What I Learned from Visiting Two Sustainable Urban Florida Farms
- Maressa Benz
- Oct 28, 2025
- 3 min read
Field trip recap | UF/IFAS Week 3
I recently visited two real-life examples of what it looks like to grow food with purpose and resilience in South Florida’s heat. I had the pleasure of touring and visiting The Fruitful Field and The Patricia Davis Community Garden, both located in Pompano Beach.
As part of my six-week journey through the UF/IFAS Sustainable Urban Food Production course, this field trip was a powerful reminder that sustainability isn’t just about avoiding harm. It’s about building systems that give more than they take. These farms are already doing it.
Whether you’re dreaming of your own micro-farm, growing herbs on your balcony, or just curious about what a solarpunk future could look like, I think you’ll be as inspired as I was.
What Makes These Farms Sustainable?
1. They build the soil instead of depleting it.
Both sites use compost, cover crops, mulch, and minimal tillage to keep soil alive and nutrient-rich, which reduces reliance on synthetic fertilizers and fosters natural resilience.
2. They embrace biodiversity.
At The Fruitful Field, you’ll find papayas next to guava, moringa, lemongrass, tomatoes, and flowering plants all working in harmony. This isn’t random, it’s intentional interplanting that mimics natural ecosystems and supports pollinators, pest control, and nutrient cycling.
3. They grow with the local climate, not against it.
Florida heat can be brutal, but these growers are adapting smartly:
Drip tape irrigation + wobblers reduce water waste
Cut-and-come-again greens maximize harvests in small spaces
Shade-loving crops and heat-adapted perennials thrive where others fail
Mulch and cover crops regulate soil temp and retain moisture
4. They prioritize community, not just productivity.
Both farms operate with a social mission. Whether it’s CSA subscriptions, school partnerships, or volunteer days, they’re growing food and reconnecting people to it.
Lessons From The Fruitful Field
This 2-acre regenerative farm is a stunning example of agroecology in action, blending function, beauty, and ethics into every growing decision.
Here’s what stood out:
Their monthly flower CSA turns biodiversity into income and joy
Perennial beds and cover crops improve soil and reduce labor
Their greens are harvested sustainably with minimal waste
There’s a deep respect for the land, every decision starts with care and with nature at the front
It’s clear they aren’t just farming for people, they’re farming with the land and with their community.
Lessons From The Patricia Davis Community Garden
This garden might be small in scale, but its mission is mighty: create food access and connection in an area facing food insecurity.
What inspired me:
They were able to grow 3,000 lbs of food last year on less than one acre!
They have all kinds of trees, edibles, and square plots for rent at a very accessible price to residents to grow for the year
The space is a living classroom for families, kids, and local residents
Even with limited land, they’re creating something that feeds, heals, and brings people together.
Many of us gladly took some cuttings of our favorite plants. I took a lavender and lemon verbena cutting!
This is what sustainable looks like at a hyper-local level: people reclaiming food sovereignty and redefining what it means to nourish a community.
Solarpunk Values in Real Life
Both of these farms are living blueprints of solarpunk agriculture in real life.
They:
Work in harmony with nature, not against it
Design decentralized systems rooted in resilience and community care
Invite beauty and biodiversity into everyday life
Educate and empower others, not just grow for profit
Respect the climate and adapt accordingly, rather than trying to dominate it
They reminded me that solarpunk isn’t just solar panels and green tech, it’s about healing the systems we live in, from the ground up.
And gardens are the perfect place to begin.
How This Shapes Our Future
After this field trip, I see my solarpunk micro-farm and community vision more clearly:
✔️ I want to grow food and flowers. Beauty is part of the healing
✔️ I want to design spaces that welcome pollinators and people
✔️ I want to offer education, nourishment, and joy to my community
✔️ I want to build systems that regenerate soil, biodiversity, and social connection
Even if you don’t plan to start a farm, you can be part of this shift. You can do this by composting, planting native flowers, supporting local gardens, or simply rethinking your relationship with food.
Because this future isn’t built by institutions, it’s built by us, in our own yards, balconies, and shared spaces.
If this resonates with you, follow along for the next post in this series,and if you’re ready to start creating your own solarpunk lifestyle, I’d love for you to follow along on this journey.
Let’s grow something beautiful, and regenerative, together!
Maressa
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