HEALTH IS MORE THAN THE ABSENCE OF DISEASE. HEALTH IS ABOUT JOBS AND EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT GO INTO MAKING US HEALTHY — Jocelyn Elders, former Surgeon General of the United States
Health Central Employee Celebration, 1993
Tucker Ranch As part of a partnership with Healthy West Orange, the district and the City of Winter Garden announced plans in 2017 for a 12to 14-acre sustainable working and teaching farm. The district awarded a $1.7 million grant to the project, seeing Tucker Ranch as an opportunity for many of its initiatives to thrive as one. According to a press release announcing the project, the farm is being designed based on the principles of “permaculture,” imitating natural ecosystems and their patterns to conserve soil and water and reduce waste. Frog Song Organics, a local grower that will help complete and operate the farm, provides both the model and the guidance to see it through. “Most commercial farms grow one cash crop and rely upon chemicals and economies of scale to guarantee profits,” said Tanja Gerhartz, economic development director with the City of Winter Garden. “Permaculture relies upon a variety of crops that function together to create a viable and sustainable ecosystem. We hope to grow as many as 50 different crops.” 30 | JUNE 2019 | i4Biz.com
An important part of the program will include the Institute of Health & Wellness, focusing on educational programing that features cooking and nutrition classes, farming instruction and a variety of health and wellness events and classes. The food grown at Tucker Ranch will stay in west Orange County, with much of it being sold at the Winter Garden Farmers Market, awarded America’s Favorite Farmers Market in 2018 by American Farmland Trust. Through it all, the district remains committed to investing in the community and supporting Healthy West Orange as it becomes clear that the healthiest community is one that empowers its citizens to invest in their physical, emotional, psychological and environmental wellbeing. “The community has embraced us with open arms,” Swanson said. “We went this route because ‘Healthy West Orange’ is a call to action for the entire community to come together, to do things in a fun and inviting way, and to meet people where they are.” P
