January 14, 2026
For our first trip of 2026, 16 MGV and 2 students went to Shared Harvest Garden in Lady Lake, FL, a volunteer-run, non-profit community garden growing fresh produce for local charities and food pantries, located at 700 Oak Street off Rolling Acres Road. Peter Russell is the president of the The Villages Homeowners Advocates (VHA) Foundation and of the Shared Harvest Gardens. He gave us an excellent tour.
Established by The Villages residents in the 1990s, it is a dedicated project providing tons of free vegetables like tomatoes, lettuce, crucifers, and peppers to those in need, relying on community volunteers who share a love of gardening and the outdoors for everything from planting to harvesting. Over the years, the 2-acre garden has provided as much as 23 tons of vegetables in one season to nearby food banks, soup kitchens, and churches.
Peter’s philosophy is to craft excellent soil to support his plants, so they have the optimal growth medium and less stress. First, he uses cover crops of Sun hemp, Sudan grass and cowpeas between produce plantings. That provides for nitrogen fixation and fewer weeds. He composts everything and uses it to amend his soil.
He plants with pelletized seeds, and the associated recommended inoculum to promote germination. He adds ½ tsp of his own special blend to the bottom of the hole to be readily available for the roots as they develop and grow. The formula: equal parts bloodmeal and bone meal, ½ part feather meal, ¼ part kelp meal, and a bit of calcium. Good soil creates the best conditions for a healthy plant with decreased fungal and insect stress.
He uses BT and Neem oil sparingly, on an as needed basis, reminding us to avoid neem when plants are wet (won’t stick) or if too sunny (burn). Peter recommends cover
crops and pine straw mulch to keep down weeds and fungus, along with drip irrigation.
Contact VHA President Peter Russell (p.russell@thevha.net) for details.
This post was written with the help of Cathy Keller, Lake County Master Gardener Volunteers. Thank you!
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