Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful joins forces with local farm sustainability program

Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful (KTBB) has announced its acquisition of Tampa Bay Farm 2 School, an organization that empowers youth for health and success through hands-on agricultural and culinary experiences.  

“We are thrilled to add this component to our existing programs of community cleanups, environmental education, and beautification to create a complete program of community sustainability,” said Debbie Evenson, executive director of Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful.

Since 2013, Tampa Bay Farm 2 School has provided volunteers and expertise to schools to establish student gardens and integrate nutrition and food sustainability education. With the merger of the two groups, KTBB will be able to enhance its hands-on sustainable living education experiences by demonstrating the connection between plants and food. Additionally, Farm 2 School and its Kids’ Kitchen program will help foster a healthy community and show young gardeners how to use what they grow to make healthy and flavorful food.

“Merging with Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful allows us to expand a unique circle of learning that connects sustainable gardening, plant-based cooking, and composting experiences,” said Elizabeth Leib, founder and director of Tampa Bay Farm 2 School.

The new partnership also comes as KTBB is preparing to open its new Environmental Education Center this summer.

“Our Environmental Education Center … will provide educational lessons including water testing, watershed health, and environmental sustainability, as well as serve as a community-based compost site with hydroponic and pollinator gardens,” Evenson said. “Once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and it is safe to congregate, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful will launch this exciting new chapter of our organization and Farm 2 School will be an essential part of it as Kids’ Kitchen.”