Question 1

What grows well in Dr. Phillips, Florida?

Accepted Answer

Located in Central Florida's Zone 10A climate, Dr. Phillips offers a long growing season that supports a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, fruit trees, and pollinator-friendly plants.

Some of the crops we've successfully grown and observed thriving in the Dr. Phillips Urban Garden Project include tomatoes (Black Krim, Matt's Wild Cherry, Purple Cherry), cucumbers (Cool Customer Pickling), sweet potatoes, blueberries, thornless blackberries, herbs, radishes, peppers, and flowering companion plants such as zinnias, cosmos,  coreopsis, marigolds and more!

One of the biggest advantages of gardening in Central Florida is the ability to grow food throughout much of the year. By choosing seasonally appropriate crops and incorporating perennial food plants, homeowners can create productive gardens that provide harvests, habitat, and beauty across multiple seasons.

We'd highly recommend checking out UF/IFAS Extension's website on Gardening solutions in Florida for more information on Florida- specifically planting guides. We reference this all the time!

Every garden is unique, but with the right plant selection and soil-building practices, it's possible to grow an abundance of food while supporting local biodiversity.

Question 2

How do you create a pollinator-friendly garden?

Accepted Answer

Creating a pollinator-friendly garden starts with providing food, habitat, and diversity.

Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, moths, and other beneficial insects depend on flowering plants throughout the year. Instead of focusing on a single species, we recommend planting a diverse mix of flowers, herbs, native plants, vegetables, and fruiting crops that bloom at different times.

In the Dr. Phillips Urban Garden Project, flowering cilantro, dill, fennel, cosmos, zinnias, blueberries, blackberries, and vinca all help support pollinator activity.

A few simple ways to create a pollinator-friendly garden include:
Plant flowers with staggered bloom times
Allow some herbs and vegetables to flower
Reduce or eliminate pesticide use (if necessary use organic methods)
Include native plants whenever possible
Provide water sources and habitat
Create layered planting areas with a mix of heights and species

When gardens provide resources year-round, they become valuable habitat that supports both pollinators and the larger ecosystem.

Question 3

What is regenerative gardening?

Accepted Answer

Regenerative gardening is an approach that focuses on improving the health of the entire ecosystem rather than simply growing plants.

Instead of viewing a garden as a collection of individual crops, regenerative gardening considers soil health, biodiversity, pollinator support, water conservation, wildlife habitat, and long-term resilience.

At The Eco Connection, regenerative gardening means working with nature rather than against it.

We prioritize practices such as building healthy soil, maintaining living roots, increasing biodiversity, minimizing disturbance, supporting beneficial insects, and creating systems that become healthier over time.

The goal isn't just to grow food. The goal is to create thriving ecosystems that support people, wildlife, and the environment simultaneously.

Question 4

What’s a simple way to build richer soil in your garden?

Accepted Answer

Start by keeping your soil covered and fed. Bare ground dries out fast, erodes easily, and loses life. You can help by adding mulch, compost, fallen leaves, and plant leftovers from the garden. That boosts moisture, protects the surface, and gives soil microbes something to work with. In the Dr. Phillips Urban Garden Project, we used fallen leaves across the beds and kept living roots in place whenever we could. Simple move. Big payoff!

Question 5

Can you grow food in a suburban backyard?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely.

Many suburban backyards have the potential to become productive food-producing ecosystems, regardless of size.

In fact, some of the most successful gardens combine vegetables, herbs, fruit trees, berries, flowers, and pollinator plants into a space that is both beautiful and functional.

The Dr. Phillips Urban Garden Project demonstrates how an ordinary suburban yard can support food production, pollinators, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, and environmental education all within the same space. After just a few months we started seeing multiple varieties of birds, butterflies, insects, and more, all within the backyard of an urban home.

You don't need acres of land to make a meaningful impact. Even a few garden beds, containers, fruit trees, or vertical growing systems can provide fresh food while helping reconnect people to the natural systems that sustain them.

Question 6

What can I grow in Orlando, Florida?

Accepted Answer

Orlando's Zone 10A climate provides one of the longest growing seasons in the country, making it possible to grow food nearly year-round with proper planning.

Some of our favorite crops for Central Florida gardens include tomatoes, peppers, sweet potatoes, parsley, basil, rosemary, blueberries, blackberries, bananas, and a wide variety of pollinator-friendly flowers.

Seasonality is especially important in Florida. While many northern gardeners focus primarily on spring planting, Florida gardeners often have multiple growing seasons throughout the year. Also, it is possible to grow things in the summer, provided they are heat and humidity tolerant edibles.

By combining seasonal vegetables with perennial food-producing plants, homeowners can create productive landscapes that provide food, beauty, and ecological benefits across all seasons.

At The Eco Connection, we encourage gardeners to think beyond individual crops and focus on creating diverse ecosystems that support both people and wildlife.

Question 7

What is an edible ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

An edible ecosystem is a garden designed to  produce food, support biodiversity, attract pollinators, and create a stronger connection between people and the natural systems around them.

Instead of separating ornamental plants from food-producing plants, edible landscapes intentionally combine fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, and perennial food crops into a cohesive design.

A well-designed edible ecosystem might include:
Blueberries and Blackberries as foundation shrubs
Herbs such as rosemary and basil
Fruit trees like figs, citrus, or avocado
Pollinator flowers such as zinnias, cosmos, and native wildflowers
Seasonal vegetables integrated throughout the space
Please keep in mind that the best plants depend on your zone, the sun it gets, and the water availability.

Please feel free to reach out to us for further guidance on creating an edible ecosystem in your backyard.

Contact: theecoconnectioninfo@gmail.com 
Subject Line: Guidance on Creating an Edible Ecosystem

Question 8

How much food can a backyard garden produce?

Accepted Answer

The answer depends on the size of the space, plant selection, growing conditions, and how intensively the garden is managed.

Even relatively small suburban gardens can produce surprising amounts of food. A combination of raised beds, vertical growing systems, fruit trees, perennial crops, and containers can provide a steady supply of herbs, vegetables, berries, and seasonal harvests throughout much of the year.

In our own projects, we've seen gardens produce tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, sweet potatoes, herbs, berries, and pollinator-supporting flowers within a relatively modest footprint.

While most backyard gardens won't completely replace grocery shopping, they can significantly increase access to fresh food while creating habitat, improving biodiversity, and reducing reliance on long-distance food systems.

Question 9

Can you design a garden for my yard?

Accepted Answer

Yes.

The Eco Connection offers ecosystem-focused garden planning and design services tailored to your goals, space, and lifestyle.

Whether you're interested in growing food, attracting pollinators, creating a food forest, improving biodiversity, or simply making your landscape more productive and resilient, we can help develop a plan that works for your property.

Our approach combines:
Regenerative gardening principles
Food production
Pollinator support
Florida-friendly plant selection
Biodiversity enhancement
Long-term ecosystem development

Every property is different, which is why we begin by understanding your site conditions, goals, and opportunities before making recommendations.

Get in touch with us with any questions: theecoconnectioninfo@gmail.com

Subject Line: Design my Garden (Your Location)

Question 10

How long does it take to establish a food forest?

Accepted Answer

Food forests are long-term projects that develop in stages over time.

Many people begin seeing meaningful growth and harvests within the first one to three years, particularly from fast-growing vegetables, herbs, berries, and support species. However, a mature food forest typically continues improving for five to ten years or more as trees, shrubs, and soil ecosystems become established.

The exciting part is that you don't have to wait for perfection.

Many food forests begin producing food, supporting pollinators, and improving biodiversity during the very first season. Over time, the system becomes increasingly productive, resilient, and self-sustaining.

We view food forests as living ecosystems that are forever evolving  rather than projects that are ever truly "finished."

Question 11

What is a food forest?

Accepted Answer

A food forest is a garden designed to mimic the structure and function of a natural forest while producing food.Rather than growing crops in rows, food forests use multiple layers of plants that work together as an ecosystem.These layers may include:Canopy treesFruit treesShrubsVinesHerbsGroundcoversRoot cropsFood forests often include species such as avocados, bananas, figs, blueberries, blackberries, herbs, native flowers, and pollinator plants.The goal is to create a resilient, low-maintenance ecosystem that becomes more productive over time while supporting biodiversity and wildlife habitat.

Question 12

How do I attract butterflies and pollinators to my garden?

Accepted Answer

Pollinators need three things:FoodWaterHabitatThe easiest way to attract butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects is to plant a wide variety of flowering species that bloom throughout the year.Some of our favorite pollinator plants for Central Florida include:ZinniasCosmosCoreopsisBlanket flowerMilkweedBasilCilantroSalviaNative wildflowersAllowing some herbs and vegetables to flower can also provide valuable nectar sources.A diverse garden with continuous blooms will naturally attract more pollinators and create a healthier ecosystem overall.

Question 13

What is Florida-Friendly Landscaping?

Accepted Answer

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ is a science-based approach developed by UF/IFAS that promotes environmentally responsible landscaping practices.The goal is to create landscapes that:Use water efficientlyReduce pollutionProtect natural resourcesSupport wildlifeRequire fewer inputsMany Florida-Friendly landscapes incorporate native plants, pollinator habitat, mulching, efficient irrigation, and sustainable maintenance practices.At The Eco Connection, we often combine Florida-Friendly Landscaping principles with edible landscaping and regenerative gardening techniques to create productive and ecologically beneficial spaces.

Question 14

How much maintenance does an edible landscape require?

Accepted Answer

Edible landscapes generally require more attention during the establishment phase than they do once mature.The first year often involves:WateringMulchingPlantingTraining vinesMonitoring plant healthAs systems become established, maintenance typically shifts toward:Seasonal pruningHarvestingAdding compostOccasional replantingThe exact maintenance level depends on the design, plant selection, and the level of involvement of the homeowner.One of our goals is to create systems that become easier to manage over time while remaining productive and beautiful.

Question 15

What's the difference between a traditional garden and a regenerative garden?

Accepted Answer

Traditional gardens often focus primarily on growing plants.Regenerative gardens focus on improving the entire ecosystem.A regenerative garden prioritizes:Soil healthBiodiversityPollinator supportWildlife habitatWater conservationLong-term resilienceFood production is still important, but it's viewed as one benefit of a healthy ecosystem rather than the sole objective.The result is a landscape that becomes healthier, more productive, and more resilient over time.

Question 16

Can HOA neighborhoods have edible gardens?

Accepted Answer

In many cases, yes.HOA rules vary, but edible gardens can often be incorporated into landscapes in ways that are attractive, organized, and compatible with community standards.Many homeowners successfully grow food using:Raised bedsSmall to Large sized Containers (or even 5-7 gallon fabric pots)Fruit treesHerbsEdible landscapingPollinator gardensBecause edible landscapes can be both beautiful and functional, they often blend seamlessly into residential neighborhoods.We always recommend reviewing HOA guidelines before making significant landscape changes.

Question 17

What grows well in Central Florida year-round?

Accepted Answer

While crop selection changes with the seasons, Central Florida's climate allows gardeners to grow something during every month of the year.Some of  the crops we've grown include:VegetablesTomatoesPeppersEggplantCucumbersSweet potatoesBeansHerbsBasilRosemaryCuban oreganoItalian OreganoSageFruitsBananasBlueberriesBlackberriesFigsCitrusAvocadosArbaica CoffeeBarbados CherryPollinator PlantsZinniasCosmosCoreopsisNative wildflowersMarigolds
By combining seasonal vegetables with perennial food-producing plants, gardeners can create landscapes that remain productive, beautiful, and ecologically beneficial throughout the year.Make sure to check your local extension office for recommended planting dates. We deeply appreciate the work that they do at the UF/IFAS Extension office. Here is their monthly planting recommendations for Florida (North, Central and South).

Question 18

Why does biodiversity matter in a backyard garden?

Accepted Answer

Biodiversity is one of the strongest indicators of a healthy ecosystem.A diverse garden supports pollinators, beneficial insects, birds, soil organisms, and wildlife while improving resilience against pests, disease, and extreme weather.In our experience, some of the most productive gardens are also the most diverse. By combining food crops, flowers, herbs, native plants, shrubs, and trees, homeowners can create landscapes that are not only beautiful but also more self-sustaining over time.At The Eco Connection, biodiversity is one of the core metrics we track through our Ecosystem Scorecard, because healthy ecosystems produce far more than food. They create habitat, resilience, and connection.

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