"A Great Place to Grow" Garden  & Food Forest Campaign

Using a 19,000 square foot piece of natural space, the Karen Slattery Educational Research Center for Child Development is creating a one of a kind, self-sustaining edible food forest specifically designed for young children utilizing permaculture concepts. The food forest will expose and educate young children to sustainable food production and serve as a teaching and research site for K-12 and college students and early childhood educators in our community. The food forest will give them daily opportunities to engage with their environment by delivering a healthy alternative to food consumption. Children can learn about microenterprise by growing their own food and using it to address food insecurity in our community through donations to Boca Helping Hands.

The food forest will feature vegetable gardens, an edible arboretum, berry patches, vermiposting and composting stations, a Honeyflow bee hive system, butterfly gardens, natural tunnels, green arbors, vine teepees, sunflower houses, sculptures, benches, a gazebo and child interest stations for learning and exploration. This permaculture garden will enhance our existing child-centered approach to education and serve as a focal point for showcasing our unique teaching model to local and international visitors while teaching, training and encouraging others to take the lead in promoting sustainability concepts and educating future consumers of the environment.