Healthy Harvest Farms has eyes on new site for startup of new gardens

By Staff | Aug 19, 2015

Healthy Harvest Community Farms logo

Joe Pearson, the founder of the non-profit Healthy Harvest Community Farms, first begun on a large plot of ground at Mirror Lakes in Lehigh Acres, has some good news.

He said the City of Fort Myers has granted the Harvest Community Farms project the rights to a farm at 3901 Dr. MLK Blvd. In Fort Myers and money is being raised to aid in the project.

And add to that, Healthy Harvest Community Farms will have its annual 5K run/walk at Mirror Lakes this weekend to help raise money for the project. Call Pearson at 239-938-4613 for details.

“We are excited to continue to expand our mission to supply local food banks with healthy alternatives. This new location will offer our fruits and vegetables to the public as well as a classroom that seats 120 to educate all ages.

“We will teach planting, harvesting, and preparing meals with awesome recipes,” Pearson, who is a fitness trainer, said.

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE CITIZEN Money is being collected to start up operations at a new farm at 3901 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd. that the city of Fort Myers is providing Harvest Community Farms.

Pearson and his supporters began growing food at a site off of the Mirror Lakes Golf Course after they were permitted to use the land for free. This began around two years ago when Pearson and a group of volunteers began building small garden plots with two by sixes boards and filling them with soil and eventually planting and maintain them.

The produce grew rapidly and it was given to agencies to provide food to the needy in Lehigh. Pearson also grew trees and shrubs at the large plot. Friends and volunteers supported Pearson and his project and names of local firms and individuals were displayed in the various small garden plots. Volunteers and employees of the firms came out and tended their vegetable gardens and the project continued to grow.

That was when Pearson said he envisioned enlarging this project to other areas of Lee County to produce food for other people in different area with fresh and healthy fruit and produce.

He said a lot of the volunteers have learned how to garden and many for the first time.

Soon events were being held at the Lehigh site, Pearson said. Students came from the schools to visit the site.

The site became a mainstay in Lehigh and there were no reports of vandalism as the community and those involved came to see Healthy Harvest Community Farms as an excellent opportunity to supply fresh food in the form of fruits and produce.

Pearson said the new location in Fort Myers will offer fruits and vegetables to the public as well as a classroom that will seat 120 to inform people of all ages.

“We will teach planting, harvesting, and preparing meals with awesome recipes. Our plans include having music and food on the weekends starting this season, as well as free boot camps starting in October,” Pearson said.

He went on and said the group will continue to offer a place for students, social groups and those that need to pay back their debts to society at another location to do their community service.

“We have already scheduled events in the upcoming months to be launched from Lehigh as well.

“Our organization and expansion has been made possible by the people of Lehigh and that is why I am setting up an account to encourage them to contribute any amount of money they can.

“We want to launch this as soon as possible and desperately need the startup funds until we get the sponsorships for the new location in Fort Myers.

And already, Pearson has seen more than 55 people donating more than $1,200 after the first two weeks.

“Let’s hit $5,000 in the next couple of weeks so I am pleading for $5 that’s all and then please ask your friends for $5.

“It’s quick and easy and helps so may programs in a well- deserved area. The sooner we get this one going in Fort Myers, we can set our eyes on our next farm in the Naples area,” Pearson said.

How can you help? Pearson suggests you go online to GoFundMe, which is a personal fundraising website that has helped thousands of people raise millions of dollars for the things that matter to them most.

You can use Google to call up: GoFundMe, Healthy Harvest Farms or call Pearson at 239-938-4613.

“And don’t forget our 5K run and walk on Saturday, Aug. 22,” he said.

: PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE CITIZEN Money is being collected to start up operations at a new farm at 3901 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd. that the city of Fort Myers is providing Harvest Community Farms.