The Florida School of Holistic Living is proud to direct the Orlando's first educational model of an eco-sustainable garden. We are proud to work closely with Orenda Herbal, and Our Vital Earth in the construction of the garden. Local businesses including Whole Foods and Simply Well, have played a vital role in sponsoring our work, & our good neighbor Dandelion Communitea Cafe has been gracious in their support of the project.

We are also thankful to the dozens of volunteers who have thus far helped make the garden a reality, and the hundreds more we look forward to working with in the coming months and years!

What is a Community Garden?
A Community Garden is a green space whose work and bounty is shared by all who contribute their time and energy to the creation and maintenance. Some models of Community Gardens involve individuals purchasing or leasing a designated plot and maintaining only that plot. Our Garden offers a different, Collective model, where we will share the tasks overall of care and maintenance as a whole community.

What educational opportunities will the Garden provide?
Our school is proud to announce specific organic gardening and sustainable living curriculum introduced this fall which will utilize the Community Garden. We will offer both extended courses and onetime workshops - on gardening practices, plant life cycles, and sustainable technology. In addition, everyone has an opportunity for hands-on education by volunteers for the care and maintenance of the garden. Students at the school will also use the garden for educational research on growth rates using different organic fertilizers, herbal treatments, and seed stock.

What is being planted in the Garden?
Medicinal and culinary herbs are the focus of this educational garden, coupled with sacred trees and native, drought tolerant butterfly plants. We are also using a rainwater catchment system, compost technology, and recycled plastic lumber (from milk jugs) to lighten our footprint.

How will the Garden's harvest be used?
As an educational garden, the harvest is carefully scheduled based on earth, lunar, and garden cycles. Garden classes and volunteers will be coordinated to facilitate all harvesting. In the first year or two as the plants establish, we will focus our harvest on educational activities & on propagating new plants to distribute in our community. Volunteers and students in the garden will also have an opportunity to take home freshly harvested herbs according to the harvest schedule, as will Garden members, as the plants mature.

When will the Garden be completed?
The easy answer is that Phase One of the Community Garden, on the lawn at Dandelion, will be complete in Fall 2007.  We will celebrate our Community Herb Garden in conjunction with National Herb Day on Saturday, October 13. The more accurate answer is that a garden is an ongoing project, allowing for continued evolution & creative input.  It is a natural art form, and we invite you to share in its continuing growth for years to come!

How can I get involved?
Your sweat equity is a valuable contribution and highly educational! Volunteers are needed on a one-time or ongoing basis to help build and maintain the Garden. If you're interested in offering your time, please download and submit a copy of our volunteer application.

Do I need previous gardening experience?
Nope! As this is an educational garden, we invite those with little or lots of garden knowledge to get your hands in the dirt and join us in learning by experiencing!

Become a Member of the Community Herb Garden!
When you join the Community Garden, you receive 10% off all Garden classes and workshops, as well as invitations to Members-Only garden events and classes.  You also have the pleasure of knowing you are supporting the greening of OurLando!

By joining the Community Herb Garden, you are contributing your support to a valuable eco-educational resource. Membership dues help provide for the continued maintenance and care of the garden, including tools, general upkeep, and supplies.

• Annual Membership Dues
• Individual: $30
• Family: $50
• Students/Seniors: $20
• Businesses: $100

• Community Garden Partners
• Orenda Herbal ( www.orendaherbal.com )
• Our Vital Earth ( www.ourvitalearth.com )
• Whole Foods Market ( www.wholefoods.com )

• Local Business Sponsors
• Simply Well, Winter Park
• Galaxy Internatiional Foods
• Avalon
• Baldwin Park Development Company
• Loch Haven Vetrinary Clinic
• Tahmara's Secret
• 10,000 Villages
• Full Circle Yoga
• Alchemy
• Envy by Design
• Florida College of Integrative Medecine
• Akyiaa Azula, AP and Quantum Wellness
• Eco-Action
• Crumpins Insurance