Imagine a world where you can grocery shop in your yard or community garden. A world where you have support from your community to grow and thrive. We believe by reconnecting the community with nature and all that the Earth provides, we can begin to transform our daily lives. Not only is gardening an incredibly therapeutic hobby, it's also a way to regain our independence.
Nature can provide an abundance of gifts. So much so, that you could have enough to share with your friends. Personally, I would love to get to a point where I could bring baskets of fresh organic produce from my backyard to my friends, saving them hundreds on groceries a month. For some that would be an incredible weight lifted off their shoulders. A gift from nature.
Our swap events are a great place to get started. The events flow with the seasons and are held on Saturdays right around every season change. These are free community events where locals bring plant clippings, seeds, soaps, butter, bread, honey, books, and years of knowledge. For some, giving and expecting nothing in return might seem like a foreign concept. I am here to change that. There are no words to describe the feelings I get when I snip a little piece of a plant off for a friend and they share pictures of all the tomatoes they got from that tiny plant clipping. I know many others in the group feel the same way.
We don't have to stop at plants. The group has always been intended to grow organically to accommodate the community's needs. We have a Facebook group where users can swap out anything that want in between meetings. Did you start a new hobby and it didn't go as expected? Check with the group maybe someone else has done the same and would like to swap with you. You could also swap services. These are all great ways to build a stronger and more self-sufficient community.
In addition to the swaps, I am working on building a network map of businesses and teachers in the community to support this journey. We offer classes at the swap events at no charge, and would love to grow the educational aspects of this. Please reach out if you have a cool skill, hobby, or industry knowledge that you would love to share with the group.
I personally believe this type of movement can be a game changer for some of us. Orange City Swap is a group of locals that get together and swap knowledge, what they grow, or what they make. We also have a Facebook page where we list what we have extra of or skills we would like to learn.
You grew tons and tons of tomatoes and your neighbor has tons and tons of lettuce. You swap out with and now you have everything for a fresh organic salad.
You would love to learn about beekeeping and you're the best sourdough maker in town. You learn a new skill, and your neighbor is eating the best Rueben in town.
Valentine Park, Orange City
9:30 AM: Set-up
10:00 AM: Event Start
10:30 AM: Maria Ortiz - How to care for your orchids. This is a wonderful presentation from Growing To...
Valentine Park, Orange City
Valentine Park, Orange City
9:30 AM: Set-up
10:00 AM: Event Start
10:30 AM: Tree Work Now - Caring for your trees
11:00 AM: Chicken Tender Tara - Caring for backyard chi...
Valentine Park, Orange City
Valentine Park, Orange City
9:30 AM: Set-up
10:30 AM: Sourdough Class with Jenn Klotz
11:00 AM Seasonal Gardening with Leah Brooks
Valentine Park, Orange City
The people here are so helpful. This is a local nursery that has a great selection of soils, fertilizers, plants, and gardening accessories. If you need it, they probably have it. Check our their website for more information.
Duane and Maria are a wonderful addition to our community with a wealth of information and a ton of edible or decorative plants to choose from. Check out Duane's YouTube channel for more information.
215 N Sparkman Ave, Orange City, FL 32763
Sam Carlough has a variety of fruiting plants, blooming flowers, herbs, and more. If you're in the market for plants check her out.
871 Lake Pearl Dr, Lake Helen, FL 32744
The Reid Farm offers a ton for the community including Yoga Classes, Food Forest Classes, and a fully stocked food forest with items to purchase. Check out their website for more information.
Jenn previously gave a wonderful presentation on sourdough and her skills don't stop there. Please check out her Etsy site.
Leah is one local YouTube channel you don't want to miss. If you're interested in Tower Gardening she will be the best person to talk to.
Sarah makes the most wonderful treats. If you haven't tried them you're missing out. Check out her Instagram page for more information.
If you would like to be included in this list please reach out!
Feeling a bit clueless about where to start with learning something new? You're not alone! But, hold onto your hats because we've got a plan. Let's connect the wise gurus with the eager learners! No need to scroll through endless online courses, because these teachers will be people from your local community - maybe even a familiar face!
Our neighborhood is buzzing with home-based businesses, online-only shops, and brick-and-mortar stores. Yet, how do you find the hippest local businesses on Google? Enter our local business directory, your one-stop-shop to support local commerce and stay up-to-date on the latest hotspots. Let's help our local business owners thrive!
By continuing to browse this site you agree to our delicious technical cookies.