Hillsborough County's First
Garden Park
13572 S Village Dr, Tampa, FL 33618
"Community gardening’s benefits go beyond simple gardening.
Community gardens bring people together, improve the environment, teach grassroots leadership, bridge generations and cultures, encourage better nutrition and healthful exercise, even fight crime.
That said, access to the simple joys of gardening has a place on this inspiring list as well. Not everyone has a place to grow a patch of food or flowers, with friends or on their own. Maybe they don’t have a yard, or live where it’s too shady.
Yet, the simple act of gardening is one of the most healing and satisfying of human activities. Gardeners get up close and personal with nature, working directly with Earth’s life support system."
- Alyssa McKim,
American Community Gardening Association
2,000
gallon freshwater pond & host to native aquatics
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100%
run on solar power and fed by well water
200+
unique native plant species thriving in our garden
3.5 tons
of "black gold" all-organic compost produced annually
The Impact Organic Gardens Have
1
Environment
Improved air & soil quality, increased biodiversity, reduced water runoff & carbon footprint
2
Health Benefits
Physical activity, access to healthy food, reduced stress & improved mental health
3
Community
Stronger intergenerational social bonds formed through skill-sharing, teamwork, leadership & shared purpose
4
Education
Informed & engaged citizens of organic gardening, conservation, native plants, sustainable technology & agriculture
VISTA stands for Village Institute of Sustainable Technologies & Agriculture. VISTA's mission is to provide education and to serve as a sustainable model for organic gardening, native landscaping, and related technologies while providing opportunities to participate in healthy outdoor activities, responsible environmental leadership, growing organic food, and community building.
Want to know how to help? VISTA is a volunteer-led, non-profit organization that relies on support from community members like you in order to continue its mission. By donating to VISTA, you ensure our garden's continued vitality as well as the success of the goals outlined above.
Every dollar donated makes a tangible difference in our ability to nurture a better future!
Volunteers from Sickles High School's N.H.S. valiantly removed an invasive non-native plant species, allowing for native species to take their place.
This vital step in ecological restoration re-establishes the natural balance of Florida's delicate ecosystems. Native plants play a crucial role in supporting local wildlife, providing food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and other animals that have evolved alongside them.
They are also adapted to Florida's unique climate and soil conditions, requiring less water and fertilizer than non-native species, which helps conserve resources and reduce pollution. By encouraging the growth of native plants, we can create healthier and more resilient ecosystems that benefit both wildlife and humans alike.
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Happy Bees & Healthy Ecosystems:
VISTA Plants Native!
Plants native to Florida are not the same as plants introduced from other places. Native plants provide conservation benefits that others rarely measure up to. When you select plants adapted to your growing conditions, they require very little attention once they are fully established. They will not need additional water and fertilizer to thrive, nor will they need pesticides to cope with typical insect pests. They also are the plants that will literally bring life to your landscape. Native plants form the only real foundation for Florida’s butterflies, bees, and other pollinators, hummingbirds, songbirds, and other interesting wildlife. Living landscapes connect us to the real world and create a sense of wonder in what would otherwise be sterile and uninteresting. You will not be limited in your choices or aesthetics. There are hundreds of wonderful plants to choose from.
⸻ Craig N. Huegel
Landscape Demonstration Garden at VISTA Gardens
Sickles HS NHS volunteers manual removal of wedelia and grasses, December 4, 2021
Landscape Demonstration Garden at VISTA Gardens
The Power of Pollination
Approximately 75% of all food crops grown in the U.S. depend on the vital work of pollinator animals. However, their populations are dwindling on a global scale, posing a threat to more than food security.
Recognizing the urgency of this issue, VISTA has made it a core part of our mission to support these essential creatures. VISTA's pollinator gardens play host to entire ecosystems, specially curated & designed to promote native plants which further support the life cycle of pollinator animals.
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Please click on any of the icons below to be redirected to more helpful information!
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Questions, comments, or suggestions? Reach out to our volunteer team here!
