is to make sure that people of all abilities can participate in any activity we do,” he said.

That’s true, whether it means participating in an art contest and seeing one’s work on display, or having fun at a playground designed to be used by all children, such as the one at Wesley Chapel District Park.

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis also dropped by the event and commended the efforts to create more community gardens.

“I’m a big fan of community gardening. I’d like to spread this throughout my congressional district. How can we miss with something like this?”

Sonide Simon, of the county’s planning and development department, noted, “Our mural is a prime example of what it means when county government and community come together to make something beautiful.”

She also pointed out the benefits of growing healthy foods in a garden.

The vegetables growing there are “natural medicine” that can help combat chronic diseases, such as obesity, that are plaguing the nation, she said.

She praised the mural, which she said proclaims the message:  “let’s get back to nature and let’s make sure that everyone has access to food.”

Community gardens are creating communal spaces, which children and families can enjoy, she added.

Stacey Hoaglund, president of the Autism Society of Florida, congratulated the county and extension office for their involvement in the mural project.

These kinds of opportunities don’t always come to children with autism, she said.

“What this is about really, is inclusion. Being included in our communities. Being able to show what our kids, our adults with autism, are able to do. And, to become part of the overall life,” she said.

“I believe that a lot of people just underestimate the abilities of people with autism, and don’t include them in their communities as much as we would like,” she said.

“The Food for All Mural you have here — every time people drive by here and they see this beautiful wall, they can think about how people with autism are included in our communities, and have some really great things to offer,” Hoaglund said.

Published February 26, 2020

Transition made easier, with a little love

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When Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano first learned about the Luggage of Love program, he committed to helping meet its goal of providing displaced children and families with new and/or gently used suitcases.

Luggage of Love is a coordinated effort in Pasco County by the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS)  Pasco County Extension Office.

Elizabeth Urquiola, program coordinator for the Pasco County UF/IFAS Extension Office and Luggage of Love program, shows the suitcases, duffle bags and backpacks donated by the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office staff members. (Courtesy of Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office)

In the past, children who often travel with caseworkers into foster care, or are otherwise removed from their homes due to emergency situations, have had just a plastic garbage bag for carrying their clothing and personal belongings.

The luggage program adds a measure of dignity to a child who is most likely experiencing one of the most traumatic events in his or her young life.

In other cases, single mothers, often escaping domestic violence, are the recipients of the luggage for themselves and their children.

The Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office staff members recently were able to make two luggage deliveries, as well as a cash donation of $500 to the program to use as needed.

Elizabeth Urquiola, program coordinator for the UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension Office and Luggage of Love program, said the money will be used for more luggage tags and a better logo stamp that also are provided.

“It is heartbreaking to think that a child or a mother in distress may only have plastic garbage bags which they use to carry their belongings,” said Fasano, in a news release.

He added, “I am so proud of our staff who rose to the occasion and donated everything from suitcases to duffle bags and backpacks for this incredible charity.”

To learn more about the Luggage of Love program, call Elizabeth Urquiola at (352) 521-1254, ext. 5325.

To donate luggage and for information, call Greg Giordano, assistant tax collector, at (727) 847-8179.

Published February 05, 2020

Commercial kitchen incubator to open in East Pasco

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An incubator commercial kitchen is expected to begin operating in September at 15029 14th St., in Dade City.

The initiative is the result of a partnership between the Pasco Extension Office, which is part of the University of Florida Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences, Pasco County and the Pasco County Economic Development Council Inc., with assistance from Welbilt.

Welbilt, a global manufacturer of commercial restaurant equipment, has provided equipment for the kitchen. It contributed a six-burner range, a single-door refrigerator, a single-door freezer, an under-the-counter ice machine, shelving, and stainless steel work tables.

Welbilt Inc., has delivered the kitchen equipment for a commercial kitchen incubator at the One Stop Shop, in the UF/IFAS Cooperative Extension One Stop Shop Stallings Building at 15029 14th St., in Dade City. From left: Mick Hughes, Welbilt; Elizabeth Urquiola, UF/IFAS; Steve Flook, Welbilt; Dan Mitchell, Pasco EDC; and, Michael Anderson, Welbilt. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.)

“They have been working with us, very closely, as an excellent partner, and we do appreciate that donation of equipment from them,” Dr. Whitney C. Elmore, director of the Pasco County Extension Office, told members of the Pasco County Commission at a meeting last month.

“They’ve worked closely with us, with facilities from Pasco County, to retrofit an older commercial kitchen space in that building, which has been actually fantastic,” Elmore added.

The new kitchen “is going to open up a lot of opportunities for us and the community,” Elmore added. It will be operating out of the One Stop Shop, located within the Stallings Building in East Pasco.

Dan Mitchell, program manager for Pasco EDC’s SMARTstart Incubator Program, said the updated commercial kitchen will be used for community classes and by SMARTstart.

“It will be used for our members who might need to use it to launch their food businesses,” Mitchell said. “They’ll be able to do a little bit of production out of there, if they’re one of our incubator members, as well as collaborate with local growers, local chefs, other food entrepreneurs.

“So, it will really be a space that will hopefully foster some food innovation, some excitement around food business in Pasco County. There’s a lot of that bubbling under the surface,” he said.

For instance, the kitchen makes it possible for a family living in the area to lease a garden plot for free, grow some vegetables and make a product they could sell at a farmer’s market.

“Once a business needs to grow beyond a farmer’s market, we have all of our SMARTstart programs, like co-starters, our microloan program, and everything else to support entrepreneurs,” Mitchell said.

The Pasco EDC offers a host of programs aimed at helping businesses grow, at whatever stage they happen to be in, Mitchell noted. And, Pasco County has incentives aimed to attract high-wage jobs to the county.

The idea of creating the incubator kitchen resulted from talks involving a variety of stakeholders, including the Pasco EDC, the Extension Office and others, Mitchell said.

“What we noticed is there’s a lot interest in food businesses. There’s a lot of agriculture in Pasco County. There’s citrus, beef, kumquats, blueberries out East. Then out West we have some breweries and some seafood production. And, one of the things that we don’t have, however, is a good local distribution model, where food can get from these different producers to our local restaurants,” Mitchell said.

But, he added, “there’s not a good easy way for these people to connect.”

“It became apparent that it would be nice if we had some kind of food hub. So, the Pasco EDC decided to go ahead and host what’s called its Food Hub Task Force.”

The group meets monthly, with the aim of creating a model that will encourage food-related partnerships and generate jobs, he said.

The commercial kitchen opens the door to new possibilities, Mitchell said.

“If you produce the food in your own home, you’re not allowed to sell other than direct to consumer. If you produce in a commercial kitchen, you’re suddenly allowed to do a lot more,” he explained.

A ribbon cutting to celebrate the incubator kitchen is planned for Sept. 23 at 2:30 p.m.

Another event has been planned, as well, to help explore the possibilities the new kitchen is creating. That event is set for Nov. 20 and has been dubbed, “Food is the Biggest Business.”

“We’re going to have four or five food entrepreneurs that are already successful. Maybe a successful restaurateur, maybe a food truck guy, maybe a celebrity chef. Those types of people,” Mitchell said.

“It will be open to anyone interested in those types of businesses, from any direction,” he said, and, it will give people a chance to know others who share an interest in the food industry — from a variety of perspectives.

From there, who knows?

“It really comes down to each individual entrepreneur and what their dreams are,” Mitchell said.

But, whatever path they choose to pursue, chances are Pasco EDC will be able to help them along the way, Mitchell said.

Published July 10, 2019

Workshop sheds light on cottage food industry

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A workshop focused on the ins and outs of operating a cottage food industry drew a crowd — and offered practical information to those attending the session.

The daylong event was presented by the Pasco County Extension Office, which is part of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences branch in Dade City.

The workshop consisted of sessions regarding the requirements of operating a cottage food business.

Dr. Soo Ahn, of the University of Florida, talked about the requirements needed to start a cottage business during an April 5 daylong workshop on the cottage food industry presented by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences in Dade City. (Brian Fernandes)

It was a popular draw — attracting people who currently own businesses, or are interested in starting them.

Dr. Soo Ahn, an assistant professor at University of Florida, shared her expertise on the topic during the seminar.

“Cottage food is [a] home-based food business,” Ahn explained. “From preparation of raw ingredients to the finer product, each step should be done in your kitchen.”

These products can be organic or processed, but must be prepared only in the seller’s residential kitchen.

While raw foods, such as dried fruit are permissible, those with seed sprouts, open melons, open tomatoes or poultry, are excluded.

Meats and vegetables that are cooked do not classify as cottage foods because they must be preserved at a certain temperature and time frame.

They are seen as potentially hazardous foods because they’re more prone to pathogenic microorganisms and toxins.

Simple items, such as beverages, are also prohibited from selling. Pumpkin pie can’t be sold either, because of the vegetable it contains.

Foods that don’t need refrigeration or freezing, are suitable to sell as cottage foods, Ahn said.

Such items may include loaf breads, pastries, jams, trail mix or popcorn.

She encouraged attendees to do background research because the guidelines can be confusing for sellers.

Ahn also noted that home kitchens may lack items, such as instruments to test acidity levels.

Home kitchens may be unable to accommodate certain equipment used in commercial settings like a restaurant kitchen.

She added that “even though you have [a] machine, you might not know how to use it correctly.”

As an alternate safety measure, cottage foods are required to be packaged with labels consisting of the business or seller’s name, contact information, ingredients, the net weight and potential allergens.

“It is a way so consumers know that this is cottage food, but also it’s a way to protect yourself,” Ahn said.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is the state agency that creates the guidelines.

Other than a business license, no other certification or permit is needed to sell cottage foods under department statutes.

What’s more, food safety training is not required for sellers, nor is kitchen inspections – unless there are consumer complaints.

An amendment was passed in 2017 allowing cottage food transactions in Florida to occur online.

However, products must still be directly handed from seller to consumer, with no third party involvement.

Even with offline transactions, selling cottage foods to commercial distributors, such as a grocery store for consumer purchase, is prohibited.

This also applies at farmer’s markets, but cottage food bakers can directly sell their products if they are market vendors.

The 2017 amendment also increased the allowable annual sales up from $15,000 to $50,000.

The reason for the sales cap, Ahn explained, is to limit the amount of cottage food an individual can sell and thus decrease any chance of consumer sickness.

Regulations vary from state to state, and some states have fewer regulations than others.

Wyoming, North Dakota and Utah operate under the Food Freedom Law.

This allows both sellers to distribute and consumers to purchase whatever they like at their own discretion, the doctor noted.

New Jersey is currently the only state that does not have any cottage food laws set in place.

Ahn encouraged workshop participants to abide by the standards set in the Sunshine State.

She reminded participants: “It’s your responsibility to make your food products safe and of high quality by learning what is the best practices,” she stated.

To learn more on Florida’s cottage food requirements, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.

For information on local cottage food education, contact Shari Bresin at (352) 518-0156 or .

Published  May 08, 2019

Class provides advice on healthy cooking

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Shari Bresin understands the challenge of finding the time to prepare healthy foods, while having a busy schedule.

Bresin, the Family and Consumer Science agent for the Pasco County Extension Office, said she can relate to that challenge.

“I know what it’s like to be on the go,” Bresin said.

A class she’s now teaching at the Hugh Embry Library, 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City, aims to help people to gain a better understanding of healthy eating and offers cooking demonstrations, too.

Cooking instructor Shari Bresin prepares a cabbage stir-fry demonstration, and then provides samples to guests. (Brian Fernandes)

The Extension Office, which is part of  the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), is providing the four-part class, called “Cooking Matters.”

The first class was on Sept. 6. The others are scheduled on Sept. 27 and Oct. 4. Each session is from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The classes aim to help people who are interested in living healthier lifestyles.

“I, myself, am very passionate about health and cooking,” said Bresin. “There’s a big need, for sure, in combating chronic diseases and getting people healthier.”

During her lectures, she encourages group participation, asking the audience about their food preferences.

At one point during the first class, she asked participants to name foods they eat by color.

The instructor then explained the health benefits of eating organic foods that may be green, blue or red, among other colors.

She concluded her class with a cooking segment, preparing stir-fry cabbage in a grill, and then offering samples to class members.

Each of the four classes includes a cooking demo, gives participants a chance to indulge, and provides a take-home recipe.

The classes will cover the topics of budgeting and meal planning, and will provide information to dispel the notion that eating healthy is too expensive.

At the first class, Bresin provided a PowerPoint presentation to explain a modern version of the food pyramid called My Plate. My Plate displays a circular dish divided into five food groups that are recommended for any given meal.

It is portioned into grains, dairy, protein, fruits and vegetables.

It recommends that half of grain intake be made of whole grains, while fruits and vegetables make up half the plate.

Those taking part in the class also have the chance to win a gift card.

To find out more, contact Bresin at (352) 518-0156.

‘Cooking Matters’ Classes
Where: Hugh Embry Library, 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City
When: Upcoming classes are set for Sept. 27 and Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Cost: Free
Details: Classes include cooking demonstrations and offer advice for healthy cooking.
Info: Call Shari Bresin at (352) 518-0156.

Published September 19, 2018

An ‘unsung hero’ seeks to help others to grow tasty food

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When a crowd gathered in January to celebrate the dedication of the Watson Park Community Garden in Dade City, there was a man standing quietly in the background — as the festivities progressed.

That man, Brightman Logan, played a vital role in providing the support to help make the garden happen, Whitney C. Elmore, who leads the Pasco County Extension Office, told the crowd — characterizing him as an “unsung hero.”

Brightman Logan says ‘it’s so easy’ to grow delicious food, once someone understands the basics. He’s been instrumental in helping the Pasco County Extension Office in its quest to introduce more community gardens in Pasco County. (B.C. Manion)

As it turns out, Logan helped financially, but he also has given his time to help the Pasco County Extension Office pursue its plans to nurture the growth of community gardening across the county.

Logan thinks it’s important work, and he’s glad to join the University of Florida, the city of Dade City, Pasco County Schools, master gardeners and other volunteers in a quest to make it easier for people across the county to grow their own food.

“It’s really so easy, once you understand it,” said Logan, who has had affinity for the outdoors since he was a child.

Although he grew up in South Tampa, his family had a farm in Pasco County, and he always enjoyed being there.

“My family is from an agricultural background, forestry and things. My grandfather was in naval stores — (the) turpentine and pitch business.

“I grew up listening to his stories about the woods, that’s really what got me to the feel of it,” he said.

He went on to get a degree in biology and then ended up creating his own native plant nursery, and then an organic vegetable farm.

His native plant business flourished for years.

“We did all kinds of neat projects. We did work all over the state. We worked with Disney. We worked throughout the Southeast,” he said.

“When the economy went down in 2008, it just took us out. It went from great to just nothing,” he said, noting he did what he could to hang on, but ultimately had to cease operations.

Next, he branched into other things.

“We actually had an organic vegetable farm up here, called Magnolia Organics, and we ran that for about four years, 2008-2012,” he said. “We grew great food. It was so awesome.

“We would bring classes out. These kids were just blown away that you would actually just pull a carrot out of the ground. They just thought you went to Publix, where it was wrapped up, and you bought it there,” he said.

But, there just wasn’t enough buy-in to keep the organic farm going, he said.

“We were kind of ahead of the curve,” he said.

So, even though he’s shifted into different directions, he wants to share his knowledge with others.

“There are people starving out there. It’s so easy to grow your own food. We need to start teaching people and reaching out to people, and show them what they can do,” Logan said.

He’s been working with Elmore to see how he can help to create a momentum for community gardens across Pasco County.

By supplying what’s needed to establish a garden plot and by teaching people how to tend to their plots, the idea can catch on and take hold, Logan said.

“You want everybody involved,” he said. ““When you have all of these people, you have this synergy.”

By getting youths involved, he said, “you can have a lifelong impact.”

“I’ve been so blessed in my life, I want to try to help other people,” said Logan, who is married to Nan, and they have two grown children, Brightman Logan Jr., and Martha Jean Logan. They also have two granddaughters.

Published March 28, 2018

These gardeners are breaking new ground, in more ways than one

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Community gardens are not a new concept, but the Watson Park Community Garden in Dade City has a new twist.

This garden is the first of its kind in Florida, and the people behind it hope it will become a model for others to follow.

At a ribbon-cutting and groundbreaking ceremony on Jan. 26, children from Cox Elementary School were among the first to get their hands dirty in the garden.

There were others there to celebrate, including Saqib Mukhtar from the University of Florida; Whitney Elmore and Eden Santiago-Gomez, of the Pasco County Extension Office; Camille Hernandez, mayor of Dade City; representatives from the Dade City Garden Club and Pasco County Master Gardeners; financial supporters and members of the community, too.

A cast of many played a role in making the garden become reality, Elmore said, in her opening remarks.

She credited Santiago-Gomez for coming up with the idea and working relentlessly to pursue it.

But, Elmore also noted that it was a collaborative effort and required the help of many.

“It’s the first one in the state that is a partnership between the University of Florida and a municipality (Dade City), so, we’re really, no pun intended, breaking ground, breaking new ground here,” Elmore said.

“Camille Hernandez, the City of Dade City and the commissioners were kind enough to see the value in this and allow funds for the fencing, for the irrigation. They had their work crews, city crews come in and put that in very quickly, a professional job, very, very well done,” Elmore said.

Mukhtar, associate dean for extension and program leader for agriculture, said “this will be a shining example of what can be done.”

Elmore noted: “We’ve got different types of plots. We’ve got regular raised-bed plots. We’ve also got handicapped-accessible plots.”

Eden Santiago-Gomez works with children from Cox Elementary School to begin planting in the Watson Park Community Garden. (B.C. Manion)

The value of community gardens goes beyond growing fruits and vegetables, both Elmore and Hernandez said.

“It really is an exciting day today,” Hernandez said.

She then shared Dade City’s vision for community gardens.

That vision, Hernandez said, is “to provide opportunities for people to grow food for themselves and for donations; to promote healthy diets and activities; to get to know their neighbors and make new friends; to learn from each other; to engage our youth; to promote environmental sustainability and to create a productive and beautiful common ground in our community.

“Today is all about engaging and educating. I’m excited about this wonderful opportunity,” she told the crowd before the ribbon-cutting to officially open the garden, which offers free garden plots for lease.

After the ceremony, Hernandez donned a pair of pink garden gloves and made her way into the garden.

This is the first of many community gardens that Elmore would like to see across Pasco County.

Another community garden is planned in Dade City, which Elmore expects to open within a few months at the Stallings Building, which is owned by Pasco County.

Other possibilities include establishing community gardens at public libraries on the west side of Pasco County, adding community gardens to development projects and possibly to schools, too.

Like Hernandez, Elmore sees enormous potential in the good that community gardens can do.

Besides producing wholesome food, they offer a place where people can learn, she said. They also can bring people together and can provide a source of nutrition to reduce chronic disease.

Elmore expressed gratitude for the widespread support.

“All of these folks saw the need. They all saw the potential for good. And, if it hadn’t had been for them, we couldn’t have made this happen,” Elmore said.

She heaped particular praise on Santiago-Gomez.

“This is the result of her brainchild, of planning, coordinating, being on the phone 24/7, and getting things done. A lot of labor on her part,” Elmore said.

Published January 31, 2018

Partnerships may yield ‘community farm’ at Moore-Mickens

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Efforts have begun to lay the groundwork for a “community farm” on the property now under the supervision of the nonprofit Moore-Mickens Education Center and Vocational Center Inc.

Whitney C. Elmore, director of the Pasco County Extension Office, said she has been talking to the Moore-Mickens nonprofit about the possibility of establishing the farm, which would involve the help of several other community partners.

Whitney C. Elmore, director of the Pasco County Extension Office, is working with community stakeholders on an effort to establish a community farm on the property now under the supervision of the nonprofit Moore-Mickens Education Center and Vocational Center Inc. (File)

“We do have a lot of support from the community and the nonprofit, itself, also folks like Camille Hernandez, the mayor of Dade City.

“We have support from the school board and from Farm Bureau, which is very important to us.

“We bring in a lot of different partners from many aspects in the community,” Elmore said.

“We do have folks from the agricultural community in Pasco, that are interested in helping, as well. Helping us break ground. Helping us move forward, as far as installing and utilizing irrigation,” she added.

“We hope to have that up and running this fall,” she said, explaining that she’s the go-between between the nonprofit and the University of Florida (UF).

“The decision (regarding the Extension Office’s involvement) basically rests with our dean at UF,” Elmore said.

She’s excited about the prospects.

The community farm will grow things for the community, she explained. But, it also would give people an opportunity to learn about gardening.

It would be a place where master gardeners could both teach and learn, Elmore said.

And, it will enable “folks in the community to come in and work with our family and consumer sciences agent for money matters, nutrition courses,” she added.

Elmore’s vision also includes involving the community garden program assistant in the initiative.

“We’re hoping we can even bring the (Pasco County) Sheriff’s Office into play here and bring some of the inmates out to do some of the heavy lifting — but, also give them job skill development and training, as well,” she said.

At this point, the ideas are conceptual, but she hopes they become reality.

“We’re showing a lot of community support,” she said, noting that numerous partners are interested in making this happen.

“We’re going to keep pushing ahead,” Elmore said. “There’s a groundswell that’s taking
place here. This is a win-win for this entire community.”

Published August 2, 2017

Pasco gives boost to community gardening

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Pasco County could soon be the first in the state with a countywide ordinance to permit residents to grow community gardens.

The proposed ordinance also would be the first countywide ordinance of its kind for Pasco.

At a June 6 Pasco County Commission meeting in Dade City, county staff members explained what a community garden is and how it would operate.

More community gardens could result if Pasco County adopts a new ordinance intended to make it easier for a community to create a garden. Shown here, marigolds fill the foreground as Judy Curran checks the variety of plants, vegetables and flowers planted in the gardens of the New River Library. (File)

Commissioners are scheduled to vote on the proposed ordinance at a July 11 meeting in New Port Richey.

“This not only helps our agriculture in Pasco County, but this could be a big tourism thing, too,” said County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey. “There are so many cool benefits this can bring.”

Community gardens are gardens where crops and ornamental plants, including flowers, are grown and harvested, as described in the proposed ordinance.

Daily vehicle trips to tend the gardens generally are more than 14 per day but less than 100, with limited use of heavy vehicles, the county estimates.

Community gardens may be any size.

Applications will provide information such as location, operating hours, the number of parking spaces and a designated garden manager.

Members of the Pasco County Food Policy Advisory Council spent about two years discussing and gathering public opinions on community gardens before submitting the ordinance for review.

The council is one of only three in the state.

“It’s really exciting to see it really coming together,” said Travis Morehead, the council’s chairman. “I think we have something here that is very powerful.”

Three to four community garden requests have been stalled because the county didn’t have a process for community gardens to take root through the permit process.

A permit process would be an easier and less expensive route than having to rezone property to allow the gardens, Morehead said.

Some community gardens already are flourishing, including ones in New Port Richey, which approved a city ordinance. In 2016, a community garden sprouted on land owned by Florida Hospital Zephyrhills.

The Pasco County Extension Office has discussed a community garden as part of its proposal to relocate from the Pasco County fairgrounds to the Stallings Building in downtown Dade City.

The proposed ordinance also defines other types of gardens.

For instance, a market garden primarily sells and buys produce grown on-site or off-site, and is less than 5 acres.

Dwarf Fire bush blooms in the garden add color to the greenery in front of the New River Library in Zephyrhills.

A community farm grows produce, including fruits, vegetables and other edibles, for sale off-site. Farms may be any size.

Discussion on community gardens in Pasco began several years ago.

A master marketing and redevelopment plan for The Harbors district in west Pasco included community gardens and the concept for a food policy council.

Starkey also gives credit to another community movement.

“The food policy council’s history began with emails from residents who wanted to have backyard chickens,” she said.

She is a proponent of permitting the backyard fowl, but no ordinance has been drafted as yet.

The emails and community activism led to discussion of how to use public space and Starkey said, “All these people came out of the woodwork to start the food policy council. This is just the first ordinance that has come out of the council.”

Published June 14, 2017

Pasco County projects axed by Gov. Scott

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Gov. Rick Scott signed an $83 billion budget for 2018 and used his veto pen to slash nearly $22 million earmarked for Pasco County projects.

In total Scott struck out nearly $410 million from local projects across Florida.

Gov. Rick Scott (File)

Pasco lost about $15 million for a new interchange to connect Overpass Road with Interstate 75, and $4.3 million for the Thomas Varnadoe Forensic Center for Education and Research.

The interchange would be a major link in providing more access to Wesley Chapel and east Pasco, where residential and commercial development is booming.

A groundbreaking and dedication ceremony was held in May for the Adam Kennedy Forensics Field, located in Land O’ Lakes, near the planned forensic center. The body farm and forensic center would become the seventh in the nation to study body decomposition as a tool in solving crimes, and identifying victims of murder or other trauma.

The forensic center is planned jointly with Pasco County, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, Pasco-Hernando State College and the University of South Florida’s Institute for Forensics and Applied Science.

Two budget items totaling nearly $1 million to clean out and repair the county’s culverts, and ease the threat of flooding are gone as well.

The Pasco County Fair Association also lost about $860,000 for proposed upgrades to the Pasco County Extension Office. And, Saint Leo University won’t get $4 million for a proposed Florida Hospital Wellness Center.

Scott had a joint press conference on June 2 with Speaker of the House Richard Corcoran, a Republican from Land O’ Lakes, and Senate President Joe Negron, a Republican from Stuart. The trio announced a funding deal had been reached following weeks of speculation that Scott might veto the entire budget. Instead, the governor wielded his veto power, and called legislators back for a three-day special session from June 7 through June 9.

The agenda will include increases to annual per pupil spending from kindergarten through 12th grade; creation of an $85 million Florida Job Growth Grant Fund; and, restoring funds to Visit Florida and Enterprise Florida.

Scott has said he will not veto a controversial education bill that Corcoran favored. It creates a School of Hope program that would subsidize charter schools in areas where public schools are considered failing.

There currently are no plans to include discussion of how to regulate medical marijuana. Voters overwhelmingly approved medical marijuana in a 2016 referendum, but legislators have been split on how many dispensaries to allow.

Scott also cut these Pasco projects:

  • $750,000 for Pasco Regional STEM School/Tampa Bay Region Aeronautics
  • $500,000 for a study of the Clinton Avenue Intersection Re-alignment at U.S. 98 and U.S. 301
  • $350,000 for U.S. 301/Re-imagine Gall Boulevard

Published June 6, 2017