
By Cynthia McFarland
Victory Garden Benefits Community in Tangible Ways

Gardening became a patriotic mission during World Wars I and II. As America’s farmers were tasked with supplying the troops, citizens were encouraged to do their part by growing produce at home. Posters urged people to “sow the seeds of victory” and “be a soldier of the soil.”
Promoted as “victory,” “war” and “liberty” gardens, the campaign was successful in fighting food shortages. By 1944, an estimated 20 million victory gardens were credited with producing 40% of the produce grown in America.
Fast forward to the 21st Century. The concept of stewarding natural resources appeals to a whole new generation. Just ask the folks behind the aptly named Victory Garden on the grounds of Faith Christian Fellowship in Tavares.

Setting roots
The garden’s roots extend back to 2011 when Pastor Buddy Walker founded Empower School & Farm in Umatilla, a residential urban farm internship program to guide young leaders finding their purpose in Christian services while producing food through regenerative agriculture that protects the environment.
Walker started Victory Garden in March 2018 in conjunction with Lake Cares Food Pantry to benefit the local community by growing healthy food using natural fertilizers and pest control.
Walker, the president of Commissioned Beyond Borders, Inc., moved to Tennessee to launch another Empower School & Farm in Knoxville. June 1, 2024 marked the official transition of Victory Garden as its own 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Victory Garden, which is dedicated to providing access to pesticide-free produce and teaching people to garden, is in the capable hands of director Caryn Desinor.
Unlike community gardens where participants rent plots and grow their own produce, Victory Garden is a one-acre urban farm that supports the community by offering affordable farmers markets, classes and workshops. Participants learn about gardening whether they have a yard or just an apartment balcony. All activities take place at the farm at Faith Christian Fellowship.
Victory Garden is divided into different sections. In the food forest, all plants (both edible and medicinal) are in the ground. The square garden features a growing grid with concrete beds, while the greenhouse has dozens of hydroponic and aeroponic towers. The container garden includes a trellis system for plants that need support. In the shade section, standing wooden beds hold shade-friendly plants. There are plans to add a butterfly garden.
“We’re not certified organic, but we use organic practices. There are no chemicals used and we’re 100% pesticide free. We only use organic fertilizer and compost. If we add nutrients to the soil, it’s natural and comes from volcanic rock,” Caryn says.
Volunteers sign up for workdays to help with garden maintenance at the handicapped accessible garden with concrete beds of varying heights so people in a wheelchair or using a walker can participate.

Learning workshops
Victory Garden regularly hosts fun and educational workshops. Adult workshops are for ages 13 and older. Separate workshops are offered for children aged 2-12.
“Since June 1, we have expanded to include more family-oriented events,” says Caryn, who teaches many of the workshops, as does her husband, Ahkeem, logistics manager for the Lake Cares Food Pantry.
Kids workshops that encourage children to learn and ask questions are popular with moms.
In the “Painting with Petals” workshop, kids learned about the natural dyes in flower petals by pounding petals onto canvas totes they took home.
In other recent workshops, participants learned how to grow tomatoes, compost, create loose leaf tea blends and tinctures and flavor kombucha with herbs and berries.
Most workshops are free. If a kit is included, the fee is small, often just $10 to $15. And you won’t leave empty handed.
“We always send participants home with produce or starter plants,” adds Caryn.

Farmers market
Freshly harvested seasonal produce is sold at the farmers market on the first, third and fifth Wednesday each month from 8am to 1pm.
“We want to fight food insecurity with nutritious options, and provide access to good produce,” Caryn says.
The market also sells ginger and turmeric, which are very popular. You’ll find locally-sourced honey, loose leaf tea blends and specialty items such as artwork on occasion.
Starting this year, Victory Garden has an Adopt-a-School program to teach students in garden clubs.
“We’re also partnering with local teachers and administrators in Lake County to develop and design an after-school program for students grades 3 to 5 to learn about healthy eating,” Caryn says. “We’re introducing them to nutrition and teaching them about growing produce and running their own farmers market. We plan to have a community cookout and produce a cookbook.”
Come by the farmers market to stock up on produce and learn about multiple options for getting involved with Victory Garden, including signing up for a workshop or participating in a volunteer workday.

Photos: Provided
"I fell in love with words early on and knew from fourth grade that I wanted to be a writer,” says Cynthia McFarland. A full-time freelancer since 1993 and the author of nine non-fiction books, her writing has earned regional and national awards. Cynthia lives on a small farm north of Ocala; her kids have fur and four legs