Meet the Members of VISTA's Garden
Our members continue to grow VISTA's mission of providing a sustainable model for organic gardening and native landscaping in the Tampa Bay area.
Cecilia Mitchell
What is your favorite crop?
So hard to choose. I’ve started planting different kinds of eggplants and trying all different recipes. I love the constant supply of kale and lettuce, as well as of cucumbers and squash.
How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
It’s like magic sometimes when I arrive and everything is blooming. It has taught me to slow down and enjoy the gift of life in a different way. I’m not a natural gardener, but I have been so blessed to find this garden where people are patient and kind and share their gifts freely. I love sitting and watching, and I love working and creating. I’m so enjoying this world opening up to me.
What do you cook up with your harvest?
I do love to cook. I like to challenge myself, especially when I have a lot of a particular vegetable like beets or carrots.
I make eggplant Parmesan often. I also make baba ghanoush, as well as lots of stews with chickpeas and eggplant. It’s such a versatile vegetable.
I love my tomatoes, whether it’s the first few that I add to a salad or avocado toast or it’s an abundance, and I make my own tomato sauce which I can tailor to Middle Eastern or Italian.
Every season has its gifts and gardening has given me an immense respect for putting food on the table and eating within the season.
What new information/learning have you acquired as a result of gardening at VISTA?
I enjoyed helping with the seedlings and have become more in tune with eating in the seasons. I am blown away by the kindness and energy shared by all the of the members of our garden.
Every year feels like I can try something new or different. For example, last year I admired all the flowers in the gardens and their colors. I decided to plant my own sunflowers, and they were magnificent.
What are your favorite social, exercise, or other non-gardening activities?
As a goldsmith/jeweler, I am regularly immersed in stones and mediums of a completely different nature. I also love to sail, hike and do yoga.
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Evans Bostick
What is your favorite crop?
Heirloom tomatoes!
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How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
The garden community of friends and learning creates a happy place for me.
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What do you cook up with your harvest?
We cook fresh green beans and collard greens.
What new information/learning have you acquired as a result of gardening at VISTA?
Where do I start? The learning began with asking VISTA friends “Do we till or not till the soil?” That lead to learning about cover crops to aid in soil regeneration, and companion planting to assist with vegetable production; all providing a strong confidence to enjoy and play in the garden.
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What is your favorite social, exercise, or other non-gardening activity?
Swimming, cycling and hiking.
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Ron Conradt
What is your favorite crop?
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Kale
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How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
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Watching tiny seeds transform into thriving plants feels like witnessing a quiet miracle. Each sprout is a reminder of nature’s resilience and generosity—and being part of that process nourishes my spirit as much as the harvest feeds others.
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What do you cook up with your harvest?
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While most of the harvest from the AARP-sponsored beds is donated to The Community Food Pantry and Feeding Tampa Bay, I do treat myself occasionally. One favorite is a kale salad tossed with crisp apples, sweet dates, sliced almonds, and a touch of pecorino—all brought together with a honey mustard dressing.
What new information/learning have you acquired as a result of gardening at VISTA?
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Gardening at VISTA has deepened my understanding of sustainable practices. I’ve learned about the role of summer cover crops in enriching soil health and, during the gardening season, the use of Coco Coir mulch and organic practices.
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What is your favorite social, exercise, or other non-gardening activity?
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I stay active and engaged through USF’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), where I participate in the Gardening, Outdoor, and Foodie Special Interest Groups. I also enjoy taking classes that spark curiosity and connection. For movement, I walk daily and practice Tai Chi twice a week.
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Rolfe Evenson
What is your favorite crop?
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Goldenberries!
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How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
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Simply… all self-grown food is soul food. There just is something about it.
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What do you cook up with your harvest?
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Mostly salads. But stewed carrots are great, and my goldenberries go into the best smoothie ever.
What new information/learning have you acquired as a result of gardening at VISTA?
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Composting and seed saving. Most of all, I have learned to enjoy gardening.
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What is your favorite social, exercise, or other non-gardening activity?
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I love music, cooking, being with old friends and making new ones.
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Jennifer Grebenschikoff
What is your favorite crop?
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Oh, how to choose?! Broccolini, especially the purple variety, and eggplant, both colors, and red beets top the list... for the taste and all those nutrients!
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How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
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There is nothing like being in the garden early in the morning or later afternoon, hands in the soil, watching the pollinators, and seeing the sun move over the trees. So much quiet peace and natural beauty to appreciate.
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What do you cook up with your harvest?
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Some favorite and easy recipes from our harvests are carrot/vegetable/ginger soup, tomato sauces and soups, and carrot top pesto (no basil required).
What new information/learning have you acquired as a result of gardening at VISTA?
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From watching, asking questions, and doing, I learn something new every time I'm at VISTA. Everyone at VISTA brings a special interest and knowledge about gardening. I am so grateful for everyone's willingness to share their expertise on so many subjects, from how to construct a garden bed frame to how to identify a wildflower.
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What is your favorite social, exercise, or other non-gardening activity?
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Life is busy away from the garden. I workout with Pilates, yoga, biking, walking, and aqua aerobics (in addition to gardening!). I set aside time to play mahjong twice a week and am in a monthly book club. Traveling in the USA with friends is a special treat. My husband and I are fortunate to have both of our grown sons and our two grandchildren living nearby; weekend family dinners are a favorite time for us.
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Marcy Biller
What is your favorite crop?
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Carrots! I love the beautiful colors of my rainbow mix crop!
How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
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Vista Gardens is a peaceful place, close enough to my home, but far enough away to allow me to absorb the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. Truly an escape from “the city”
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What do you cook up with your harvest?
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I try to use as much of the crop as possible. I’ve made arugula and carrot top pesto and used the brassica leaves in stews. But my husband and I munch on raw veggies the most.
What new information/learning have you acquired as a result of gardening at VISTA?
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I have enjoyed learning that it’s okay for a crop to fail. This also applies to life, doesn’t it?
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What is your favorite social, exercise, or other non-gardening activity?
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I am a lifelong exerciser. But I am non-committal to any particular type. I have a home gym and belong to a gym. I have a fake Peloton, but like riding outside. I dislike running, but I would love to be a “runner”. As long as I’m moving, I’m happy!
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Yvonne Scalise
What is your favorite crop?
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Beets, tomatoes and collards (because my husband loves collards!)
How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
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There’s a calm about being surrounded by nature and its beauty.
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What do you cook up with your harvest?
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A favorite beet salad, Caprese salad, and collard green soup.
What new information/learning have you acquired as a result of gardening at VISTA?
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The importance of composting.
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What is your favorite social, exercise, or other non-gardening activity?
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Entertaining family and friends over a good meal.
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Nicole Jagusztyn
What is your favorite crop?
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Arugula. I love the fresh salads I make from my garden and incorporating arugula is a must!
How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
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My life is so fast-paced and technology-centric. I am grateful for the quiet, peaceful time I spend tending to my garden.
What do you cook up with your harvest?
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Lots of greens! My weekend breakfast is curly kale and eggs. Dino kale and broccoli are dinner favorites. And I always have some sauerkraut fermenting on my countertop.
What new information/learning have you acquired as a result of gardening at VISTA?
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I try to focus on one element of gardening each year. This year, I have been focused on soil enrichment and fertilizers. As a result, I have barely used any fertilizer and focused on building my soil, and my current garden has been the best yet.
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What is your favorite social, exercise, or other non-gardening activity?
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I have a young son, so we like to explore new parks around the area for the hiking trails and playgrounds.
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Sanjay, Nathan, Mary
How long have you been a member?
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We joined the community in time for the 2023 Fall growing season.
What is your favorite crop?
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I don’t have a single favorite crop, but love growing a mixture of fresh vegetables. The variety is always the exciting part.
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How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
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Being in nature is always exciting. I have always enjoyed working with plants. It started in my younger days, when I worked in the garden and built a small nursery with my father. Being able to have the same experiences with my son and my wife is probably the best part of being at VISTA. Another thing I enjoy immensely is meeting new people and getting the opportunity to be part of the VISTA community.
What are your volunteer activities at VISTA?
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I volunteer in the House of the Rising Seeds, which gives me a chance to learn about planting seasons, crops, as well as be able to grow seedlings we can all use.
What new information/learning have you acquired as a result of gardening at VISTA?
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We keep learning from all the seasoned gardeners. I recently learned about liquid fish emulsion, trimming the tomato plants properly, what crops would be good to plant when.
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Donna & Richard
Where is your raised garden bed?
You'll find us on VISTA Gardens' map at CW5, a few beds southeast of the AARP gardens (DW7 and 8). Our garden has a tall, homemade, white trellis at one end.
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How long have you been a member?
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We’ve been members for 3 years.
What is your favorite crop?
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Hands down, okra. But tomatoes and lettuce run a close second. We were tempted to answer compost because without it, the rest wouldn’t be worth mentioning.
How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
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Our time at VISTA feeds our need for friendship with kind people who love working in God’s natural world, who love being with folks from every walk of life and who love to have fun. It also allows Richard to do some construction. He’s not great at it, but Marty is a great and patient teacher. We can’t thank everyone enough for the help you gave us during Donna’s down time.
What do you cook up with your harvest?
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Okra -fried, in soups, in waffles, in salads, and in kosher- style shrimp (substitute chicken) gumbo. We’re southern.
What are your volunteer activities at VISTA?
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We Chair the Flower Garden Committee and enjoy speaking about our flowers to visiting groups. Richard helped build the Cutting Flower Garden pergola and the planters and bench beneath it. Donna is the queen of weeding wherever the critters show their unwanted heads.
What new information/learning have you acquired as a result of gardening at VISTA?
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We have learned how to prune tomato plants, that there are different kinds of soil emoluments, that you can’t protect tomatoes from a hard freeze, and that organic fertilizers like fish emulsion work better than synthetic kinds.
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Tim Spearman
What is your favorite crop?
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The Aspabroc variety of broccoli and all cherry tomatoes. Also, raising worms that create vermiculture for the garden!
How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
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It helps me better connect with people and disconnect from work.
What do you cook up with your harvest?
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Salsa made with our cherry tomatoes and peppers. We eat a lot of salads and use our kale, mustard greens and lettuce. We also make pistachio or walnut parsley pesto for meat dishes.
What are your volunteer activities at VISTA?
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Previously, I picked up and composted material from the Community Food Pantry for the Compost Committee but had to suspend that due to a recent move. Since then, I helped with construction of VISTA’s stalls to contain mulch and soil.
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How long have you been a member?
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I joined VISTA in time for the Fall 2023 growing season.
What is your favorite social, exercise, or other non-gardening activity?
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Kayaking in the mangroves and canoeing at the Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park.
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Beverly Stansell
What is your favorite crop?
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Greens! Collards, mustard, Swiss chard, and kale.
How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
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I enjoy the peaceful atmosphere in the garden when there is not a lot of activity going on. A quiet place of calm in a chaotic world.
What do you cook up with your harvest?
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I prepare the collards and mustard the way my mom did. She was Canadian, but cooked for a Georgia boy (my dad), so she learned the Southern way. The Swiss chard and kale I prepare the Sicilian way, with a little EVOO and garlic.
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What new information/learning have you acquired as a result of gardening at VISTA?
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I have learned about composting, soil preparation, fertilizer, and cover crops.
What is your favorite social, exercise, or other non-gardening activity?
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KayakinYoga, free weight exercises, hiking, travel, taking care of my 2 miniature schnauzers, membership in a philanthropic educational organization that provides scholarships for women, and attending various live entertainment venues.
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Jane and Rick Jackson
What is your favorite crop?
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Burgundy broccoli, tomatoes, carrots, bush beans, & peas
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How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
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We find comfort in knowing the garden is natural, giving us wholesome vegetables free from pesticides and other harmful chemicals. The flowers, bees, birds, and butterflies are very special and offer many opportunities to photograph them in their natural habitat.
What do you cook up with your harvest?
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We share our harvest with friends and family. They appreciate eating freshly-harvested vegetables and herbs that taste so true.
What new information/learning have you acquired as a result of gardening at VISTA?
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We have absorbed so much about seasonal planting, soil management and amendment, crop thinning, watering, composting, and friendship. We cherish the advice from experienced gardeners.
What is your favorite social, exercise, or other non-gardening activity?
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Meeting new people and photography.
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Maria Barros
What is your favorite crop?
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My favorite crop is broccolini.
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How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
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My time at VISTA allows me to enjoy the outdoors and get my hands dirty.
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What do you cook up with your harvest?
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I love to pan-fry the broccolini with onions and garlic and squeeze some lemon juice on top. It serves as a great side dish.
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What new information/learning have you acquired as a result of gardening at VISTA?
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I have learned so much from VISTA. To name a few, I have learned how to plant vegetables, trim my plants, and grow cover crops.
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What is your favorite social, exercise, or other non-gardening activity?
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When I'm not gardening, I enjoy all forms of crafts.
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Janet Stanko
What is your favorite crop?
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Kale! I grow a lot of it. Although it isn’t my favorite, broccoli is also great. Did you know that broccoli leaves are as nutritious as the broccoli head itself?
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How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
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After gardening organically for many years, I wanted to be involved in an effort bigger than myself to make a broader statement about sustainable gardening. Also, I have learned much more along the way.
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What do you cook up with your harvest?
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I recently made Zuppa Toscana which is an Olive Garden recipe using a lot of chopped kale. I add kale to my smoothies.
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What new information/learning have you acquired as a result of gardening at VISTA?
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I learned more about soil maintenance and the importance of protecting the soil. In addition, my knowledge of native plants has increased because of presentations and conversations with fellow gardeners.​
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What is your favorite social, exercise, or other non-gardening activity?
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I am active in the Sierra Club and spend a lot of time with my granddaughters. They have an interest in the environment and enjoy coming to the garden.
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Corey Soberanis
What is your favorite crop?
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TBD this is my first time planting, but I pray my leeks will grow!
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What do you cook up with your harvest?
This is my first year to harvest, and I’m thrilled! I plan to grow everything I need for a classic French vegetable stock.
What new information/learning have you acquired as a result of gardening at VISTA?
I learned for the first time about the different types of Cover Crops and their essential benefits.
How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
Collaborating with others in a vibrant, life-filled garden nourishes my soul, fostering a deep sense of belonging and shared purpose.
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What is your favorite social, exercise, or other non-gardening activity?
I enjoy the gym & reading self-development books and practicing the piano. I'm also an avid tea enthusiast. ​He also recently volunteered at VISTA's special children's event and presented vegan "Dirt Pies" for great snacks. Ask him for his recipe!
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Susan Baxter Gibson and Jay Gibson
What is your favorite crop?
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Cabbage, I love cabbage and grow Chinese and Jersey Wakefield. Love stuffed cabbage rolls, coleslaw, boiled cabbage etc. Harvesting the outside leaves means you can harvest early and continually enjoy the cabbage as the head grows! Susan
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How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
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Jay says, “VISTA satisfies a need for long views, peace and quiet, and time to commune with nature.” While Jay’s communing with nature, Susan enjoys friendship at the gardens and many wonderful VISTA friends and adds “I sometimes talk more than I garden!”
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What do you cook up with your harvest?
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Jay makes smoothies, sauces, veggie lasagnas, cabbage rolls, salads, etc. and just added two cookbooks; one for Vegan cooking and one for Vegetarian, so he will let us know about his expanding repertoire. Susan usually washes and cleans everything, and if she’s lucky Jay cooks. “He is a better cook than I am, but I do make a great tomato sauce with eggplant, which is better than adding meat.”
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What new information/learning have you acquired as a result of gardening at VISTA?
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Jay learned “quite a lot! How to set up irrigation systems; how to compost, the importance of soil prep, how organic gardening deals with weeds and pests, and any number of tips and tricks for each veggie.” Susan learned the difference between gardening in Upstate NY and Florida. Specifically, she does not try to plant a summer crop. Since okra, peanuts nor Malabar spinach are on Baxter-Gibson menus, she says that “planting a cover crop in the summer is the best way to get our raised garden bed ready for the fall-through-spring growing seasons in Central Florida.”
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What is your favorite social, exercise, or other non-gardening activity?
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Susan takes 5-10 Pilates classes each week and is currently working on Pilates Instructor Certification and had the pleasure of teaching some of our gardeners as practice students. Jay, a recently retired teacher and School Librarian of 36 years enjoys theater work, ship model making, and beer making.
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Vivian Fernandez
What is your favorite crop?
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It is hard to say, as I only grow what we like to eat. But today, I will say that lettuce is my favorite. It is nice to harvest enough leaves for today’s fresh salad and then harvest more in future days. ​
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How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
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It is true that when I am at the garden the worries of the world disappear. I lose track of time and seeing my crops grow makes me so happy. I also enjoy chatting and learning from all of the garden members.
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What do you cook up with your harvest?
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I found so many delicious ways to cook eggplant. My favorite way is the simplest — 0n the grill and dressed with a balsamic glaze.​
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What new information/learning have you acquired as a result of gardening at VISTA?
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I learned the importance of soil amendments for good harvest results. I enjoy trying new plants every season, and the most important thing I learned is that it is okay if something doesn't grow. I just replace it with a new plant.
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What is your favorite social, exercise, or other non-gardening activity?
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Another favorite question! I have a lot of favorites, such as walking on the beach, going to dinner with friends, cooking for my family and enjoying time with my young grandkids who love Nana’s Garden.
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Kemi Akintewe
What is your favorite crop?
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This year, my favorite crop is Romaine lettuce. The rate at which I
have consumed it while sustaining harvest throughout this season
is fulfilling.
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How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
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I look forward to coming to VISTA gardens to enjoy the ambiance
of the different vibrant vegetable colors and fragrances in the air.
Volunteering with the House of Rising Seeds (HRS) Committee
allows me to learn about plant species that I would not have necessarily encountered on my own. My young children love the
Beehive and the different educational events VISTA provides.
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What do you cook up with your harvest?
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I have been able to make a variety of fresh salads and consistently
consume green juice.
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What new information/learning have you acquired as a result of gardening at VISTA?
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I love learning. VISTA provides the ultimate resources for healthy
gardening online and with in-person info sessions. Currently, I
am learning the importance and care of growing specific crops in
the right season and location.​
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What is your favorite social, exercise, or other non-gardening activity?
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When not tending to my plants, I am either writing my next
personal development book or attending a workshop on
improving myself.
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Ruchi Amin
What is your favorite crop?
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Something that hasn’t been tried before! This year we grew a bottle gourd from hand-me-down heirloom seeds. It was a joyful learning experience, as well as being beauty loved by bees, butterflies, and visitors alike!
How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
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It’s my happy place where I lose track of time! There’s something magical about putting hands in the soil, waiting for that first flower to bloom, and harvesting the first fruit of the season. More than anything, it’s the culture of VISTA that feeds my soul - a true sense of community, sharing, and friendship.
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What do you cook up with your harvest?
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My favorite thing is to simply snack on the produce, often right off of the plants! As far as cooking goes, I enjoy working with what is available and creating outside the recipe box. This year we had an abundance of all kinds of greens (radish, beets, turnips, nasturtiums, Swiss chard, etc.) and learned that salads don’t have to be limited to lettuce and kale.
What new information/learning have you acquired as a result of gardening at VISTA?
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Oh, the list is long and fortunately, never ending. My dad used to say that gardening teaches you about life, and I couldn’t agree more. While I’ve learned a whole lot about the principles of permaculture, perhaps the most valuable lessons have been ways to be still & mindful.
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What is your favorite social, exercise, or other non-gardening activity?
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Cooking & spending time with loved ones is high on the list. Although when the weather gets warmer and things slow down in the garden, I look forward to picking up a book or two.
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Abbey Galloway
What is your favorite crop?
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Holy Basil - a fragrant herb I’ve grown ever since I embarked on my organic gardening journey a decade ago. Its spicy, uplifting aroma and sacred essence remind me that even the simplest leaf can be a beacon of nourishment and spiritual delight.
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How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
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My time at VISTA Gardens has given me a renewed sense of wonder for nature and bolstered my respect and gratitude for my community. The vibrant energy of fellow gardeners and the shared laughter under sunlit skies fills my cup every time.
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What do you cook up with your harvest?
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I love to embark on culinary adventures that honor diverse traditions. I enjoy using zataar, kale, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce greens, and New Zealand spinach to create a variety of dishes that celebrate different regions - from zesty Middle Eastern feasts to vibrant Kiwi-inspired salads - each plate a delightful passport to flavor!
What new information/learning have you acquired as a result of gardening at VISTA?
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Gardening here has been an ongoing education in the art of patience, resilience, and the intricate ballet of nature. I’ve learned that even the tiniest seed holds a story of transformation, and that understanding the subtle language of soil and seasons can reveal profound truths about life itself.
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What is your favorite social, exercise, or other non-gardening activity?
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Beyond the garden, I enjoy social gatherings with friends over homegrown treats and engaging conversations. I consistently prioritize my personal fitness training and am dedicated to my personal newsletter, Type Two Fun, which reflects my commitment to creativity, wellness, and a touch of humor.
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Matthew “Matt” Visokay
What is your favorite crop?
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My favorite crop so far has been kale. I have grown both the Dwarf Blue Curled and Nero Di Toscana varieties in our garden bed. My girlfriend and I love making salads with it, and we have also put it in soups and Mediterranean bowls for our meal preps!
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How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
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I think it is important to have things in life that you enjoy and are good for your soul. In my life, VISTA fulfills both of those things. Being able to garden and work on the grounds at VISTA has been a blessing for me, both physically and mentally. Being at VISTA allows me to relax, and it gives me the opportunity to work with my hands, which is something I really enjoy.​
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What do you cook up with your harvest?
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Some of the things we have cooked and prepared so far are eggplant parmesan, with our eggplants, chimichurri from the herbs we have grown and picked from the community herb garden, pickles, and probably our favorite, fresh salads.
What new information/learning have you acquired as a result of gardening at VISTA?
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Being a part of VISTA has taught me so much and helped build a foundation in gardening knowledge that I can continue to build on in the future. To me, one of the most valuable things I have learned is about soil health, including how much work it can take to get your soil where it needs to be. This knowledge came from both the VISTA website and from talking to the lovely people at VISTA.
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What is your favorite social, exercise, or other non-gardening activity?
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From camping in the woods, or on the beach, to canoeing down Florida’s rivers, or fishing at my favorite spot on Pass-a-Grille beach, many of my favorite things to do involve being outdoors. On busier days, when time does not allow for more adventurous things, I enjoy going for walks on local trails, like the Tampa Bay Trail, or around the apartment complex where my girlfriend and I live.
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Susan Weiskopf
What is your favorite crop?
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Lettuce! I’m known as “The Lettuce Queen” for my abundant crop! I have also had a lot of success with broccoli and eggplant.
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How does your time at VISTA feed your soul?
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VISTA Gardens is my Happy Place! Being there always lightens my mood and gives me purpose.​
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What do you cook up with your harvest?
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I cooked a lot of eggplant parmesan this past season. I also made stir fry with my Bok choy
What new information/learning have you acquired as a result of gardening at VISTA?
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I started in 2023 with very little knowledge, so I learned virtually everything from more seasoned gardeners and from trial and error. I learned about soil prep, planting, pruning, fertilizing and pest control.
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What is your favorite social, exercise, or other non-gardening activity?
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I am a voracious reader I have my own book club that I started from scratch 4 years ago. I have also been working on my cooking skills since fully retiring a year and a half ago.
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