FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2015

GARDEN PROJECT LAUNCHES IN GOLDSBORO THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

SANFORD - The Florida Department of Health in Seminole County is partnering with the City of Sanford, Seminole County’s University of Florida IFAS Extension Program and FarmDaddy Inc., to provide self-watering garden container kits to the residents of the Goldsboro community in Sanford. The distribution of these gardening kits to pre-registered residents will be held on June 25 and 27, 2015 at the Westside Community Center located at 919 S. Persimmon Avenue, Sanford, FL 32771. The event will be attended by residents of Sanford and elected officials, including Dr. Velma Williams, Vice Mayor of the City of Sanford and Commissioner for District 2 who has been instrumental in making this project a reality.

This initiative is part of the Florida Department of Health’s Healthiest Weight public-private collaboration to help communities make better choices about healthy eating and active living. The Florida Department of Health in Seminole County is working with various community partners to increase access to healthy produce in communities where it is needed the most. Access to fresh and affordable produce has been recognized as a need in the neighborhood of Goldsboro which is also a designated food desert by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“The number one public health threat to Florida’s future is unhealthy weight. As a community, we need to reduce and prevent obesity which leads to heart disease, diabetes, and cancer,” said Dr. Swannie Jett, health officer of the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County. “We are excited to reinforce the importance of being proactive with our health, and that making healthy choices can be fun and rewarding.”

The Florida Department of Health in Seminole County purchased self-watering garden containers from FarmDaddy Inc., a local private business that promotes a unique low-cost, highly efficient and ecologically friendly product providing accelerated growth and improved productivity with minimal efforts. One hundred container kits with seasonal seeds and potting soil will be distributed to the participants who signed-up for the project. Master Gardeners from the University of Florida Extension Program will be extending their expertise and tips to the community to sustain container gardening. The project will be monitored for success by volunteer liaisons from the community and representatives from the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County. The participants will also post the photos of their produce on www.facebook.com/eatwelllivewellplaywell

For more information about the Goldsboro Container Garden Project, please contact Stephanie Fyock at (407) 665-3011.