Gardeners, Urban Farmers Share Harvests Through FarmNet Market

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — These Pasco County growers and farmers never miss a reason to celebrate their harvests.

A record-breaking collard greens crop is chance to come together and share a bowl of Chef Carl Hille's hearty collard greens and ham hock soup at Rose's Bistro in downtown New Port Richey. A fruitful loquat yield becomes the focus of annual Florida Loquat Festival. And an abundance of okra is the perfect excuse to host a cooking competition and recipe exchange at the New Port Richey Public Library.

While everyone might not share their excitement about a giant turnip, the members of New Port Richey FarmNet are among an increasing number of Americans heralding the benefits of "food sovereignty," the right to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods.

New Port Richey FarmNet is composed of more than 100 residential gardeners, market gardeners, community gardeners and Community-Supported Agriculture farmers dedicated to providing the community with fresh, organic fruits and vegetables.

In collaboration with Friendship Farms & Fare family farm, Grand Gardens community garden in New Port Richey and the West Pasco Habitat for Humanity Urban Farm and Market at 4131 Madison St., the gardening enthusiasts are ensuring that even the neediest of residents have access to fresh, vitamin-rich, locally grown fruits and vegetables year round.

At the same time, the network supports and promotes local family-run micro farms, which now comprise 80 percent of the nearly two million farms in America.

New Port Richey's love of gardening began to blossom after the New Port Richey City Council passed its groundbreaking 2013 Urban Agriculture Ordinance, which allows vacant lots in the city to be transformed into community gardens and farms, and encourages residents to use their property to produce food.

With Florida's two growing season, members can spend all year hoeing and harvesting.

Currently, o the heels of a successful okra harvest in August, members are preparing for the fourth annual Sweet Potato Roundup in September when more than 300 pounds of organic sweet potatoes will be harvested.

The sweet potatoes will be sold through the FarmNet Online Market at a nominal cost, just in time to use in Thanksgiving sweet potato casseroles.

The FarmNet Online Market opens Sunday evening and closes Thursdays at 5 p.m. Pick-up takes place at the West Pasco Habitat for Humanity Restore, 4131 Madison St., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Click here for this week's offerings. All produce is priced and sold by the growers.

Growers include Black Cat Grower of Holiday and New Port Richey, Friendship Farms & Fare of New Port Richey, the West Pasco Habitat for Humanity Farm and Honest Spice Company of Aripeka.