Our Stories & Tips
🍂 Getting Ready for Fall Gardening in South Florida
Posted by Catalina Obando on

Fall is planting season in South Florida! Learn what to sow, when to transplant, and how to refresh your beds this September for a thriving garden all season long.
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- Tags: Fall Crops South Florida, Fall Gardening South Florida, Garden Journal Companion, Gardening for Beginners Florida, Raised Bed Gardening Florida, Seasonal Gardening Guide, September Planting Guide, South Florida Gardening Tips, Vegetable Planting Calendar, What to Grow in Fall
Fresh Food on Every Corner: What La Ceja Taught Me About Food Deserts in Florida
Posted by Catalina Obando on

When I visited La Ceja, a small town in Antioquia, Colombia, something immediately stood out. Almost every block had a little produce shop—legumbrerĂas or tiendas—overflowing with fruits, herbs, and vegetables. They weren’t fancy or modern. Just simple corner stores with crates of papayas, tomatoes, cilantro, and citrus spilling onto the sidewalk. People walked home with bags of fresh food. Vendors chatted with neighbors. It was normal. And it made me realize how not normal that is in many parts of the U.S., especially where I live. A view inside a small neighborhood tienda. In Colombia, shops like these are everywhere—no...
A Letter to Our Leaders: Please Help Us Stop the Abandonment
Posted by Catalina Obando on

Today, another dog walked into my farm.Scared, sweet, skinny. Most likely dumped.And she’s not the first. Far from it. We now have five abandoned dogs at our farm. Some were adopted. Some were lost. And many more never made it off the road. Redland is a beautiful place, but it’s become known as a dumping ground for unwanted pets. It’s breaking our hearts. We care deeply. That’s why this hurts so much.But we cannot do this anymore—not alone. I run a small farm, I have a full-time job, I manage a business, and I already care for six animals of...
I Hated Board Games—So I Made One as a Thank-You Gift
Posted by Catalina Obando on

I never liked board games—so why did I end up making one? In this blog, I share my journey at the Agroecology Lab, how I found inspiration in an unexpected place, and the process of creating a collaborative agroecology game as a thank-you to my team. From learning a new language (the language of science!) to using AI to bring my ideas to life, this experience changed the way I see agroecology and teamwork. Read the full story here!
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- Tags: Agriculture Innovation, Agro Eco Park, Agroecology, AgTech, AI in Design, Board Game Design, Collaboration, Community Farming, Eco-Friendly Farming, Education Through Games, Farm Life, Game-Based Learning, Science and Design, Sustainable Farming, Teamwork, UF IFAS, University of Florida
Meet the Heart and Soul of My Farm: My Beloved Pets
Posted by Catalina Obando on

When you think of a farm, your mind might go straight to rows of plants, fresh herbs, and the joy of a bountiful harvest. But for me, this farm is so much more—it’s also home to six incredible companions who have each left their unique pawprints on my life. Let me introduce you to the furry, lovable chaos that makes my farm feel complete. Oliver: The First and Forever Heart Oliver was my first pet—the one who taught me how deeply you can bond with an animal. I rescued him in New Jersey, and for nine wonderful years, he filled...