GrowFest! is about connecting the dots between the farm or garden and the dinner table. It’s about providing the knowledge and materials to grow, forage, buy, prepare, and eat good, local, seasonal food. Engaging the public, encouraging and giving them the tools to grow some of their own will enable them to gain a better appreciation of what it takes for farmers to produce the food we all eat, and whet folks’ appetite for the best, healthiest, and freshest produce.

Start your gardens! Get your seedlings, fruit trees and companion plants. Bee Heaven Farm will have over 100 varieties of heirloom tomato, veggie and hard-to-find herb seedlings. There will be fruit trees, native, and companion plants to promote beneficial insect habitat and gardening supplies. SNAP/EBT dollars can be used for buying veggie seeds and seedlings. And those dollars will stretch
twice as far, courtesy of Florida Organic Growers’ Fresh Access Bucks double-value program, to get those gardens growing!

Questions about growing? Answers here for backyard growers, urban farmers, small and big farms. The UF/Miami- Dade County Extension Office is our local source for growing information tailored to our subtropical South Florida climate. Check out our presentations, workshops, and demos. There will be special emphasis on organic and environmentally friendly practices, and establishing building blocks for healthy eating.

Want to learn how to prepare healthy food? See local chefs use fresh local ingredients to create fun and tasty dishes, school lunches, and snacks. Pick up copies of awesome books highlighting local foods, like Local Flavor: Recipes Raised in the Florida Redland. Grab a hot-off-the-press copy of Edible South Florida Magazine’s Fall issue, chock full of information.

Enjoy fresh, great food! Tired of that same old fair food? Our food vendors showcase locally-grown Fresh From Florida and Redland-Raised ingredients. Local cottage food and artisanal producers will share their stories and sell their goods.

Watch screenings “Hungry for Justice” a documentary about social justice issues for agricultural workers presented by Florida Organic Growers.

Explore the park! The only tropical botanical garden and public park of its kind in the U.S., the Redland Fruit & Spice Park hosts over 500 varieties of tropical fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs, nuts and edible plants. If you’ve ever been to the park, you know what a nice place it is to visit and learn about the amazing variety of edible plants you can grow in South Florida.

Call 305-247-8650 or email GrowFest@beeheavenfarm.com at least 7 days in advance to request materials in accessible format, a sign language interpreter and for information on access for persons with disabilities