Cultivate Abundance has many local partners that join with us in food solidarity. Some were born and raised in Southwest Florida. But most of us come from other places with names such as Minnesota, Guatemala, Michigan, Mexico, Ohio or Haiti. Some know how to grow their favorite garden crops back home. But most of us have had to adjust to the gardening challenges of Southwest Florida, including poor drainage, the dry months, insects, excessive heat and the occasional frosty

Awareness of community gardening in North America has exploded over the past two decades. Often associated with urban gardening in the food deserts of major cities such as Detroit, New York, Los Angeles and Milwaukee, community gardens can be found throughout the US, including rural locations. And while the concept and practice has gained considerable visibility among Americans, it would be a mistake for those outside of the majority world (what was previously referred to as

Bernabela, Amalia and several other Immokalee women made it very clear that local farmworker families often struggle to put nutritious food of their preference on the table. They also explained the reasons, including inadequate income and the challenge of gardening in a densely packed trailer community where free-range chickens roam. Working together to overcome household and community food insecurity challenges, there’s much to sort out. But to get things started, we decid

During Holy Week, Miguel Estrada and Ruth DeYoe of Misión Peniel arranged for Ellen and I to meet with 13 Immokalee women. From Guatemala and southern Mexico, the women’s ages ranged approximately between 20 and 65. Able only to spare an hour or two away from chores at home, many brought their small children along. Ellen and I quickly ran through our rehearsed Spanish introductions, thereafter dependent upon Miguel and Ruth for interpretation. After Ruth broke the ice by i

Everywhere that I’ve engaged in agricultural development work, I’ve benefited from at least one farmer or gardener who served as a model and source of inspiration for myself, my colleagues and especially our community-based partners. Having exceptionally productive and well run holdings, these people stand out from neighboring smallholders despite facing similar environmental challenges as well as poor access to inputs (fertilizers, etc.) and finances. Often living on the m

Since we moved onto our property over four years ago, we have planted at least 30 types of tropical fruit-producing plants. Many, such as the mango, banana, avocado and starfruit trees, have been yielding over the past year or two. Other trees, including a jackfruit, sugar apple, pomelo and two coconuts are still immature. And I’m not sure if our Marion plum or grumichama will ever bear. Since last week, I’ve been monitoring the starfruit, fig, guava and papaya trees for r

While running an errand in south Fort Myers I noticed a garden patch. Squeezed between a canal and an apartment building, this plot didn’t contain the usual roadside ornamentals. Rather it was a small grove of banana (or plantain) plants, papaya, some citrus, a young coconut tree and other tropical fruit. Someone’s trash had been tossed on the edge. It looked like many of those random overseas gardens that I’ve seen tucked away in the urban sprawl where rural workers often

The Thai-Myanmar border and Immokalee, Florida are half a world away from each other, but both locations have a strong pull. In 1994, Ellen and I accepted positions as field personnel with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship to work with migrant hill tribe communities in northern Thailand that had fled conflict in neighboring Myanmar (Burma). These mountain farmers left everything behind to find few resources in Thailand to support their agrarian livelihoods. To survive, man