The Community Garden Vision
- Create an organic community garden in Arlington
The garden provides members of the community a safe place to grow their own organic food and encourage them to share a portion of their bounty with others in need by donating to area food banks. The garden increases independence, creates additional food security, and improves health by providing nutritious, fresh produce free from harmful chemicals.
- Educate community green gardeners
We promote the personal and environmental benefits of organic gardening and leading a “green” lifestyle. Included in this education are classes on “how to garden organically”, and garden mentors for those new to gardening. The garden will demonstrate to school-age children the joy and value of organic gardening and green practices.
- Foster a greater sense of community
We provide intergenerational opportunities in a safe environment: working in the garden and garden events such as potlucks, recipe exchange parties for food currently in season, ethnic cooking demonstrations, etc. held on the UUCJ campus.
- Serve as a model for other citizen-lead groups
We support those interested in community gardens, sharing information, and providing assistance as requested. Our hope is to improve the well-being and resiliency of the Arlington community.
Our vision for the garden is shared by community partners and sponsors:
7152 Lone Star Rd.Jacksonville FL 32211Tree Hill has made the garden location available and Tree Hill staff support the program and garden operations.
1301 Riverplace Blvd., Ste. 400Jacksonville FL 32207A generous United Way grant makes the program possible, funding materials to create the garden and production of this web site.
- UUCJ - Unitarian Universalist Church of Jacksonville
7405 Arlington ExpresswayJacksonville FL 32211UUCJ is a religious and spiritual community celebrating Unitarian Universalist principles. We commit to caring for one another with acceptance and respect. We pledge to sustain a sacred space where together we seek religious freedom, personal growth, life's meaning, and social justice. Through our actions, we serve as a catalyst for social change. UUCJ is a principle sponsor of the Arlington Community Garden Project.
Our Garden Community
Unitarian Church and Tree Hill Partnership
The Unitarian Universalist Church received a grant from United Way to create an organic, community garden at Tree Hill Nature Center. The purpose of the grant was to improve the resiliency of the 32211 zip code area (Arlington) by offering funds and training to non-profits and faith based groups already engaged in working to improve the Arlington community. The idea was to focus on one neighborhood and strengthen the ability of all the non-profits already working to improve it, so that they could increase the capacity of their good work and begin to network with one another. As UUCJ and Tree Hill were two of the non-profits already working to improve Arlington, we decided to partner on this project. Tree Hill agreed to donate the land for the garden and oversee the creation of it, and UUCJ agreed to manage it. Please explore our web site to find out more about food growing opportunities at the newly created Arlington Community Garden.
1166 3rd Ave. NorthJacksonville Beach FL 32250Their mission is to address the long-term goal of local food security in our community through creating educational programs for children and adults, connecting farmers to consumers, and building community and school gardens.
Our volunteers are essential to the creation and maintenance of the community garden. See the Volunteer page to learn about the many ways you can help with our mission.
Slow Food seeks to create dramatic and lasting change in the food system. We seek to inspire a transformation in food policy, production practices and market forces so that they ensure equity, sustainability and pleasure in the food we eat. We are honored to be recognized by Slow Food First Coast with their Snail of Approval.
