September 24, 2025 • 31 mins
Talked with Jetson Brown, Farm Manager and Andoni Ruiz, Asst Manager, West Gate Community Farm. "Westgate Community Farm is an urban education and production farm in the Westgate Neighborhood of West Palm Beach that offers neighbors fresh produce, education programs, and a lush green space." They were created with the CRA to address the food desert in the neighborhood. They have workshops, kids programs, field trips and lots of volunteer opportunities for the community. Season is starting with their Green Market on October 4th from 9a-1p. Then October 11th they are having a community book fair and picnic. Free admission with a book donation. Then on October 18th they'll be teaching a gardening 101 workshop in addition to the market. They will also have starter tomato, pepper plants, etc. for sale that day. They offer double EBT on the organic produce. Listeners can go to the website for more info at westgatecommunityfarm.com, or email them at TheGateFarm@gmail.com.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
iHeart Communities Presents Palm Beach Treasure Coast Perspective which Dead Nepp.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Good morning, Welcome to Calm Beach Treasure Coast Perspective. I'm
your host, dev Net. Thanks for spending your weekend with me.
All kinds of great things going on and if you
haven't been, definitely want to put this one on your calendar.
Coming up this year, it is the tenth annual Indian
River Lagoons Science Festival. This is so cooled, happens in
October and this year is going to be Saturday, October
(00:27):
twenty fifth, from ten am to three pm at Veterans
Memorial Park, which is part of the Riverwalk Center in
Fort Pierce. Free Day. All kinds of vendors come out,
all different kinds of science things. They have the Harbor
Branch Oceanographic folks that are going to be there with
their mammal rescue ambulance where they rescue the dolphins and stuff.
(00:47):
You can not check that out. The police guys come with
their rescue craft and their divers. It's this really fascinating.
And of course the thing I want to check out
is actually one of the food vendors, but it is
the Human Powered snowcoone machine, So I want to check
that out. Feel like the little hamster shaving my ice. I
can't wait to try it out.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Definitely.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Going to get more information on that, you can go
to Irlsciencefest dot org and if you're interested in being
a volunteer, a vendor, or a sponsor, you can reach
out to them on that same website and they're happy
to talk with you about it. And of course for
Pier's lots of fun things happening at the Fencenter. The
(01:26):
big thing right now is pickleball, of course, so getting
to know your pickleball game. They got a bunch of
different classes they're running. Someone's like like ball control drills,
basic stuff, forehand backhand drive, serves all those good things.
So it's a lot of fun. For more information on that,
you can go to Saint Lucco dot gov and then
(01:46):
click on the Fencenter and they'll have all the different
programs listed there for you. Reminder, Legends on the Lawn
series is happening, and that's a Canyon amphitheater in Boyton
Beach and it's happening. It's a freemium free music event.
It's next one coming up is October eighteenth with Samantha
Russell Duo, which is a country music and then November
(02:09):
fifteenth is Sound Stations, which is some seventies disco music.
So fun things to check out. Speaking of fun things,
oh my gosh, the Cravis Center's got a great season
coming up. The Cravis on Broadway series is going to
include the Whiz Kimberly Akimbo Twas The Night Before by Circusole.
Definitely want to see that one. That's gonna be fascinating,
(02:30):
The Choir of Man Some Like It, Hot MJ. The
musical A Beautiful Noise, which is the Neil Diamond musical,
The Notebook based on Nicholas Spark's book Adam's Family, Beetlejuice,
all kinds of cool things, and then of course they
have their Lunch and Learn series and they're actually looking
for ushers right now. So if you'd like to be
(02:51):
volunteer at the Cravis, go to Cravis dot org, k
r a vis dot rgure you look for the org
so you don't hit the wrong website. And also, speaking
of the Cravis, you can also get your tickets for
Ballet Palm Beach through the Cravis box office because they
do their performances there. So coming up on October twenty
(03:12):
fourth through the twenty sixth, it is snow White featuring
the world premiere of Firefly Summers. That's gonna be a
wonderful one to see. And then Friday, November seventh, it
is Ballet Palm Beach as they welcome Santa. You can
go to Ballet Palmbeach dot org to get more information
or like I said, you can get your tickets at
Cravis dot org as well. And of course it's that
(03:35):
time of the year where we have all the fun
like craft festivals happening. So the next one coming up
is October fifth through the fourth. It is the twenty
sixth annual Downtown Stuart Craft Festival and that's Osiola Street
in Stuart. You're gonna check that out. And then if
you have a fur baby and you want to take
them out, I know they have a lot of the
(03:56):
dog parks at the different parks, but coming up on Saturday,
October fourth, they're doing Wagon at the water Park and
this is going to be where you can bring your
dogs to Calypso baywater Park. The first session is from
ten to ten fifty. These are the dogs that are
forty five pounds and up, and then Session twos eleven
to eleven fifty for the dogs that are smaller than
(04:18):
forty five pounds. For more information, reach out to a
Laura Hart ahart Hart at PBC dot gov and they
can give you more information on that. And of course
Arts Garage got a big season coming up, starting things
off October eleventh with the Cafe on Maine, and then
they have November ninth, the Boomer Legacy, December tenth Fighting
(04:41):
for Freedom honoring our veteran community. And of course they
also have great bands and music coming in the Poetry
Slam Nights. Go to Artscarage dot org to get more
details on that. And of course we're celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month,
so the Historical Society of Palm Beach has a great
exhibitions running right now through October fifteenth. And of course
(05:04):
we talked to Scott Simmons from the Norton Museum and
they're doing their Hispanic Celebration Day with a free community
day on the Western Kultura on Saturday, October fourth from
eleven am till four pm. There all kinds of great
things going on, and then coming up on October twenty
fifth is the opening of their blockbuster exhibition Art and
(05:27):
Life in Rembrandt's Time, and those are masterpieces from the
Lighting collection, so all kinds of great things as well
seventeen paintings by Rembrandt and the only Vermire remaining in
private hands that's on display. So it's very exciting. Definitely
check that out. And you go to Norton dot org
and they have all the different things listed there for you.
(05:50):
And speaking of parks, lots of cool things happening at
the different parks coming up at Riverbend, they have all
kinds of stuff going on. But on October twenty nineth,
this one is Oh it's for ages eight to ages
nine and up. It's Wednesday, October twenty ninth, six forty
five pm and it is night Stalkers, So it's like
(06:10):
an evening one at the park and you join a
naturalist and they take on the boardwalk tour. Please bring
your flashlight. You don't have to, but bring your flashlight,
make sure you put on your sneakers, your bug spray,
bring water bottle and you can see all the animals
that are more nocturnal when you start later like that,
and you can go to Pbcparks dot com to get
(06:32):
more information all the different events they have got going on.
There a reminder coming up on October eighteenth, it is
Blind Sports Day at the cmaa therapeutic complex and all
kinds of great programs. It's a course of free fun
day for everybody to come and participate. And again you
can go to Pbcparks dot com to get details, or
(06:54):
you can call Emily five six one nine sixty six
seven zero eight eight and you'll have all the details
for you. And of course we spoke with Kristin from
the Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition and they have a
great thing coming up. October tenth is their first one
for the year. It is Read with Me, where you
enjoined the Literacy Coalition and read to the kindergartens in
(07:16):
the different schools. So fun thing. Go to LITERACYPBC dot
org and all the different ones that are listed there
for you. And of course if you're interested in becoming
a tutor or a mentor with a literacy program, you
can find out more details there as well. Speaking of
getting more details, I want to welcome my guests for today.
I have Jetson Brown and Donnie Rue is from Westgate
(07:39):
Community Farm. Good morning guys, Good morning deb So tell me, Jetson,
tell me a little bit about Westgate Community Farm. How
did it come to be?
Speaker 4 (07:47):
Well, Westgate Community Farm started about ten years ago when
the Westgate CIRA realized that they needed more food security
in their community. The closest grocery store at the time
was pretty far out and a number of the community
members didn't have cars, so it was quite the trick
(08:09):
to go get vegetables, and having local, healthy vegetables available
to the community really just lifts everybody up compared to,
you know, having only corner stores with chips and candy.
So they decided to well, they started with a mobile
(08:31):
market and then it transformed into a farm where we
grow a lot of vegetables, and then we also are
able to get other participants that come and sell bread
and maybe some vegetables that they're growing at their houses
and things. So it's become a pretty neat little market.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
So it is really a community farm. Yeah, definitely, So
I like that. And I know is that Roy's Readery
comes and does resents. Yes, so, and you also now
have the little free library out front.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
We do that. That's been a big hit in the community.
I see kids going by there all the time and
checking out little books, and it's really fun to have
more more of that in our community.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Yeah, more resources for folks, definitely. And yeah, like you said,
to take a bus to get groceries or to go
to the library, it can take hours one way just
to get there, and then you've got to carry everything
back a couple hours back. I mean, you're certainly not
buying ice cream or anything that's going to melt.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
I think that's so cool. So for folks who may
not know what is a CRA.
Speaker 4 (09:45):
CIRA stands for a Community Redevelopment Agency. The Westgate cr
was founded in nineteen eighty nine amid the crack epidemic.
Is a way because Westgate is actually an un incorporated
area in the middle of West Palm but it doesn't
have the same oversight that the city of West Palm
(10:07):
Beach has, So the county wanted it to have a
little bit more oversight, a little bit more help trying
to lift up the community, and so the CIREA was formed.
So the CIRA has been really good at paying attention
to what the community needs and really being active and
(10:31):
helping them to get the resources into the community. Like
now we do have a topatia, so we do have
a grocery store. We have better drainage than we did,
There are beautiful parks. There just a lot of different
ways that the community's uplifted and it's a great it's a.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Great resource now, not that it wasn't before, but well
it's a great way. I think. I always think of
like helping a rich a neighborhood providing needs that they
providing things they need. That's very cool. So now, Adannie,
you're the assistant manager at the farm, what is your
favorite thing to plant at the farm? Do you have
(11:14):
a favorite plant where it does not really not work
that way in gardening.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
So I would think, uh, carrots, because I just love
how they look ones, they're nice and weat it well,
they don't have any wheats, and obviously I love carrots.
It's a great snack whenever harvesting them.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
So I like it because I like coming to the farm,
like when you do your shopping your market days, because
you have like regular vegetables, well I consider regular vegetables
like carrots and tomatoes, but then you'll have like not bockchoy,
but something kind of like that that I've never heard of.
And you guys always like, oh, it's this plant, it's
like this, or it's like a spinach and this is
(11:53):
how you cook it. So jetson, what are your favorite
plants to grow? You can have more than one, guys.
I've first, that's all.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
I mean. I think during different times of the year,
I would say a different vegetable, Like now, I'm very
excited because our malabar spinach, which is uh, it's not
actually in the spinach family, but it's used similarly to spinach,
and it's growing and it's going to be one of
(12:20):
the first vegetables available at our market. It grows in
the heat, unlike most greens, so it's a pretty neat vegetable.
I really like escirl later in the season. And I
love tomatoes of all sorts, especially the little cherry ones
the sun golds. Those are my favorites.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Oh cool, So I.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
Don't know, I have a lot of different favorite vegetables.
I really enjoy harvesting certain ones and I like looking
at certain so well.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
I think it's fantastic. So it's good that you guys
both work at the farm. Yeah, so this school, and
of course I knew like in the past you've had
kind of like classes like how to preserve seats or
how to plant things, and people can actually come and
volunteer at the farm, right you, and actually help plant
and do things correct.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
Yes, actually, and DONI is in charge of the volunteer
coordination and it's a big part of how we're able
to keep the farm running and provide what we are
able to provide, if you wanted to talk any more
about that.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
And yeah, I remember I was talking to you about
how I feel like this is the best season thus far,
and honestly it's because of the volunteers. It's just been expanding, expanding,
and what I like is all different type of volunteers
from different backgrounds, you know, which it really makes it
in a nice community feeling. But yeah, the volunteers, they
(13:50):
essentially do everything that we do, and we just treat
them like essentially as an intern, and we teach them
how to farm, you know, and then whatever they have,
like any preference of interest that you just focus on that.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Okay, So that was my question. Like somebody like me
who's kay does not have a green thum, no green
them is there something I can come? Can you teach
me how to plant something or harvest?
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Yeah, Like, for example, we have a lot of greenhouse
planning things to do, so that's just how to sow
seats so then later on we transplant them. We have
a number of people that you know, that just like
doing that. It's peaceful for them, they come do that.
We have other ones that just like waiting for them.
It's a meditation, not for me, but for them. They
(14:34):
like it. So you know, there's always something for for
for anybody.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
You know.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
Well, speaking when you mentioned meditation made me think there's
been a lot of research saying that like gardening specifically
and being out in nature, but specifically gardening is actually
very beneficial for your health, like there's a physical part
of it, but also really good like for the mental health.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Oh yeah, yeah, I on like, for example, single Tuesday,
what I do. I just wead everything with hope And
honestly it's my favorite thing because it's nice and quiet
and it's just I just go through the motions and
I could definitely see that how it benefits you mentally.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Well, I can see that's true because I've tried meditation.
But the kind where you're sitting still not for me,
but there's like walking moving meditations, which sounds kind of
like what you're discussing. I think that would work for
me because I'm active.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Yeah, you have like intention or you have a goal
in mind, so it's just you just get lost in
thoughts and eventually you calm down. It's also the farm
is a very calming environment, so oh that makes sense.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
So for folks who want to come out to the farm,
we may have never been there. You have some fun
things coming up. When is the first day the art?
When is the first market this year?
Speaker 4 (15:50):
So opening day October fourth is going to be our
first market. It's a Saturday, and we also have a
lot of volunteers coming that day. It's going to be
a lot of fun. I think we have about eight
vegetables getting ready to be there and then a lot
more behind them. So as the season progresses, we're going
to have more and more vegetables available.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
So what I know, the United States and I guess
the whole world are divided into like I guess planting
or farming zones? Is that the right way to say it?
Are we zone like number one?
Speaker 4 (16:25):
We're Zone ten B, So you need it, right, So, yeah,
you can look up the zone. They've shifted a little
bit recently due to global climate change, so you can
see where some of the zones have kind of shifted north.
(16:47):
But yeah, we're Zone B, which means they're like subtropical.
We have we're able to grow a lot of things here,
which is great.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Oh that's cool. Well, and I've heard that when you
buy a pineapp on store, you can cut off the
top and plant it and grow your own pineapple.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
True, yes, that is true.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Oh cool. I never knew a factor fixing these things?
Does that really work?
Speaker 4 (17:09):
Beca This is one of the few places in the
United States that you can do that.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
So cool. I have to go buy a pineapple now
after Workay, So Donnie. For folks who want to be
a volunteer, how do I volunteer the farm? Do I
call you? Do I email you? How does that work?
Speaker 1 (17:24):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (17:25):
We have all the information on our website. You can
only contacts with email or phone number or social media.
We've been getting a lot of folks that come through
Instagram or Facebook and just send us a message there
and then we're always at the end of the day,
we always check everything. So we could always get back
(17:46):
to any volunteer that wants to come.
Speaker 4 (17:49):
We're also on Volunteer Match, and we are on we
have an event right for just Saturday. Volunteer Day kind
of becomes almost like a community events. It's more fun
because a lot of people end up showing up and
it becomes it's like a social thing, a social thing.
(18:13):
Exactly how early does this social thing happen? Is at
like six am or ten am. We won't make you
a bed at six on a Saturday, So we're there.
Some people will show up as early as eight o'clock,
but we're there until one o'clock is when we pack
(18:37):
up the market. So it's anywhere from there until one.
You kind of can stream in slowly. You don't have
to be there at a certain hour because I know
some people, like I said, like to sleep in and
enjoy their weekend. But this is a good a good
part of it to get time with your community, time
(18:59):
with nature, get your hands in the soil, all of
the good things for your mental health.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Oh definitely. Yeah. So coming up on October for you,
says the opening day, the first opening day of the market,
and you had like eight vegetables that are you think
are gonna be ready? I think what veggies can we
expect that day? Out of malid marketing? Right?
Speaker 4 (19:20):
We got the Malabar spinach, We got okra coming on,
green beans, summer squash, eggplant, we have Egyptian spinach or
it's called lot low in Haitian creole.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
What else?
Speaker 4 (19:42):
Pole beans, coconuts, coconuts? Maybe I think there was one more,
but I can't think.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
And then Donnie, I think you were making this. Yeah,
are you gonna have some kompucca that day? Oh?
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Yeah, I'll definitely have some.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
So I tried it.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
It's good.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
I'm like not have a lot of it. And I
love how you have the stuff that you guys are
growing there and the communities help me grow. But then
other vendors can come. They just need to reach out
to you. Set that up right, exactly? Yes, And when
they go through the website.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
Yeah, through the website, I think it's the best one.
Speaker 4 (20:15):
They can also email. Our email is Thegatefarm at gmail
dot com, so that's a pretty easy way to get
a hold of us as well.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
Okay, the Gate Farm at gmail dot com. Col that's
good to know, of course. Then I was like going
out like being in the park and reading my book.
So you guys have like a lot of fun events
coming up, So tell me what's coming up on October eleventh.
Speaker 4 (20:40):
So there's going to be a little book fair and picnic.
It's going to be with embargoed editions and that should
be just a fun community event, a good excuse to
get together, get some books, have a picnic, enjoy your
time with your neighbors.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
And what time is that from windowin It start like
around tennish or nine, like, yes, like when the farm opens.
Speaker 4 (21:04):
It's going to start around ten o'clock.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
Okay. So the event that we're going to have for
the book community picnic, it's a good way to like
jets and said to meet your neighbors. Just bring donate
a book for entry and they'll have games, food for
everyone over there. That's going to be on October eleven
(21:30):
at ten am.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Oh, very cool, sounds like fun. I always love coming
to funy things where you get to bring a book
and donate that. I think that's so fine. I love it.
And of course coming up then on October eighteenth, this
is probably one I should come take. It's organic gardening
one oh one plus a plant sale, so you can
show me how to garden, right technically what you're supposed
to do.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Yeah, we go through that's the most popular class, I
would say, and then later in the season everybody who
missed it it asks me about what it's going to be,
but then it doesn't start until the next season. We
try to do this one at the very beginning, so
people get kind of like a basic understanding of what
they're going to do that season. If it's their first
(22:13):
season gardening, for example. It's a really good way to
just kind of get an idea of how you need
to start it. So we go through everything from planning
a garden, prepping the soil, looking at at what the
plant's needs are, and just kind of a basic overview
(22:35):
of what is going to look like from the beginning
of the season and getting into it later in the season.
We will have more classes just to kind of go
from where we are in the season, So we'll have
like a disease and pest class, things like that.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Well, Yeah, and I know, is it a dannie. I
think you have like a special compost you like to make.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Yeah, there's it's using worms. It's actually pretty cool. Kids
love it. I love it seeing worms. But we're definitely
gonna have a compost class, and on that one I
talk about all different kinds of composting.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
Yeah, my friend at one point she was teaching science
and one of the extra projects was for them to
learn how to do composting at home, but it got
very messy.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
Well, thankfully we're there to teach everyone how to compost.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
That's cool. I like it. So it's fun thing. I think.
I love how you have all the fun classes. And
then of course, obviously there's the plant sell that's gonna
be happening on the eighteenth for folks like me who
just want to come get the plant that's ready to go,
because like I've tried planning them and they get like
the teeny tiny little sprout and then nothing.
Speaker 4 (23:49):
You know, there's there's certain there's certain plants that they
work well if you plant them from seed, and other
ones just take so long that it's better to start
them in a greenhouse and not everyone, but he's gonna
put a greenhouse in at their yards, so you know,
that's that's part of what we're going to learn in
the one on one class too, is what what plants
(24:10):
are make more sense to plant from seed versus buy
from you know, a local, a local supplier. We'll have
some plants that we know do well in our area.
That's another thing. If you know, if you're buying a
plant from a larger corporation, you want to make sure
(24:32):
that the variety is something that's going to do well here.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Oh yeah. A friend of mine lives in the Carolinas,
and so she's been planting and posting on social media
and she planted like a zucchini, and now she's her neighbors,
her neighbors, neighbors, everybody else are like, no more zucchini.
That's apparently that thrived extremely well. She planted strawberries, and
(24:58):
the little bunny rabbits.
Speaker 3 (24:59):
Loved the Oh no, here we have iguanas.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
So I would say, do the iguanas come and have lunch?
Speaker 4 (25:08):
Definitely. That's that's been uh, that's been a problem for us,
especially in the last year. They they discovered the farm.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Oh no, and then they told them their friend and
their friend and their friend, they're like the buffets over
here exactly. Yeah. So when that happens, my friend's grandparents
had hip biscuits bushes, and apparently that's a very tasty
treat for iguana. So they tried putting like a like
a metal like wire cage around it. Oh no, I
just basically gave them a ladder, so like that didn't work.
(25:41):
But anyway, but yeah, that's cool though. So I was
gonna ask, like, how you know what plants grow well here?
But that's obviously because of the zone and you you
know your experience.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
Right, yeah, experience the zone. There's a lot of information
that UF gives out on varieties and things, so that's
a really good source as well.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Oh yeah, I look, I go to the store, I'm like, oh,
look at these pretty heirloom tomatoes, you know, And I'm like,
I have no idea or anything like that. My friend
got one of those things like the topsy turvy hanging
basket things like little cherry tomatoes, and she did it
in her house and it worked great.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
That's great.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Did not work in my house. I don't know. She
doesn't usually use her AC, but I use mine all
the time. Oh so we're like, maybe the temperature differential
would make a difference.
Speaker 4 (26:29):
Is that could definitely be Yeah, temperature and light, those
types of things can make a big difference.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Mine's always bright and cold. Well, that's so cool. So
and then part of it you said, like coming up
the first market, you don't have the spinach, the malamar,
the Egyptian spinach, beans and squash, and then you've got
other crops that you're like staggering, like you have a
planting right, I asked, My question is do you plant
(26:57):
like eight rows to mature at a certain day and
the next next date rows or two weeks later. Is
that how the garden gets planned?
Speaker 4 (27:04):
That's exactly what we do. So in June we actually
already we created a crop plan so that we know
what is going where each week of the entire season.
It's a good way to be able to not have
to think when we're in the middle of crunch time,
(27:25):
so we're able to just you know, move and make
things happen. So we do have you know, we know
exactly what's going into a bed right after a crop
comes out, and we're able to certain things don't need
to be staggered, like the tomatoes. We have two successions
of certain ones and we have only one of other others,
(27:49):
whereas something like green beans it's only going to be
two to three weeks of beans and then you'll need
another succession in order to continue having them at the market.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Okay, And then certain plants pull certain nutrients out of
the ground, right, and then you plant a different plant
in that spot that doesn't use those same ones, right
until you do your cover crop during the summer to
replant everything or renourish everything.
Speaker 4 (28:13):
Yes, the different plants use different nutrients. They also are
more susceptible to different diseases. So we have a rotation
that we use to make sure that not just that
something doesn't go in right after one another, but for
(28:35):
certain crops, you don't want anything related to that crop
in the same space for three years, So we do
our crop plants based on that, based on the last
three years of growing.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Now that is some serious garden planning. I'm impress, guys.
It's like I'm when we move this over four feet,
that's clever. I like it. Again, So for people to
come out and participate in the first opening day that
is going to be October fourth, And what time again.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
The market opens at nine o'clock And definitely contact us
if you're interested in volunteering as well.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
And what age group for volunteering could be the we
ones all the way up as long as mom and
dad are there, or like, can the high school kids
get their community service hours.
Speaker 4 (29:26):
We have a lot of high school and college kids
who like to come get the community service hours. And
we just love, you know, the full community. So people
of any any age are welcome and encouraged to come,
even if you know you have a toddler and you
want to be with it. We have whole families that
(29:47):
come out and volunteer. We have some folks that might
not be as mobile and they're still able to do
things like and Donie was saying, we have things that
need to be planted, sometimes in little trays, so you
can sit at the bench and do that.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
There's uh, that's for me.
Speaker 4 (30:06):
There's a number of tasks that you know, the whole
community coming together is what makes it work.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
Oh, very cool. And again before we go, let's get
the website and your social media tag for people to
follow you on Facebook and Instagram.
Speaker 4 (30:21):
So Westgate Communityfarm dot com is our website and you
can follow us at Westgate Community Farm on Facebook and
on Instagram.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Well, guys, thank you so much for coming in doing
such a cool thing in the community. Definitely need it
and very much appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (30:40):
We appreciate it. Deb It's it's exciting that falls here
and all these fun events are coming up all over town, so.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
Oh yeah, I can't wait to check them out. Thank
you for oh yeah, And I can't wait to check
out the new flavors of kombucha this year.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
I have roads.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
All right. If you need more of reach out to
me Palm Beach Perspective at iHeartMedia dot com and I'm
happy to for it on the details and don't forget
you can always download the shows a podcast on our
iHeartRadio app. Hope everybody has a wonderful weekend. I'm dev
Nev and this has been my perspective. Remember life is good,
so be your healthiest view and let's get out there
(31:19):
and live it. Until next week enjoy.
Speaker 1 (31:21):
iHeart Communities, the community engagement arm of the station, champions
critical issues and causes in the area of health and wellness,
social impact, education, literacy, and music and art. Join us
next week for Palm Beach Treasure Coast Perspective
iHeart Communities Presents Palm Beach Treasure Coast Perspective which Dead Nepp.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Good morning, Welcome to Calm Beach Treasure Coast Perspective. I'm
your host, dev Net. Thanks for spending your weekend with me.
All kinds of great things going on and if you
haven't been, definitely want to put this one on your calendar.
Coming up this year, it is the tenth annual Indian
River Lagoons Science Festival. This is so cooled, happens in
October and this year is going to be Saturday, October
(00:27):
twenty fifth, from ten am to three pm at Veterans
Memorial Park, which is part of the Riverwalk Center in
Fort Pierce. Free Day. All kinds of vendors come out,
all different kinds of science things. They have the Harbor
Branch Oceanographic folks that are going to be there with
their mammal rescue ambulance where they rescue the dolphins and stuff.
(00:47):
You can not check that out. The police guys come with
their rescue craft and their divers. It's this really fascinating.
And of course the thing I want to check out
is actually one of the food vendors, but it is
the Human Powered snowcoone machine, So I want to check
that out. Feel like the little hamster shaving my ice. I
can't wait to try it out.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Definitely.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Going to get more information on that, you can go
to Irlsciencefest dot org and if you're interested in being
a volunteer, a vendor, or a sponsor, you can reach
out to them on that same website and they're happy
to talk with you about it. And of course for
Pier's lots of fun things happening at the Fencenter. The
(01:26):
big thing right now is pickleball, of course, so getting
to know your pickleball game. They got a bunch of
different classes they're running. Someone's like like ball control drills,
basic stuff, forehand backhand drive, serves all those good things.
So it's a lot of fun. For more information on that,
you can go to Saint Lucco dot gov and then
(01:46):
click on the Fencenter and they'll have all the different
programs listed there for you. Reminder, Legends on the Lawn
series is happening, and that's a Canyon amphitheater in Boyton
Beach and it's happening. It's a freemium free music event.
It's next one coming up is October eighteenth with Samantha
Russell Duo, which is a country music and then November
(02:09):
fifteenth is Sound Stations, which is some seventies disco music.
So fun things to check out. Speaking of fun things,
oh my gosh, the Cravis Center's got a great season
coming up. The Cravis on Broadway series is going to
include the Whiz Kimberly Akimbo Twas The Night Before by Circusole.
Definitely want to see that one. That's gonna be fascinating,
(02:30):
The Choir of Man Some Like It, Hot MJ. The
musical A Beautiful Noise, which is the Neil Diamond musical,
The Notebook based on Nicholas Spark's book Adam's Family, Beetlejuice,
all kinds of cool things, and then of course they
have their Lunch and Learn series and they're actually looking
for ushers right now. So if you'd like to be
(02:51):
volunteer at the Cravis, go to Cravis dot org, k
r a vis dot rgure you look for the org
so you don't hit the wrong website. And also, speaking
of the Cravis, you can also get your tickets for
Ballet Palm Beach through the Cravis box office because they
do their performances there. So coming up on October twenty
(03:12):
fourth through the twenty sixth, it is snow White featuring
the world premiere of Firefly Summers. That's gonna be a
wonderful one to see. And then Friday, November seventh, it
is Ballet Palm Beach as they welcome Santa. You can
go to Ballet Palmbeach dot org to get more information
or like I said, you can get your tickets at
Cravis dot org as well. And of course it's that
(03:35):
time of the year where we have all the fun
like craft festivals happening. So the next one coming up
is October fifth through the fourth. It is the twenty
sixth annual Downtown Stuart Craft Festival and that's Osiola Street
in Stuart. You're gonna check that out. And then if
you have a fur baby and you want to take
them out, I know they have a lot of the
(03:56):
dog parks at the different parks, but coming up on Saturday,
October fourth, they're doing Wagon at the water Park and
this is going to be where you can bring your
dogs to Calypso baywater Park. The first session is from
ten to ten fifty. These are the dogs that are
forty five pounds and up, and then Session twos eleven
to eleven fifty for the dogs that are smaller than
(04:18):
forty five pounds. For more information, reach out to a
Laura Hart ahart Hart at PBC dot gov and they
can give you more information on that. And of course
Arts Garage got a big season coming up, starting things
off October eleventh with the Cafe on Maine, and then
they have November ninth, the Boomer Legacy, December tenth Fighting
(04:41):
for Freedom honoring our veteran community. And of course they
also have great bands and music coming in the Poetry
Slam Nights. Go to Artscarage dot org to get more
details on that. And of course we're celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month,
so the Historical Society of Palm Beach has a great
exhibitions running right now through October fifteenth. And of course
(05:04):
we talked to Scott Simmons from the Norton Museum and
they're doing their Hispanic Celebration Day with a free community
day on the Western Kultura on Saturday, October fourth from
eleven am till four pm. There all kinds of great
things going on, and then coming up on October twenty
fifth is the opening of their blockbuster exhibition Art and
(05:27):
Life in Rembrandt's Time, and those are masterpieces from the
Lighting collection, so all kinds of great things as well
seventeen paintings by Rembrandt and the only Vermire remaining in
private hands that's on display. So it's very exciting. Definitely
check that out. And you go to Norton dot org
and they have all the different things listed there for you.
(05:50):
And speaking of parks, lots of cool things happening at
the different parks coming up at Riverbend, they have all
kinds of stuff going on. But on October twenty nineth,
this one is Oh it's for ages eight to ages
nine and up. It's Wednesday, October twenty ninth, six forty
five pm and it is night Stalkers, So it's like
(06:10):
an evening one at the park and you join a
naturalist and they take on the boardwalk tour. Please bring
your flashlight. You don't have to, but bring your flashlight,
make sure you put on your sneakers, your bug spray,
bring water bottle and you can see all the animals
that are more nocturnal when you start later like that,
and you can go to Pbcparks dot com to get
(06:32):
more information all the different events they have got going on.
There a reminder coming up on October eighteenth, it is
Blind Sports Day at the cmaa therapeutic complex and all
kinds of great programs. It's a course of free fun
day for everybody to come and participate. And again you
can go to Pbcparks dot com to get details, or
(06:54):
you can call Emily five six one nine sixty six
seven zero eight eight and you'll have all the details
for you. And of course we spoke with Kristin from
the Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition and they have a
great thing coming up. October tenth is their first one
for the year. It is Read with Me, where you
enjoined the Literacy Coalition and read to the kindergartens in
(07:16):
the different schools. So fun thing. Go to LITERACYPBC dot
org and all the different ones that are listed there
for you. And of course if you're interested in becoming
a tutor or a mentor with a literacy program, you
can find out more details there as well. Speaking of
getting more details, I want to welcome my guests for today.
I have Jetson Brown and Donnie Rue is from Westgate
(07:39):
Community Farm. Good morning guys, Good morning deb So tell me, Jetson,
tell me a little bit about Westgate Community Farm. How
did it come to be?
Speaker 4 (07:47):
Well, Westgate Community Farm started about ten years ago when
the Westgate CIRA realized that they needed more food security
in their community. The closest grocery store at the time
was pretty far out and a number of the community
members didn't have cars, so it was quite the trick
(08:09):
to go get vegetables, and having local, healthy vegetables available
to the community really just lifts everybody up compared to,
you know, having only corner stores with chips and candy.
So they decided to well, they started with a mobile
(08:31):
market and then it transformed into a farm where we
grow a lot of vegetables, and then we also are
able to get other participants that come and sell bread
and maybe some vegetables that they're growing at their houses
and things. So it's become a pretty neat little market.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
So it is really a community farm. Yeah, definitely, So
I like that. And I know is that Roy's Readery
comes and does resents. Yes, so, and you also now
have the little free library out front.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
We do that. That's been a big hit in the community.
I see kids going by there all the time and
checking out little books, and it's really fun to have
more more of that in our community.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Yeah, more resources for folks, definitely. And yeah, like you said,
to take a bus to get groceries or to go
to the library, it can take hours one way just
to get there, and then you've got to carry everything
back a couple hours back. I mean, you're certainly not
buying ice cream or anything that's going to melt.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
I think that's so cool. So for folks who may
not know what is a CRA.
Speaker 4 (09:45):
CIRA stands for a Community Redevelopment Agency. The Westgate cr
was founded in nineteen eighty nine amid the crack epidemic.
Is a way because Westgate is actually an un incorporated
area in the middle of West Palm but it doesn't
have the same oversight that the city of West Palm
(10:07):
Beach has, So the county wanted it to have a
little bit more oversight, a little bit more help trying
to lift up the community, and so the CIREA was formed.
So the CIRA has been really good at paying attention
to what the community needs and really being active and
(10:31):
helping them to get the resources into the community. Like
now we do have a topatia, so we do have
a grocery store. We have better drainage than we did,
There are beautiful parks. There just a lot of different
ways that the community's uplifted and it's a great it's a.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Great resource now, not that it wasn't before, but well
it's a great way. I think. I always think of
like helping a rich a neighborhood providing needs that they
providing things they need. That's very cool. So now, Adannie,
you're the assistant manager at the farm, what is your
favorite thing to plant at the farm? Do you have
(11:14):
a favorite plant where it does not really not work
that way in gardening.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
So I would think, uh, carrots, because I just love
how they look ones, they're nice and weat it well,
they don't have any wheats, and obviously I love carrots.
It's a great snack whenever harvesting them.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
So I like it because I like coming to the farm,
like when you do your shopping your market days, because
you have like regular vegetables, well I consider regular vegetables
like carrots and tomatoes, but then you'll have like not bockchoy,
but something kind of like that that I've never heard of.
And you guys always like, oh, it's this plant, it's
like this, or it's like a spinach and this is
(11:53):
how you cook it. So jetson, what are your favorite
plants to grow? You can have more than one, guys.
I've first, that's all.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
I mean. I think during different times of the year,
I would say a different vegetable, Like now, I'm very
excited because our malabar spinach, which is uh, it's not
actually in the spinach family, but it's used similarly to spinach,
and it's growing and it's going to be one of
(12:20):
the first vegetables available at our market. It grows in
the heat, unlike most greens, so it's a pretty neat vegetable.
I really like escirl later in the season. And I
love tomatoes of all sorts, especially the little cherry ones
the sun golds. Those are my favorites.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Oh cool, So I.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
Don't know, I have a lot of different favorite vegetables.
I really enjoy harvesting certain ones and I like looking
at certain so well.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
I think it's fantastic. So it's good that you guys
both work at the farm. Yeah, so this school, and
of course I knew like in the past you've had
kind of like classes like how to preserve seats or
how to plant things, and people can actually come and
volunteer at the farm, right you, and actually help plant
and do things correct.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
Yes, actually, and DONI is in charge of the volunteer
coordination and it's a big part of how we're able
to keep the farm running and provide what we are
able to provide, if you wanted to talk any more
about that.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
And yeah, I remember I was talking to you about
how I feel like this is the best season thus far,
and honestly it's because of the volunteers. It's just been expanding, expanding,
and what I like is all different type of volunteers
from different backgrounds, you know, which it really makes it
in a nice community feeling. But yeah, the volunteers, they
(13:50):
essentially do everything that we do, and we just treat
them like essentially as an intern, and we teach them
how to farm, you know, and then whatever they have,
like any preference of interest that you just focus on that.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Okay, So that was my question. Like somebody like me
who's kay does not have a green thum, no green
them is there something I can come? Can you teach
me how to plant something or harvest?
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Yeah, Like, for example, we have a lot of greenhouse
planning things to do, so that's just how to sow
seats so then later on we transplant them. We have
a number of people that you know, that just like
doing that. It's peaceful for them, they come do that.
We have other ones that just like waiting for them.
It's a meditation, not for me, but for them. They
(14:34):
like it. So you know, there's always something for for
for anybody.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
You know.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
Well, speaking when you mentioned meditation made me think there's
been a lot of research saying that like gardening specifically
and being out in nature, but specifically gardening is actually
very beneficial for your health, like there's a physical part
of it, but also really good like for the mental health.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Oh yeah, yeah, I on like, for example, single Tuesday,
what I do. I just wead everything with hope And
honestly it's my favorite thing because it's nice and quiet
and it's just I just go through the motions and
I could definitely see that how it benefits you mentally.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Well, I can see that's true because I've tried meditation.
But the kind where you're sitting still not for me,
but there's like walking moving meditations, which sounds kind of
like what you're discussing. I think that would work for
me because I'm active.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Yeah, you have like intention or you have a goal
in mind, so it's just you just get lost in
thoughts and eventually you calm down. It's also the farm
is a very calming environment, so oh that makes sense.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
So for folks who want to come out to the farm,
we may have never been there. You have some fun
things coming up. When is the first day the art?
When is the first market this year?
Speaker 4 (15:50):
So opening day October fourth is going to be our
first market. It's a Saturday, and we also have a
lot of volunteers coming that day. It's going to be
a lot of fun. I think we have about eight
vegetables getting ready to be there and then a lot
more behind them. So as the season progresses, we're going
to have more and more vegetables available.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
So what I know, the United States and I guess
the whole world are divided into like I guess planting
or farming zones? Is that the right way to say it?
Are we zone like number one?
Speaker 4 (16:25):
We're Zone ten B, So you need it, right, So, yeah,
you can look up the zone. They've shifted a little
bit recently due to global climate change, so you can
see where some of the zones have kind of shifted north.
(16:47):
But yeah, we're Zone B, which means they're like subtropical.
We have we're able to grow a lot of things here,
which is great.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Oh that's cool. Well, and I've heard that when you
buy a pineapp on store, you can cut off the
top and plant it and grow your own pineapple.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
True, yes, that is true.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Oh cool. I never knew a factor fixing these things?
Does that really work?
Speaker 4 (17:09):
Beca This is one of the few places in the
United States that you can do that.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
So cool. I have to go buy a pineapple now
after Workay, So Donnie. For folks who want to be
a volunteer, how do I volunteer the farm? Do I
call you? Do I email you? How does that work?
Speaker 1 (17:24):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (17:25):
We have all the information on our website. You can
only contacts with email or phone number or social media.
We've been getting a lot of folks that come through
Instagram or Facebook and just send us a message there
and then we're always at the end of the day,
we always check everything. So we could always get back
(17:46):
to any volunteer that wants to come.
Speaker 4 (17:49):
We're also on Volunteer Match, and we are on we
have an event right for just Saturday. Volunteer Day kind
of becomes almost like a community events. It's more fun
because a lot of people end up showing up and
it becomes it's like a social thing, a social thing.
(18:13):
Exactly how early does this social thing happen? Is at
like six am or ten am. We won't make you
a bed at six on a Saturday, So we're there.
Some people will show up as early as eight o'clock,
but we're there until one o'clock is when we pack
(18:37):
up the market. So it's anywhere from there until one.
You kind of can stream in slowly. You don't have
to be there at a certain hour because I know
some people, like I said, like to sleep in and
enjoy their weekend. But this is a good a good
part of it to get time with your community, time
(18:59):
with nature, get your hands in the soil, all of
the good things for your mental health.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Oh definitely. Yeah. So coming up on October for you,
says the opening day, the first opening day of the market,
and you had like eight vegetables that are you think
are gonna be ready? I think what veggies can we
expect that day? Out of malid marketing? Right?
Speaker 4 (19:20):
We got the Malabar spinach, We got okra coming on,
green beans, summer squash, eggplant, we have Egyptian spinach or
it's called lot low in Haitian creole.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
What else?
Speaker 4 (19:42):
Pole beans, coconuts, coconuts? Maybe I think there was one more,
but I can't think.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
And then Donnie, I think you were making this. Yeah,
are you gonna have some kompucca that day? Oh?
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Yeah, I'll definitely have some.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
So I tried it.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
It's good.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
I'm like not have a lot of it. And I
love how you have the stuff that you guys are
growing there and the communities help me grow. But then
other vendors can come. They just need to reach out
to you. Set that up right, exactly? Yes, And when
they go through the website.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
Yeah, through the website, I think it's the best one.
Speaker 4 (20:15):
They can also email. Our email is Thegatefarm at gmail
dot com, so that's a pretty easy way to get
a hold of us as well.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
Okay, the Gate Farm at gmail dot com. Col that's
good to know, of course. Then I was like going
out like being in the park and reading my book.
So you guys have like a lot of fun events
coming up, So tell me what's coming up on October eleventh.
Speaker 4 (20:40):
So there's going to be a little book fair and picnic.
It's going to be with embargoed editions and that should
be just a fun community event, a good excuse to
get together, get some books, have a picnic, enjoy your
time with your neighbors.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
And what time is that from windowin It start like
around tennish or nine, like, yes, like when the farm opens.
Speaker 4 (21:04):
It's going to start around ten o'clock.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
Okay. So the event that we're going to have for
the book community picnic, it's a good way to like
jets and said to meet your neighbors. Just bring donate
a book for entry and they'll have games, food for
everyone over there. That's going to be on October eleven
(21:30):
at ten am.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Oh, very cool, sounds like fun. I always love coming
to funy things where you get to bring a book
and donate that. I think that's so fine. I love it.
And of course coming up then on October eighteenth, this
is probably one I should come take. It's organic gardening
one oh one plus a plant sale, so you can
show me how to garden, right technically what you're supposed
to do.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Yeah, we go through that's the most popular class, I
would say, and then later in the season everybody who
missed it it asks me about what it's going to be,
but then it doesn't start until the next season. We
try to do this one at the very beginning, so
people get kind of like a basic understanding of what
they're going to do that season. If it's their first
(22:13):
season gardening, for example. It's a really good way to
just kind of get an idea of how you need
to start it. So we go through everything from planning
a garden, prepping the soil, looking at at what the
plant's needs are, and just kind of a basic overview
(22:35):
of what is going to look like from the beginning
of the season and getting into it later in the season.
We will have more classes just to kind of go
from where we are in the season, So we'll have
like a disease and pest class, things like that.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Well, Yeah, and I know, is it a dannie. I
think you have like a special compost you like to make.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Yeah, there's it's using worms. It's actually pretty cool. Kids
love it. I love it seeing worms. But we're definitely
gonna have a compost class, and on that one I
talk about all different kinds of composting.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
Yeah, my friend at one point she was teaching science
and one of the extra projects was for them to
learn how to do composting at home, but it got
very messy.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
Well, thankfully we're there to teach everyone how to compost.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
That's cool. I like it. So it's fun thing. I think.
I love how you have all the fun classes. And
then of course, obviously there's the plant sell that's gonna
be happening on the eighteenth for folks like me who
just want to come get the plant that's ready to go,
because like I've tried planning them and they get like
the teeny tiny little sprout and then nothing.
Speaker 4 (23:49):
You know, there's there's certain there's certain plants that they
work well if you plant them from seed, and other
ones just take so long that it's better to start
them in a greenhouse and not everyone, but he's gonna
put a greenhouse in at their yards, so you know,
that's that's part of what we're going to learn in
the one on one class too, is what what plants
(24:10):
are make more sense to plant from seed versus buy
from you know, a local, a local supplier. We'll have
some plants that we know do well in our area.
That's another thing. If you know, if you're buying a
plant from a larger corporation, you want to make sure
(24:32):
that the variety is something that's going to do well here.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Oh yeah. A friend of mine lives in the Carolinas,
and so she's been planting and posting on social media
and she planted like a zucchini, and now she's her neighbors,
her neighbors, neighbors, everybody else are like, no more zucchini.
That's apparently that thrived extremely well. She planted strawberries, and
(24:58):
the little bunny rabbits.
Speaker 3 (24:59):
Loved the Oh no, here we have iguanas.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
So I would say, do the iguanas come and have lunch?
Speaker 4 (25:08):
Definitely. That's that's been uh, that's been a problem for us,
especially in the last year. They they discovered the farm.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Oh no, and then they told them their friend and
their friend and their friend, they're like the buffets over
here exactly. Yeah. So when that happens, my friend's grandparents
had hip biscuits bushes, and apparently that's a very tasty
treat for iguana. So they tried putting like a like
a metal like wire cage around it. Oh no, I
just basically gave them a ladder, so like that didn't work.
(25:41):
But anyway, but yeah, that's cool though. So I was
gonna ask, like, how you know what plants grow well here?
But that's obviously because of the zone and you you
know your experience.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
Right, yeah, experience the zone. There's a lot of information
that UF gives out on varieties and things, so that's
a really good source as well.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Oh yeah, I look, I go to the store, I'm like, oh,
look at these pretty heirloom tomatoes, you know, And I'm like,
I have no idea or anything like that. My friend
got one of those things like the topsy turvy hanging
basket things like little cherry tomatoes, and she did it
in her house and it worked great.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
That's great.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Did not work in my house. I don't know. She
doesn't usually use her AC, but I use mine all
the time. Oh so we're like, maybe the temperature differential
would make a difference.
Speaker 4 (26:29):
Is that could definitely be Yeah, temperature and light, those
types of things can make a big difference.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Mine's always bright and cold. Well, that's so cool. So
and then part of it you said, like coming up
the first market, you don't have the spinach, the malamar,
the Egyptian spinach, beans and squash, and then you've got
other crops that you're like staggering, like you have a
planting right, I asked, My question is do you plant
(26:57):
like eight rows to mature at a certain day and
the next next date rows or two weeks later. Is
that how the garden gets planned?
Speaker 4 (27:04):
That's exactly what we do. So in June we actually
already we created a crop plan so that we know
what is going where each week of the entire season.
It's a good way to be able to not have
to think when we're in the middle of crunch time,
(27:25):
so we're able to just you know, move and make
things happen. So we do have you know, we know
exactly what's going into a bed right after a crop
comes out, and we're able to certain things don't need
to be staggered, like the tomatoes. We have two successions
of certain ones and we have only one of other others,
(27:49):
whereas something like green beans it's only going to be
two to three weeks of beans and then you'll need
another succession in order to continue having them at the market.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Okay, And then certain plants pull certain nutrients out of
the ground, right, and then you plant a different plant
in that spot that doesn't use those same ones, right
until you do your cover crop during the summer to
replant everything or renourish everything.
Speaker 4 (28:13):
Yes, the different plants use different nutrients. They also are
more susceptible to different diseases. So we have a rotation
that we use to make sure that not just that
something doesn't go in right after one another, but for
(28:35):
certain crops, you don't want anything related to that crop
in the same space for three years, So we do
our crop plants based on that, based on the last
three years of growing.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Now that is some serious garden planning. I'm impress, guys.
It's like I'm when we move this over four feet,
that's clever. I like it. Again, So for people to
come out and participate in the first opening day that
is going to be October fourth, And what time again.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
The market opens at nine o'clock And definitely contact us
if you're interested in volunteering as well.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
And what age group for volunteering could be the we
ones all the way up as long as mom and
dad are there, or like, can the high school kids
get their community service hours.
Speaker 4 (29:26):
We have a lot of high school and college kids
who like to come get the community service hours. And
we just love, you know, the full community. So people
of any any age are welcome and encouraged to come,
even if you know you have a toddler and you
want to be with it. We have whole families that
(29:47):
come out and volunteer. We have some folks that might
not be as mobile and they're still able to do
things like and Donie was saying, we have things that
need to be planted, sometimes in little trays, so you
can sit at the bench and do that.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
There's uh, that's for me.
Speaker 4 (30:06):
There's a number of tasks that you know, the whole
community coming together is what makes it work.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
Oh, very cool. And again before we go, let's get
the website and your social media tag for people to
follow you on Facebook and Instagram.
Speaker 4 (30:21):
So Westgate Communityfarm dot com is our website and you
can follow us at Westgate Community Farm on Facebook and
on Instagram.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Well, guys, thank you so much for coming in doing
such a cool thing in the community. Definitely need it
and very much appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (30:40):
We appreciate it. Deb It's it's exciting that falls here
and all these fun events are coming up all over town, so.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
Oh yeah, I can't wait to check them out. Thank
you for oh yeah, And I can't wait to check
out the new flavors of kombucha this year.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
I have roads.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
All right. If you need more of reach out to
me Palm Beach Perspective at iHeartMedia dot com and I'm
happy to for it on the details and don't forget
you can always download the shows a podcast on our
iHeartRadio app. Hope everybody has a wonderful weekend. I'm dev
Nev and this has been my perspective. Remember life is good,
so be your healthiest view and let's get out there
(31:19):
and live it. Until next week enjoy.
Speaker 1 (31:21):
iHeart Communities, the community engagement arm of the station, champions
critical issues and causes in the area of health and wellness,
social impact, education, literacy, and music and art. Join us
next week for Palm Beach Treasure Coast Perspective
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