As a founder and former C-I-E-I-O of VISTA, the current board nicely keeps me updated on their board notes which I greatly appreciate. And occasionally I have some historic information or past contacts of value. I saw that Barb, an original VISTA board member and Education Chair, resigned, and I wanted to pass along some VISTA history. I recently thought of Barb who had signed us up for an agricultural conference back in 2013-ish. We attended educational seminars and visited many vendors displaying and explaining the latest in farming. A year later just prior to the opening at our current location, VISTA had an important pivotal moment, all due to Barb.
Barb convinced me to go to a talk at a local non profit garden, across the street from the Lowry Park Zoo, featuring David Whitwam. David was working with other gardens on the old
Victory Garden model where everyone rented a plot, but he had a twist. The plots were all the same, constructed by the garden and how and what was grown was regulated, basically to ensure successful growing. In about a month we built and prepared six plots and we were open! Yes, just six plots and nothing else but the little red shed, a well (and a generator), some tools, some tanks, and hoses, and the gate and sign. BTW, the VISTA logo was designed by Barb!
The model was perfect and, thanks to Barb, VISTA became the community garden showplace in all of Florida and maybe beyond. I have yet to visit a nicer community garden. Thanks Barb!
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