Grow it Forward is a network of micro farms in the Orange County area.
The pilot farm was started at St. Luke’s UMC.
You can be a part of this exciting Microfarm!
Volunteer at one of the Grow it Forward farms
Be part of the movement and help Grow it Forward,
by volunteering on the Micro Farm:
Grow It Forward Farm at Shepherds Hope
455 9th St, Winter Garden, FL 34787
Tuesdays, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Fridays, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Grow It Forward Farm at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church
4851 S Apopka Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL 32819
Thursday & Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday Evenings, 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
TO VOLUNTEER
All skill levels are welcome! Parental presence is required for anyone under age 16.
Regardless of skill levels, volunteers begin with a brief orientation and will be assigned specific tasks under the leadership of our Farm Manager.
Click the button below for volunteer opportunities.
When volunteering on the farm, please be sure to bring bottled water & wear closed toe shoes.
VOLUNTEER FORMS
- If you have not yet completed a photo consent form, please visit Photo Consent.
- All volunteers will also need to sign a volunteer liability form to work at any of the Grow it Forward farms. Please visit Grow it Forward Liability Form
Grow it Forward Amazon Wish List
Grow it Forward Amazon wish list
Saturday Farmer’s Market Day
A variety of produce is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Tastings, garden tours, and pre-orders are available.
For more information, contact Saniye at skazan@st.lukes.org.
Workshop @ St. Luke’s Farm
Our last workshop featured Mark and Chris from Revival Gardening. Mark and Chris came to the St. Luke’s farm to talk about vermicomposting which is a composting method that uses worms!
“Do The Rot Thing!”
Composting 102: Vermicomposting workshop
In their demonstration, they will have a worm bin built specifically for people to vermicompost at home themselves. They’ll share how to use their model, as well as explain how other models work. The workshop will go over how to maintain your very own worm bin including, how you would feed and water them, as well as extract castings. People will also learn what worm castings are and what they do for plants and soil.
Be a Friend of the Farm
Be a Friend of the Farm – and Help Us Grow in our community with
Your help is needed to assist us in purchasing required equipment, seeds and
fertilizer, to support our farming team AND to start new micro farms within the
community.
Please find a level of support that works for you. We so appreciate your kindness and generosity!
SPROUT: $10 will help us purchase seeds
LADYBUG: $25 will help us with pest control
SEEDLING: $40 will purchase needed germination supplies
IRRIGATOR: $50 will purchase hoses & sprinkler equipment
TILLER: $75 will keep us in necessary tools to work the earth
GROWER: $150 will help us pay for continuing education & training for our farm team
APPRENTICE: $250 will help to support our student farmers
FARMER: $400 will support “Grow Orlando”, our non-profit partner & farm manager
PRODUCER: $900 will sustain Grow it Forward Vision by planning for the next growing season
GRANTOR: $1500 will support our community outreach and invest in the next micro-farm as we continue to Grow it Forward!
We plant the seeds, but God gives us the harvest.
Choose “Restoring Hope” on the Fund dropdown and indicate “Micro Farm” in the notes.
For more information about the Micro Farm,
contact Saniye at skazan@st.lukes.org.
St. Luke’s has a Micro Farm on campus!
In 2018, our congregation voted to impact Family Homelessness and Childhood Hunger. This can only be achieved through long-term, sustainable programs allowing the community to step forward and own it! Our micro farm is a pilot program we hope will GROW throughout the community! Here is what it takes:
The Grow it Forward Micro Farm is featured in the
Edible Orlando magazine, Winter 2021.
Check page 15.
The Micro Farm was also featured in the
West Orange Observer in October 2020.
LAND
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
BUILDING A BUSINESS
SPONSORSHIP

Pammies Sammies is our first corporate sponsor, committing to purchase many of the “fruits of our labor”! The Grow it Forward concept aligns perfectly with Pammies Sammies goals of enriching communities through local farming and healthy food.
The Dr Phillips Rotary is a proud sponsor of our farm. Their foundation grant helps us to pay the salaries of our student farmers and farm coordinator.
St. Luke’s was awarded a $42,000 grant from No Kid Hungry to expand the Grow It Forward network adding 4 more farms in 2021. Grow Orlando will lead the initiative as Grow It Forward expands to faith campuses located in Food Priority Areas west of Orlando. The network’s vision and mission is to eradicate food disparity by building economic and food sovereignty through a self-sustaining micro-farm network, utilizing available land through faith and community partners.
For questions, please contact Saniye Kazan, Director of Mission Engagement, at skazan@st.lukes.org.