February 3, 2025 • 32 mins
Sheila Gutierrez from Vizcaya Museum and Gardens shares her journey of connecting mental health and community engagement through urban agriculture. The episode highlights how food sustains us socially and physically, emphasizing Vizcaya's unique role in preserving agricultural legacy and fostering sustainable practices for a healthier community.
- Sheila discusses her background in healthcare and the link to mental health
- Overview of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens' history and agricultural significance
- Introduction to the Vizcaya Village Farmers Market and its role in community engagement
- Explanation of the upcoming Dinner for Farmers event in collaboration with FOG's Florida Local Food Project
- Discussion on educational programs offered at Vizcaya for diverse audiences
- Insights into sustainability practices and their importance for future generations
- Exploration of how individuals can engage with local food systems and support their community
To learn more about Vizcaya and stay updated on upcoming events, visit Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Support their agricultural initiatives and be a part of fostering a healthier, more sustainable community.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Fresh Take , where we at Florida Organic
Growers speak to food systemsexperts about topics related to
organic and sustainableagriculture, healthy lifestyles
and the environment.
To help us continue ourprograms at FOG, including our
podcast, consider becoming asponsor.
For more information onsponsorship, check out our Get
Involved page on our website,wwwfoginfoorg out our Get
(00:27):
Involved page on our website,wwwfoginfoorg.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Hello everyone and welcome to our latest episode of
Fresh Take.
Today, I am joined by a veryspecial guest, sheila Gutierrez,
who currently serves as theUrban Farming Programs Manager
at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens inMiami.
She is helping to pave a pathforward for new and existing
agricultural leaders and I'vehad the absolute pleasure of
getting to know her over thelast couple of years as an urban
ag enthusiast and museumeducator, combining her
(00:55):
knowledge on behavioral healthand farming and cultivating
community connections throughfood history and hands-on
programming.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Sheila, welcome to the show.
Thank you so much for having me, Lana.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
I really want to talk a little bit about the first
time we met, which was at theSlow Food Miami annual
conference, and just the factthat it's been a couple of years
since we've had thatintroduction and I'm just so
excited to continue.
You know building thisrelationship and talking more
(01:32):
about your background and whoyou are, so I'm curious to know
you know what is youragricultural story?
What brought you to Vizcaya andthis role?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Well, my background started as a nursing secretary
and a rehabilitation leader in arehab center for older adults
and in the process of beingthere I realized that there was
a mental health crisis.
I realized that there was amental health crisis.
(02:05):
It was real and I was justcurious to see if there was a
better way to really serve ourwell-being and so I stepped away
from that work and I steppedinto volunteer roles and
gardening and I found my lovefor, for farming and I realized
(02:30):
that at the root of ourwell-being is really how we eat
and, yes, our connection tonature is key to that.
And at my role in Vizcaya as anurban farming programs manager,
I really oversee and developthose initiatives that engage
(02:55):
the community and promotewellness and sustainable
agriculture.
My role really involves programmanagement, community
engagement and educationaloutreach.
I design and implement urbanagriculture programs that cater
to school students, families andcommunity members, and that
(03:17):
includes managing the weeklyfarmers market planning
workshops that encouragevisitors in planting, cooking
and art making activities toreally foster that sense of
connection with how we eat forour wellness and really just
engaging with plants in that way.
I cultivate partnerships withlocal organizations, like Girl
(03:39):
Scouts, for example, to engagein urban agriculture and I
really collaborate with a lot ofeducators to create curriculum
and programs that integrateurban agriculture and make that
connection between ourrelationship with the plants,
their benefits and community.
And I implement and promotesustainable farming practices
(04:01):
with the gardens, such ascomposting.
And my work really as the urbanfarming program manager has
contributed to increasingcommunity participation in urban
farming programs, expanding andadding experiences at the
Vizcaya Village Farmers Marketthat contribute to that
community engagement with theplants that we grow and
(04:24):
exploring their differentbenefits and really engaging
community and agriculture tobridge that gap between this
guy's history and our modernrole as a cultural and
educational hub.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Well, wow, I mean that's so many things going on
there and I feel like I want totake a step back for a second
and talk about your background alittle bit.
Sure that has influenced yourlife tremendously and having
that kind of experience with youknow, just the idea of trying
(05:15):
to bridge the gap between mentalhealth and food and farming and
history, like all those thingsseem to be, and some to some
people may be very disconnected,and I think in what you're
doing and building theseprograms and trying to connect
the dots, it's a reallyinspiring you know thing that
(05:36):
you're doing and I want to learnmore about how that has
influenced you in kind ofpursuing a bigger role and
trying to create these kinds ofprograms for people in the Miami
community.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Yeah, it really is connecting a lot of dots that
you don't necessarily see whenyou're in the journey.
It's not until you kind of takea step back and start to make
those connections from yourfamily's history and the land
that's there and the food thatgrows there and how the
(06:13):
community engages in foodpractices that you begin to make
sense of all of the pieces.
And I think that's where I'm atnow, that I understand and have
really been intentional to seethat like see those pieces and
honor my own culture, my ownheritage and knowing the stories
(06:38):
.
And I mean I've been fortunateto visit my family's farm and
spent some time there throughoutthe years of growing up, and so
I have memories very faintly inthe back and stories of like my
mother using herbs likechamomile to heal my sister's
(06:59):
postpartum or to heal us when wewere rowdy, to calm us down,
and so all of those stories offamily drive this work.
Because we are in a place rightnow where we are or don't have
access to engage necessarilywith nature or to grow our own
(07:21):
food, because we are in an urbansetting and so it might not be
accessible to everyone, and sothe more we try to find those
stories within our own families,the more we start finding that
connection with the food, thehealth, and so, yeah, it has
impacted me.
(07:41):
It has impacted me, my ownpersonal story and my family and
what I do now trying to bridgethat wellness gap.
I've seen it firsthand inworking in rehabilitation center
that the food that we eat isnot necessarily conducive to our
well-being.
It's highly processed processand so our programs at Vizcaya
(08:08):
really especially like thefarmer's market and having those
spaces where community can comeand purchase fresh ingredients
or fresh food.
It's really the starting pointfor them to engage in a food
system that is fresh andsupports their own well-being,
and doing that through food andactive living and social spaces.
(08:30):
That's really at the center ofthe community cultural hub that
we are creating at Vizcaya.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah, and I find it to be fascinating that you know
you even provided a directexample of growing chamomile and
using that to heal, and that'slike the exact thing that I
think people tend to forget isthat our food is the source of a
lot of solutions, and I thinkVizcaya, in today's episode,
(08:59):
we're going to be talking aboutkind of a general overview of
Vizcaya's past, present andongoing role to support local
agriculture, because it wasoriginally a hub for food in the
Miami South Florida area.
And so, before we get into thehistory of Vizcaya, I want you
(09:20):
to tell our listeners who arenot familiar with Vizcaya Museum
and Gardens what it is todayand what its general purpose is.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
So Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a National Historic
Landmark and a cultural hublocated in Miami.
It was originally built between1914 and 1922 as the winter
retreat estate of James Deering.
James Deering designed theestate to reflect European
(09:53):
estates which incorporated, likeunique flora of South Florida
with that European architecture,and his vision was really to
create this lavish estate thatcombined also Italian
Renaissance with the subterfugalenvironment of Miami, but also
designed it in a way that itwould be self-sufficient.
(10:14):
The Vizcaya Village is theoriginal farm and village that
supported the self-sufficiencyto support the household and
guest.
And the original farm andvillage area, which is the
Vizcaya village, is now beingrestored to highlight its
agricultural roots.
(10:34):
So the area once included acresof produce, flowers, cattle,
chicken, and right now we're ata point in Vizcaya that we are
really embracing thatagricultural heritage to be able
to tell the stories of thatspace by hosting urban farming
programs and initiatives thatwelcome visitors to engage in
(10:55):
that.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
That's on the west side of the property that I was
really excited to find out about, you know, as of recently,
because, as someone who grew upin South Florida, vizcaya has
always been that, like you know,tourist attraction, because
it's such a beautiful place tovisit.
It's a stunning piece of land,and the house itself where the
(11:20):
gentleman lived who founded itis open to the public, for
people to view, even all theindividual rooms, and so it's a
really beautiful place, and theway that the nature is entwined
into the area is a reallysignificant part of it.
But to know that the history ofagriculture, the roots that
(11:43):
were in, you know, in that land,are coming back in terms of
into the light of your effortsand the things that you guys are
doing, is something that's veryexciting, and so I want to know
more about the role thatVizcaya played in agricultural
history and how that's beingtransformed now.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
Yeah, today Vizcaya continues to honor its
agriculture legacy through thesevarious programs and
initiatives.
The Vizcaya Village FarmersMarket is sort of a homage to
its agriculture history, wherethey used to grow produce,
flowers, chickens.
We have a historic chicken coop, and so any of the excess that
(12:33):
they had was actually soldduring a market to the public,
and so today that's sort of ourhomage to that history.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
And what are the main crops and farming techniques
that Vizcaya was known for?
Speaker 3 (12:51):
So in the late 20s.
We have a documented sort ofgardener's diary and it
highlights the activities thattook place at the gardens, and
so we have a list of crops likesweet potatoes, cabbage, leafy
greens, lettuces, and we havedocumentation of an orchard
(13:12):
where there were mango trees andcitrus and sapolia trees that
grew on site, and that reallygoes to show the importance of
documentation as being atechnique as well, and today we
are reviving that legacy toplant at the Vizcaya village.
(13:36):
So if you visit the Vizcayavillage, we have several nooks
that are planted with crops thatyou can find that were grown
historically, and we have one ofthe historic mangoes on site.
We have techniques likeespalier, where you can see some
fruit trees in oursuperintendent's kitchen garden
(13:59):
that serves to provide freshproduce for our newly restored
Vizcaya Village Cafe, and so youcan really see that starting to
take shape I love that and whatis you know?
Speaker 2 (14:13):
I know that there was this really deep history of you
know all the pieces that youshared with the, with
agriculture, and so what was thereason for the estate
transitioning from it being anagricultural hub to now, you
know, mainly as a garden and amuseum?
Speaker 3 (14:34):
So, after Deering's death in 1925, the estate had
challenges, hurricanes and urbandevelopment.
And so in 1952, miami-dadeCounty acquired Vizcaya to
transform it into a museum topreserve its historical and
cultural significance, and thatincludes the original farm and
(14:56):
village area.
The Vizcaya village is now in aprocess of being restored to
highlight the agriculture roots,and today, really, we're in the
(15:33):
process of restoring those 12historic buildings to become
areas where, where students willbe able to engage in the space
directly, after engaging in oururban farming gardens, so taking
the hands-on work in the gardenand then taking it beyond that
for them to learn how toincorporate that or use that in
art making or cooking recipes.
(15:55):
And so that is the VizcayaVillage restoration project
ahead of us, trying to preservethat agriculture legacy.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
And that's.
I think that's really importantbecause, you know, for the
community it's just kind of aplace where people can go back
and reflect on those roots interms of the, you know,
agricultural history and and nowyou guys have so many different
events that you're holding atthat space to really highlight
(16:26):
some of those things and bringto light that story.
And I think that's really justincredible to know that you guys
are taking that effort andbringing that forward.
And I'm curious to know whatother kinds of activities you've
held to support the localfarmers and other agricultural
(16:47):
businesses at that space.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
One example is our annual event Dinner for Farmers
that honors South Florida'slocal farms and farmers.
It features a farm-to-tabledinner that uses locally sourced
ingredients, celebrating theimportance of sustainable
agriculture.
The initiative launched in 2016as a collaboration between
(17:10):
Vizcaya Museum and Edible SouthFlorida and it really began as a
simple community dinner toconnect farmers.
We were hearing from farmersthat they didn't really have
time off to relax.
The farming season takes a tollon farmers and so really
(17:31):
wanting to provide a space togive them a platform to
celebrate and support the localagriculture, the work that they
were doing, and now it's growninto that platform of really
celebrating and supporting andsupporting and highlighting
those sustainable practiceswithin the agriculture community
(17:51):
and who's doing what, and thecelebration is really bringing
together farmers, chefs andcommunity to enjoy that farm to
table.
Really it's a showcase of thefruits of their labor and that
really bridges the past with itsmodern mission of community
engagement and sustainability.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
And I honestly this event is something that, like,
I've never seen anything likethis.
I've been to so many different,you know, farm to table events
and but this one, you thinkabout it and it's like the
farmers are actually dining andthat's what's really special
about it.
And we at Fog we're so honoredto be able to collaborate with
(18:35):
you guys on this next upcomingDinner for Farmers event.
That's very exclusive to thosepeople that are doing the work
on the ground and have verylittle time to socialize and do
the things that you mentionedand really just support each
other and celebrate.
So that's something that we'rereally looking forward to and,
(18:56):
because I was able to attendlast year's event, I'm really
just excited to see thatparticular event grow and be a
really big source of communitysupport for those people that
are looking for those kinds ofconnections and rebuilding the
story of ag in Miami.
So it's really special to be apart of that and to witness it
(19:20):
take place.
So it's great to see thosethings happening.
And, speaking of partnerships,I know that you guys are really
well known for your Vizcayafarmer's market, so tell us a
little bit more about the market, when that started and who that
really all involves so theVizcaya village farmer's market.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
It's a weekly farmer's market, it's on Sundays
and the farmer's market is incollaboration with Urban Oasis
Project.
Urban Oasis Project is a realkey player in our Miami
community that connects farmsand really gives them a platform
(20:02):
to sell their produce.
And that's really what thefarmer's market is about giving
these small businesses and thesefarmers a place to sell their
produce and not only just selltheir produce but connect with
their community so that thecommunity can know their farmer
and just build that connection.
(20:24):
It's a more intimate experience.
When you shop at a farmer'smarket you get to meet not the
hands that grew your food butthe chefs who are also working
to collaborate with farmers tosource their local ingredients.
(20:45):
Pivotal moment, sort of pre postpandemic, in a time where we
were seeking spaces that wereoutdoors and seeking
alternatives to healthier living.
And the farmer's market isexpanding and it's growing to
(21:07):
really provide our communitywith those ingredients, but also
the place where they cansocialize and build community.
So we have different wellnessprograms, like our yoga program,
and once a month you canexperience a family drop-in
program which really encouragesintergenerational experiences
(21:28):
with families.
So all ages welcome to engagein art making and planting,
gardening activities that theycan connect with agriculture in
that way.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
And I think that the Vizcaya market does a really
great job at presenting thoselike dynamic opportunities to
really kind of play in a fewdifferent pots, you know, having
the art piece, music, farming,like there's just a lot of fun
activities going on and, likeyou said, like it touches all
different ages, and I think thatthat particular market has a
(22:06):
really big emphasis on the localgrowers.
You mentioned Urban OasisProject and they're actually one
of our members of the USDAinitiative that we have, the
Florida Local Food Project, andI think it's important to have
more growers at markets and Ithink Urban Oasis Project is one
of those examples where they'rebringing that to the table and
(22:32):
trying to showcase more of thereal local produce that is in
our community.
I'd love to hear that that'ssuch a big emphasis in this kind
of market and I'd love to learnmore about some of the other
ways that Vizcaya is currentlyeducating the public, whether
it's through, you know, yourtours or workshops, like what
(22:53):
are some of the other thingsthat you think play a really big
role for the community?
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Yeah, and to add to what you previously said, lana,
one of the things that UrbanOasis Project does so well is
that they support the localfarms Often the farmers they
can't get away to go to marketbecause there are so many
demands at their farm that theyneed to attend to that.
Sometimes it is an additionalthing that they have to do when
(23:21):
they go to market and so UrbanOasis Project sometimes will
aggregate from those farmers tobe able to take that to market,
so really giving them thatflexibility to still have a
place for them to sell anddistribute their fresh produce.
And as far as our educationprograms, at Vizcaya, visitors
(23:47):
during the farmer's market canparticipate in our Vizcaya
village tour where they canlearn more about the history and
the people that were working atthe Vizcaya museum and gardens
and that they were living thereand really participating in all
(24:08):
of the movement that happened.
At Vizcaya Village we havehands-on activities where people
can participate in art making,planting and learning those
techniques, like using plants tocreate ink and use that as art,
or using root crops to cookmeals in different ways.
(24:31):
Using native pine trees tocreate ornaments are some
examples of some workshops thathave been led by wonderful
educators in our community andthese workshops are really
designed for those diverseaudiences.
So we welcome school students,designed for those diverse
(24:51):
audiences.
So we welcome school students,families and then the community
during the Vizcaya Village.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
Farmers Market and you mentioned, you know, some of
the things that you guys aredoing is just trying to connect
people in terms of, like,bringing in certain practices
that maybe people aren't doing,such as composting or growing
edible plants that they canenjoy at home.
So what do you think is thebroader role that Vizcaya plays
(25:17):
in terms of just being, like, aleader in the Florida's local
food movement?
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Because our agriculture history is so
embedded into our mission.
We have a mission to preservethe agriculture past and by
doing that it helps usunderstand and appreciate the
city's development and thediverse communities that
contributed to its growth.
(25:44):
And by studying that and howpast generations cultivated the
land, we can adopt and adaptthese methods to promote
environmental sustainability.
So, like compost, we welcomevisitors on Sundays to bring
their compost scraps, their foodwaste scraps.
We partner with Compost forLife, so Compost for Life will
(26:08):
take those food nourishourselves.
So using compost is afoundation for us to grow
(26:34):
healthy plants so that we canalso be healthy people.
And by remembering that andadopting those practices we
really start to create thatconnection with nature and we
hold on to our communityidentity and the stories and the
plants that the stories tell.
It's really a sense of prideand connection and mission that
(26:57):
links us to our roots of thecity and beyond, to our origin
stories, really preserving thathistory and culture identity of
the people who came before usand helped build this grand
museum and garden.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
And that's something that I think is somewhat
overlooked sometimes in thecommunity are those stories that
hold this wisdom and the powerof food sovereignty and how we
can as individuals, as averageeveryday citizens, be a part of
that, and I think that'ssomething Vizcaya is doing a
(27:37):
really great job at doing interms of involving the people,
involving the community, in kindof retelling or recreating the
narrative around whatagriculture is today.
So is there something that youforesee happening with Vizcaya
in terms of the future of Miamiand what the community is going
(28:00):
to look like?
Speaker 3 (28:01):
The future is green.
Definitely, the ongoing effortsof the Vizcaya Village
Restoration Project will createnew opportunities for more
educational programs.
It will preserve and highlightthe agriculture legacy and
support new infrastructure thatwill support the agriculture
(28:26):
efforts.
So areas to grow food and areasto cook I mentioned a teaching
kitchen earlier on and wetclassrooms where students can
really engage in that tactileand sensory experience and being
outdoors and getting thatopportunity to engage in that
(28:48):
way and not just students butour community to see that
flourishing around us in anurban center is really exciting
time to be at where we areworking towards that restoration
and creating those spaces.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
Yes, I'm honestly so excited to hear about those
things and those kinds oftouches that you guys are
bringing to the space, because Iyou know, before we wrap up the
conversation, I want to talkabout just the general impact of
agriculture In your eyes.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
How does agriculture play a role in the city's growth
and development and how canpeople that are listening play a
bigger role in this space?
Intentional choices in oureveryday life to collect their
(29:48):
food, waste, scraps and compostthat, and also by visiting
farmer's market, like ourVizcaya Village farmer's market,
where they can find variety ofproducts like fresh fruits and
vegetables that are locallygrown, produce from nearby farms
that are more nutrient dense.
(30:09):
They are fresh and will supporttheir health in the long term,
and they can find handcraftedgoods and artisanal products and
baked goods and vegan itemsthat were all created by people
in the community smallbusinesses, people in the
(30:31):
community, small businesses, andso that also supports our local
economy.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
Yeah, and I think that that's a really good way to
just connect to otherlike-minded people as well.
I think oftentimes I foundmyself at these markets and I'm
like already making friendswithin the first five seconds,
and I think in Florida that'shonestly kind of hard to do.
So it's obviously a space wherepeople who are really
passionate about community andfood, that energy, is very
(30:58):
present, and so I encouragefolks listening to, like Sheila
said, take a nice little visitto the Vizcaya Market or even to
the Vizcaya Museum and Gardensto learn about the history and
even just experience this kindof agricultural legacy firsthand
and just being able to supportthe farmer-friendly events and
(31:21):
things that are being set up topave a brighter, greener future
for Vizcaya.
So, sheila, I just have tothank you for joining us and
having this really lovely andinspiring conversation and, you
know, sharing your experienceand efforts that you're taking
to influence the agriculturalcommunity and beyond.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
Thank you so much for having me, lana, and I'm
looking forward to our continuedcollaboration with Florida
Organic Growers to continue thiswork.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
Absolutely.
I do as well, and I lookforward to being a part of
future Vizcaya events and alsoseeing, hopefully, some of our
followers and listeners at thoseand want to make sure everyone
can check out vizcayaorg formore information, and I hope you
really are able to take awayideas from this episode that
(32:13):
will foster your own local foodcommunity and opportunities for
connection.
Until next time.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
We hope you enjoyed today's episode.
Port Organic Growers is a 501c3nonprofit organization, so to
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Please subscribe, rate andreview wherever you listen, and
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Welcome to Fresh Take , where we at Florida Organic
Growers speak to food systemsexperts about topics related to
organic and sustainableagriculture, healthy lifestyles
and the environment.
To help us continue ourprograms at FOG, including our
podcast, consider becoming asponsor.
For more information onsponsorship, check out our Get
Involved page on our website,wwwfoginfoorg out our Get
(00:27):
Involved page on our website,wwwfoginfoorg.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Hello everyone and welcome to our latest episode of
Fresh Take.
Today, I am joined by a veryspecial guest, sheila Gutierrez,
who currently serves as theUrban Farming Programs Manager
at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens inMiami.
She is helping to pave a pathforward for new and existing
agricultural leaders and I'vehad the absolute pleasure of
getting to know her over thelast couple of years as an urban
ag enthusiast and museumeducator, combining her
(00:55):
knowledge on behavioral healthand farming and cultivating
community connections throughfood history and hands-on
programming.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Sheila, welcome to the show.
Thank you so much for having me, Lana.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
I really want to talk a little bit about the first
time we met, which was at theSlow Food Miami annual
conference, and just the factthat it's been a couple of years
since we've had thatintroduction and I'm just so
excited to continue.
You know building thisrelationship and talking more
(01:32):
about your background and whoyou are, so I'm curious to know
you know what is youragricultural story?
What brought you to Vizcaya andthis role?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Well, my background started as a nursing secretary
and a rehabilitation leader in arehab center for older adults
and in the process of beingthere I realized that there was
a mental health crisis.
I realized that there was amental health crisis.
(02:05):
It was real and I was justcurious to see if there was a
better way to really serve ourwell-being and so I stepped away
from that work and I steppedinto volunteer roles and
gardening and I found my lovefor, for farming and I realized
(02:30):
that at the root of ourwell-being is really how we eat
and, yes, our connection tonature is key to that.
And at my role in Vizcaya as anurban farming programs manager,
I really oversee and developthose initiatives that engage
(02:55):
the community and promotewellness and sustainable
agriculture.
My role really involves programmanagement, community
engagement and educationaloutreach.
I design and implement urbanagriculture programs that cater
to school students, families andcommunity members, and that
(03:17):
includes managing the weeklyfarmers market planning
workshops that encouragevisitors in planting, cooking
and art making activities toreally foster that sense of
connection with how we eat forour wellness and really just
engaging with plants in that way.
I cultivate partnerships withlocal organizations, like Girl
(03:39):
Scouts, for example, to engagein urban agriculture and I
really collaborate with a lot ofeducators to create curriculum
and programs that integrateurban agriculture and make that
connection between ourrelationship with the plants,
their benefits and community.
And I implement and promotesustainable farming practices
(04:01):
with the gardens, such ascomposting.
And my work really as the urbanfarming program manager has
contributed to increasingcommunity participation in urban
farming programs, expanding andadding experiences at the
Vizcaya Village Farmers Marketthat contribute to that
community engagement with theplants that we grow and
(04:24):
exploring their differentbenefits and really engaging
community and agriculture tobridge that gap between this
guy's history and our modernrole as a cultural and
educational hub.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Well, wow, I mean that's so many things going on
there and I feel like I want totake a step back for a second
and talk about your background alittle bit.
Sure that has influenced yourlife tremendously and having
that kind of experience with youknow, just the idea of trying
(05:15):
to bridge the gap between mentalhealth and food and farming and
history, like all those thingsseem to be, and some to some
people may be very disconnected,and I think in what you're
doing and building theseprograms and trying to connect
the dots, it's a reallyinspiring you know thing that
(05:36):
you're doing and I want to learnmore about how that has
influenced you in kind ofpursuing a bigger role and
trying to create these kinds ofprograms for people in the Miami
community.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Yeah, it really is connecting a lot of dots that
you don't necessarily see whenyou're in the journey.
It's not until you kind of takea step back and start to make
those connections from yourfamily's history and the land
that's there and the food thatgrows there and how the
(06:13):
community engages in foodpractices that you begin to make
sense of all of the pieces.
And I think that's where I'm atnow, that I understand and have
really been intentional to seethat like see those pieces and
honor my own culture, my ownheritage and knowing the stories
(06:38):
.
And I mean I've been fortunateto visit my family's farm and
spent some time there throughoutthe years of growing up, and so
I have memories very faintly inthe back and stories of like my
mother using herbs likechamomile to heal my sister's
(06:59):
postpartum or to heal us when wewere rowdy, to calm us down,
and so all of those stories offamily drive this work.
Because we are in a place rightnow where we are or don't have
access to engage necessarilywith nature or to grow our own
(07:21):
food, because we are in an urbansetting and so it might not be
accessible to everyone, and sothe more we try to find those
stories within our own families,the more we start finding that
connection with the food, thehealth, and so, yeah, it has
impacted me.
(07:41):
It has impacted me, my ownpersonal story and my family and
what I do now trying to bridgethat wellness gap.
I've seen it firsthand inworking in rehabilitation center
that the food that we eat isnot necessarily conducive to our
well-being.
It's highly processed processand so our programs at Vizcaya
(08:08):
really especially like thefarmer's market and having those
spaces where community can comeand purchase fresh ingredients
or fresh food.
It's really the starting pointfor them to engage in a food
system that is fresh andsupports their own well-being,
and doing that through food andactive living and social spaces.
(08:30):
That's really at the center ofthe community cultural hub that
we are creating at Vizcaya.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah, and I find it to be fascinating that you know
you even provided a directexample of growing chamomile and
using that to heal, and that'slike the exact thing that I
think people tend to forget isthat our food is the source of a
lot of solutions, and I thinkVizcaya, in today's episode,
(08:59):
we're going to be talking aboutkind of a general overview of
Vizcaya's past, present andongoing role to support local
agriculture, because it wasoriginally a hub for food in the
Miami South Florida area.
And so, before we get into thehistory of Vizcaya, I want you
(09:20):
to tell our listeners who arenot familiar with Vizcaya Museum
and Gardens what it is todayand what its general purpose is.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
So Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a National Historic
Landmark and a cultural hublocated in Miami.
It was originally built between1914 and 1922 as the winter
retreat estate of James Deering.
James Deering designed theestate to reflect European
(09:53):
estates which incorporated, likeunique flora of South Florida
with that European architecture,and his vision was really to
create this lavish estate thatcombined also Italian
Renaissance with the subterfugalenvironment of Miami, but also
designed it in a way that itwould be self-sufficient.
(10:14):
The Vizcaya Village is theoriginal farm and village that
supported the self-sufficiencyto support the household and
guest.
And the original farm andvillage area, which is the
Vizcaya village, is now beingrestored to highlight its
agricultural roots.
(10:34):
So the area once included acresof produce, flowers, cattle,
chicken, and right now we're ata point in Vizcaya that we are
really embracing thatagricultural heritage to be able
to tell the stories of thatspace by hosting urban farming
programs and initiatives thatwelcome visitors to engage in
(10:55):
that.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
That's on the west side of the property that I was
really excited to find out about, you know, as of recently,
because, as someone who grew upin South Florida, vizcaya has
always been that, like you know,tourist attraction, because
it's such a beautiful place tovisit.
It's a stunning piece of land,and the house itself where the
(11:20):
gentleman lived who founded itis open to the public, for
people to view, even all theindividual rooms, and so it's a
really beautiful place, and theway that the nature is entwined
into the area is a reallysignificant part of it.
But to know that the history ofagriculture, the roots that
(11:43):
were in, you know, in that land,are coming back in terms of
into the light of your effortsand the things that you guys are
doing, is something that's veryexciting, and so I want to know
more about the role thatVizcaya played in agricultural
history and how that's beingtransformed now.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
Yeah, today Vizcaya continues to honor its
agriculture legacy through thesevarious programs and
initiatives.
The Vizcaya Village FarmersMarket is sort of a homage to
its agriculture history, wherethey used to grow produce,
flowers, chickens.
We have a historic chicken coop, and so any of the excess that
(12:33):
they had was actually soldduring a market to the public,
and so today that's sort of ourhomage to that history.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
And what are the main crops and farming techniques
that Vizcaya was known for?
Speaker 3 (12:51):
So in the late 20s.
We have a documented sort ofgardener's diary and it
highlights the activities thattook place at the gardens, and
so we have a list of crops likesweet potatoes, cabbage, leafy
greens, lettuces, and we havedocumentation of an orchard
(13:12):
where there were mango trees andcitrus and sapolia trees that
grew on site, and that reallygoes to show the importance of
documentation as being atechnique as well, and today we
are reviving that legacy toplant at the Vizcaya village.
(13:36):
So if you visit the Vizcayavillage, we have several nooks
that are planted with crops thatyou can find that were grown
historically, and we have one ofthe historic mangoes on site.
We have techniques likeespalier, where you can see some
fruit trees in oursuperintendent's kitchen garden
(13:59):
that serves to provide freshproduce for our newly restored
Vizcaya Village Cafe, and so youcan really see that starting to
take shape I love that and whatis you know?
Speaker 2 (14:13):
I know that there was this really deep history of you
know all the pieces that youshared with the, with
agriculture, and so what was thereason for the estate
transitioning from it being anagricultural hub to now, you
know, mainly as a garden and amuseum?
Speaker 3 (14:34):
So, after Deering's death in 1925, the estate had
challenges, hurricanes and urbandevelopment.
And so in 1952, miami-dadeCounty acquired Vizcaya to
transform it into a museum topreserve its historical and
cultural significance, and thatincludes the original farm and
(14:56):
village area.
The Vizcaya village is now in aprocess of being restored to
highlight the agriculture roots,and today, really, we're in the
(15:33):
process of restoring those 12historic buildings to become
areas where, where students willbe able to engage in the space
directly, after engaging in oururban farming gardens, so taking
the hands-on work in the gardenand then taking it beyond that
for them to learn how toincorporate that or use that in
art making or cooking recipes.
(15:55):
And so that is the VizcayaVillage restoration project
ahead of us, trying to preservethat agriculture legacy.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
And that's.
I think that's really importantbecause, you know, for the
community it's just kind of aplace where people can go back
and reflect on those roots interms of the, you know,
agricultural history and and nowyou guys have so many different
events that you're holding atthat space to really highlight
(16:26):
some of those things and bringto light that story.
And I think that's really justincredible to know that you guys
are taking that effort andbringing that forward.
And I'm curious to know whatother kinds of activities you've
held to support the localfarmers and other agricultural
(16:47):
businesses at that space.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
One example is our annual event Dinner for Farmers
that honors South Florida'slocal farms and farmers.
It features a farm-to-tabledinner that uses locally sourced
ingredients, celebrating theimportance of sustainable
agriculture.
The initiative launched in 2016as a collaboration between
(17:10):
Vizcaya Museum and Edible SouthFlorida and it really began as a
simple community dinner toconnect farmers.
We were hearing from farmersthat they didn't really have
time off to relax.
The farming season takes a tollon farmers and so really
(17:31):
wanting to provide a space togive them a platform to
celebrate and support the localagriculture, the work that they
were doing, and now it's growninto that platform of really
celebrating and supporting andsupporting and highlighting
those sustainable practiceswithin the agriculture community
(17:51):
and who's doing what, and thecelebration is really bringing
together farmers, chefs andcommunity to enjoy that farm to
table.
Really it's a showcase of thefruits of their labor and that
really bridges the past with itsmodern mission of community
engagement and sustainability.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
And I honestly this event is something that, like,
I've never seen anything likethis.
I've been to so many different,you know, farm to table events
and but this one, you thinkabout it and it's like the
farmers are actually dining andthat's what's really special
about it.
And we at Fog we're so honoredto be able to collaborate with
(18:35):
you guys on this next upcomingDinner for Farmers event.
That's very exclusive to thosepeople that are doing the work
on the ground and have verylittle time to socialize and do
the things that you mentionedand really just support each
other and celebrate.
So that's something that we'rereally looking forward to and,
(18:56):
because I was able to attendlast year's event, I'm really
just excited to see thatparticular event grow and be a
really big source of communitysupport for those people that
are looking for those kinds ofconnections and rebuilding the
story of ag in Miami.
So it's really special to be apart of that and to witness it
(19:20):
take place.
So it's great to see thosethings happening.
And, speaking of partnerships,I know that you guys are really
well known for your Vizcayafarmer's market, so tell us a
little bit more about the market, when that started and who that
really all involves so theVizcaya village farmer's market.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
It's a weekly farmer's market, it's on Sundays
and the farmer's market is incollaboration with Urban Oasis
Project.
Urban Oasis Project is a realkey player in our Miami
community that connects farmsand really gives them a platform
(20:02):
to sell their produce.
And that's really what thefarmer's market is about giving
these small businesses and thesefarmers a place to sell their
produce and not only just selltheir produce but connect with
their community so that thecommunity can know their farmer
and just build that connection.
(20:24):
It's a more intimate experience.
When you shop at a farmer'smarket you get to meet not the
hands that grew your food butthe chefs who are also working
to collaborate with farmers tosource their local ingredients.
(20:45):
Pivotal moment, sort of pre postpandemic, in a time where we
were seeking spaces that wereoutdoors and seeking
alternatives to healthier living.
And the farmer's market isexpanding and it's growing to
(21:07):
really provide our communitywith those ingredients, but also
the place where they cansocialize and build community.
So we have different wellnessprograms, like our yoga program,
and once a month you canexperience a family drop-in
program which really encouragesintergenerational experiences
(21:28):
with families.
So all ages welcome to engagein art making and planting,
gardening activities that theycan connect with agriculture in
that way.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
And I think that the Vizcaya market does a really
great job at presenting thoselike dynamic opportunities to
really kind of play in a fewdifferent pots, you know, having
the art piece, music, farming,like there's just a lot of fun
activities going on and, likeyou said, like it touches all
different ages, and I think thatthat particular market has a
(22:06):
really big emphasis on the localgrowers.
You mentioned Urban OasisProject and they're actually one
of our members of the USDAinitiative that we have, the
Florida Local Food Project, andI think it's important to have
more growers at markets and Ithink Urban Oasis Project is one
of those examples where they'rebringing that to the table and
(22:32):
trying to showcase more of thereal local produce that is in
our community.
I'd love to hear that that'ssuch a big emphasis in this kind
of market and I'd love to learnmore about some of the other
ways that Vizcaya is currentlyeducating the public, whether
it's through, you know, yourtours or workshops, like what
(22:53):
are some of the other thingsthat you think play a really big
role for the community?
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Yeah, and to add to what you previously said, lana,
one of the things that UrbanOasis Project does so well is
that they support the localfarms Often the farmers they
can't get away to go to marketbecause there are so many
demands at their farm that theyneed to attend to that.
Sometimes it is an additionalthing that they have to do when
(23:21):
they go to market and so UrbanOasis Project sometimes will
aggregate from those farmers tobe able to take that to market,
so really giving them thatflexibility to still have a
place for them to sell anddistribute their fresh produce.
And as far as our educationprograms, at Vizcaya, visitors
(23:47):
during the farmer's market canparticipate in our Vizcaya
village tour where they canlearn more about the history and
the people that were working atthe Vizcaya museum and gardens
and that they were living thereand really participating in all
(24:08):
of the movement that happened.
At Vizcaya Village we havehands-on activities where people
can participate in art making,planting and learning those
techniques, like using plants tocreate ink and use that as art,
or using root crops to cookmeals in different ways.
(24:31):
Using native pine trees tocreate ornaments are some
examples of some workshops thathave been led by wonderful
educators in our community andthese workshops are really
designed for those diverseaudiences.
So we welcome school students,designed for those diverse
(24:51):
audiences.
So we welcome school students,families and then the community
during the Vizcaya Village.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
Farmers Market and you mentioned, you know, some of
the things that you guys aredoing is just trying to connect
people in terms of, like,bringing in certain practices
that maybe people aren't doing,such as composting or growing
edible plants that they canenjoy at home.
So what do you think is thebroader role that Vizcaya plays
(25:17):
in terms of just being, like, aleader in the Florida's local
food movement?
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Because our agriculture history is so
embedded into our mission.
We have a mission to preservethe agriculture past and by
doing that it helps usunderstand and appreciate the
city's development and thediverse communities that
contributed to its growth.
(25:44):
And by studying that and howpast generations cultivated the
land, we can adopt and adaptthese methods to promote
environmental sustainability.
So, like compost, we welcomevisitors on Sundays to bring
their compost scraps, their foodwaste scraps.
We partner with Compost forLife, so Compost for Life will
(26:08):
take those food nourishourselves.
So using compost is afoundation for us to grow
(26:34):
healthy plants so that we canalso be healthy people.
And by remembering that andadopting those practices we
really start to create thatconnection with nature and we
hold on to our communityidentity and the stories and the
plants that the stories tell.
It's really a sense of prideand connection and mission that
(26:57):
links us to our roots of thecity and beyond, to our origin
stories, really preserving thathistory and culture identity of
the people who came before usand helped build this grand
museum and garden.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
And that's something that I think is somewhat
overlooked sometimes in thecommunity are those stories that
hold this wisdom and the powerof food sovereignty and how we
can as individuals, as averageeveryday citizens, be a part of
that, and I think that'ssomething Vizcaya is doing a
(27:37):
really great job at doing interms of involving the people,
involving the community, in kindof retelling or recreating the
narrative around whatagriculture is today.
So is there something that youforesee happening with Vizcaya
in terms of the future of Miamiand what the community is going
(28:00):
to look like?
Speaker 3 (28:01):
The future is green.
Definitely, the ongoing effortsof the Vizcaya Village
Restoration Project will createnew opportunities for more
educational programs.
It will preserve and highlightthe agriculture legacy and
support new infrastructure thatwill support the agriculture
(28:26):
efforts.
So areas to grow food and areasto cook I mentioned a teaching
kitchen earlier on and wetclassrooms where students can
really engage in that tactileand sensory experience and being
outdoors and getting thatopportunity to engage in that
(28:48):
way and not just students butour community to see that
flourishing around us in anurban center is really exciting
time to be at where we areworking towards that restoration
and creating those spaces.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
Yes, I'm honestly so excited to hear about those
things and those kinds oftouches that you guys are
bringing to the space, because Iyou know, before we wrap up the
conversation, I want to talkabout just the general impact of
agriculture In your eyes.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
How does agriculture play a role in the city's growth
and development and how canpeople that are listening play a
bigger role in this space?
Intentional choices in oureveryday life to collect their
(29:48):
food, waste, scraps and compostthat, and also by visiting
farmer's market, like ourVizcaya Village farmer's market,
where they can find variety ofproducts like fresh fruits and
vegetables that are locallygrown, produce from nearby farms
that are more nutrient dense.
(30:09):
They are fresh and will supporttheir health in the long term,
and they can find handcraftedgoods and artisanal products and
baked goods and vegan itemsthat were all created by people
in the community smallbusinesses, people in the
(30:31):
community, small businesses, andso that also supports our local
economy.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
Yeah, and I think that that's a really good way to
just connect to otherlike-minded people as well.
I think oftentimes I foundmyself at these markets and I'm
like already making friendswithin the first five seconds,
and I think in Florida that'shonestly kind of hard to do.
So it's obviously a space wherepeople who are really
passionate about community andfood, that energy, is very
(30:58):
present, and so I encouragefolks listening to, like Sheila
said, take a nice little visitto the Vizcaya Market or even to
the Vizcaya Museum and Gardensto learn about the history and
even just experience this kindof agricultural legacy firsthand
and just being able to supportthe farmer-friendly events and
(31:21):
things that are being set up topave a brighter, greener future
for Vizcaya.
So, sheila, I just have tothank you for joining us and
having this really lovely andinspiring conversation and, you
know, sharing your experienceand efforts that you're taking
to influence the agriculturalcommunity and beyond.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
Thank you so much for having me, lana, and I'm
looking forward to our continuedcollaboration with Florida
Organic Growers to continue thiswork.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
Absolutely.
I do as well, and I lookforward to being a part of
future Vizcaya events and alsoseeing, hopefully, some of our
followers and listeners at thoseand want to make sure everyone
can check out vizcayaorg formore information, and I hope you
really are able to take awayideas from this episode that
(32:13):
will foster your own local foodcommunity and opportunities for
connection.
Until next time.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
We hope you enjoyed today's episode.
Port Organic Growers is a 501c3nonprofit organization, so to
keep our content available andfree to the public, we need your
help.
Please subscribe, rate andreview wherever you listen, and
consider making a tax-deductibledonation or become a sponsor.
Learn more about our work andhow you can become a sponsor
from our website, wwwboginfoorg.
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