Dr. Phillips Charities has just announced that it had recently awarded $5 million to be paid out over the next three years to 4Roots for construction of its 4Roots Farm Campus in The Packing District.
The grant will support the construction of the first phase of the new urban farm campus, expected to break ground this fall, including educational classrooms, a greenhouse, barn, apiary, fields and gardens, and a compost area.
These facilities and the programs offered on the farm will be used to teach the public about urban and community gardening and allow school children to learn where food comes from, how to grow it and prepare it, and about agriculture and food science careers.
“4Roots’ mission is to create a sustainable and equitable food system in Central Florida. To do this, we need to get our community on board. That’s why the focus of the first phase of the Farm Campus is education,” said John Rivers, Founder and CEO of 4Roots and 4Rivers in a prepared statement. “By providing our students and neighbors with hands-on agricultural education and dynamic experiences, they will be empowered to build a better food future that will benefit us all. We are very thankful to Dr. Phillips Charities for providing us with this grant that will assist us in bringing this phase of the Farm Campus to life.”
The farm will be located on Dr. Phillips Charities’ new Packing District development just west of College Park in the Fairvilla neighborhood.
