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🚜 The past, present and future of Orlando farming.
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🚜 The past, present and future of Orlando farming.

A drone's view of the citrus groves growing at Bekemeyer Farm in Winter Garden, Florida. 📾: @hecsagram

Getting to the point.

When citrus greening disease ravaged the area in 2015, the Bekemeyers from the Bekemeyer Family Farm in Winter Garden decided to pull the infected trees out and start anew. While they continued to plant new citrus trees, they also planted blueberries, blackberries, peaches and strawberries, knowing that the citrus would take years to grow. With the strawberries, they began using hydroponics, a kind of farming that doesn’t use soil but instead depends on water and other nutrients to grow certain kinds of crops. The new citrus trees they planted should start producing by next year.

“Citrus was the industry”

To learn more about the Bekemeyer farm, we rode along with Michael Elmore, who works as the program director for a local nonprofit that collects excess or unwanted crops from farms to donate them to local food agencies.

WHERE THE FARM IS LOCATED: The 20-acre farm is located in Winter Garden just north of Colonial Drive.

WHEN IT GOT ITS START: The tagline for the farm is, “Your BFF since 1920!” In two years, it will celebrate its 100th anniversary.

HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED: The farm, like most of Central Florida, mainly grew citrus trees at first. Then just five years ago, the industry changed. Development destroyed a lot of the citrus as the area grew, and many citrus farmers sold their land and moved on to other endeavors. In 2015, more catastrophe struck – the citrus greening disease arrived. A bacteria carried by a psyllid moth caused the citrus trees’ leaves to grow veiny and in year two, the trees were completely dead.

THE FAMILY DECIDES TO PIVOT: That’s when (and why) the Bekemeyer’s were forced to make a decision: either move on completely from the family business, sell it to a developer, or come up with a new solution. They chose the third option and began planting new citrus trees. The original owner’s great grandson tried his hand at hydroponics, which is what they use now to grow their strawberries.

WHAT THEY OFFER: There are now 14 acres of citrus, one acre of strawberries, an acre of blueberries, three or four rows of blackberries and an acre of peaches on the Bekemeyer Family Farm. The farm runs a “U-Pick” system and people grab a bucket and pick what they want (it’s roughly $5 a pound for strawberries). They also sell fresh produce and other items like jams and preserves at a store on their property.

Wanna check out the farm? Strawberries are currently in season and you can view their U-pick hours here.

WHAT'S GOING DOWN IN PULPTOWN?

Missing the boat
 and the vote. After Hurricane Maria, Florida saw an influx of upwards of 300,000 people migrating from Puerto Rico. Since that migration, only 27,707 new Hispanics have registered to vote in four of Florida’s largest cities, including Orlando. What is still not understood is how Florida has not been able to capitalize on the largest instant voter enfranchisement this state has ever seen? (OZY)

Where is the love, the love, the love? On Sunday, Orlando Pride celebrated a victory during their second home match of the season. But they celebrated with the lowest attendance yet. (We like to think it has everything to do with all of you nature-lovers out there celebrating Earth Day this past weekend; planting gardens, biking to local parks, and organizing neighborhood cleanups). Whatever the case, the Pride are playing again on Saturday against the Seattle Reign – let’s make it rain on them. (ProSoccerUSA.com)

Good news out of Osceola County! Celebration High School teacher Janet Bisogno, or Dr. B as her students have lovingly nicknamed her, has just been recognized as the Osceola County Teacher of the Year. Bisogno is definitely doing something right – her IB biology students have a 100-percent passage rate on their end-of-course exam and in the past two years have scored above the world average.(WKMG)

Hey Osceola, you just keep on making our day! Speaking of Osceola County and their school system, an Osceola County School of Arts Senior just received a full-ride to Yale, including room and board. Jose Garcia is the first of his peers to be accepted into an Ivy League school in the school’s history. Garcia’s parents are immigrants from the Dominican Republic and never went to college. “To have this hard work be validated, to have it be proven that their determination for me and my sister to have a great life, that means something to me,” says Garcia. (WKMG)

“A conflict between two Floridas that is colliding.” Members of The Wildlife Corridor Team Expedition just finished a mini-trek through the green corridor between Tampa and Orlando. Carlton Ward Jr., Wildlife Corridor member and wildlife photographer, described the trip as “a conflict between two Floridas that are colliding. One is the main transportation corridor between Tampa and Orlando and the other a crossroads for wildlife.” Ward wants state lawmakers to use funds from the Florida Forever conservation land program to keep this area wild. Another request? To build wildlife underpasses beneath I-4, which has been done for several other major highways near Orlando. (WLRN)

Is UCF your national champions? On Saturday, UCF unveiled a new “2017 National Champions” sign at Spectrum Stadium. Athletic Director Danny White has now made good on his promise of parades and banners announcing the UCF Knights as such after finishing the season as the only FBS undefeated team, having beat Auburn who beat both teams who played in the National Championship game earlier this year. (ESPN)

…One championship not up for debate? UCF’s Programming Team who just placed first in North America in the Association of Computing Machinery’s International Collegiate Programming Contest held in Beijing this past weekend. (UCF.edu)

Want to work for the house of the mouse? Disney is doubling up its hiring process this summer and looking to bring on 3500 new employees. For the first time ever, it’s doubling up on sign-on bonuses, up to $3,000. Their annual spring hiring events are going on now through May. PS they’re not the only ones hiring. Universal is looking to bring on 3,000 new hires as well. (Orlando Sentinel)

IN & AROUND TOWN

TODAY

🎀 Don’t miss this week’s Cult Classic: Pretty in Pink at The Enzian! (Maitland)
đŸ§˜đŸœâ€â™‚ïžÂ The rain is finally gone. Get your downward dog on at The Balcony. (Downtown)
đŸ„Â Check out a variety of Orlando’s music scene all under one roof, a tin roof. (I-Drive)

 

TOMORROW

🚙 Attend a Town Hall on the future of Orlando’s public transportation. Do you see Growth or Gridlock? (Maitland)
đŸšČ Check out this Free Bike Repair Clinic and fix those rusty brakes! (Sodo)
đŸŽ€ In need of some karaoke? We’ve got you! (UCF)
❓Who doesn’t enjoy a little Tuesday night trivia? (Ivanhoe)
đŸŽ” Sing along to your favorite Pink song at the Amway Center (Downtown)
💅 Join the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce at their Women of Influence Luncheon. (Winter Park)

 

THURSDAY

Â đŸ„‡Â Join in on the discussion surrounding local candidate endorsements! (Audubon Park)
🏈 Win a bar tab at this NFL Draft Party. (Downtown)

 

FRIDAY

🎩 Movieola is back and this week, we’re watching Coco in the park! (Downtown)
đŸŒ»Â There’s a new outdoor art exhibit at Mead Botanical Gardens – you should grab a bottle of wine and see it for yourself! (Winter Park)
đŸ· Drink some Cabernet while namaste-ing, all to benefit Planned Parenthood. (Mills 50)
đŸ„ƒ Come thirsty to this annual Whiskey Business event. (Downtown)

 

SATURDAY

đŸ‡©đŸ‡Ș Break out your das boot! Orlando’s Authentic German Fest is here. (Casselberry)
đŸ»Â Party with local farmers at this Farm to Beer event at Redlight Redlight. (Audubon Park)
đŸšŽâ€â™€ïž Work off that beer by walking next door for these free spin community classes! (Audubon Park)
đŸ·Â Wine and science, oh my! You’ll want to attend this fundraiser benefiting the Orlando Science Center. (Loch Haven Park)
đŸŒ± Don’t forget about the 54th Annual Apopka Art & Foilage Festival. (Apopka)
đŸ•ș Grab your dancing shoes and lawn chairs! Dancing on the Drive has arrived. (College Park)

 

SUNDAY

đŸ“Œ Pack a lunch, grab the kids and go see this 80s classic, or go without to relive your childhood! (Maitland)
đŸ§˜đŸ»â€â™€ïžÂ When else is it okay to hit the Bar(re) before church? (Lake Mary)
🏆 Let’s shake and break the Guinness Book of World Records! (Downtown)
đŸŽ” So you’re saying there’s a chance? Have brunch with the Beatles, kinda. (IDrive)
🎭 Through April 29th, you still have time! Check out the Luckiest People playing at the Shakespeare Center. (Loch Haven)

 

COMING UP

Monday, 4/30: The Florida Blog Conference Social Media Art Show at The Gallery at Mills (Mills 50)
Tuesday, 5/01: A night of Philosophy and Booze at Lil Indies. (Mills 50)
Tuesday, 5/01: It’s the Ultimate Taco Tuesday – tequila and taco paired Chef’s Dinner at The Waterfront. (Sodo)
Thursday, 5/03: Juice Bike Share is turning 3 and celebrating with a party! (Downtown)
Friday, 5/04: Grand Opening of The Sanctuary Hair Refuge in Lake Ivanhoe means free shave and half-price haircuts! (Ivanhoe)
Friday, 5/04: 4th Annual May the 4th Be With You event! (Audubon Park)
Saturday, 5/05: Bike 5 Cities – a 28-mile guided ride thru Orlando, Winter Park, Casselberry, Maitland, Eatonville (Central Florida)
Monday, 5/06: 1st Annual Magnolia Masters Golf Tournament (Edgewater)
Thursday, 5/10: Nerd Nite Orlando: Bitcoin, Blockbusters, & Building Machines
Saturday, 5/12: Annual Peach Festival at Keel & Curley Winery! (Plant City)

 

Going to any of these events? If so, send us a pic or tag #pulptown. We love it when you #livelikeyoulivehere and would be happy to repost you.

 

That’s (almost) all for today!

PS In case you were wondering, Raphael, the red-painted tortoise is officially no longer red and feeling much better. 

 

PPS As an Alabama graduate, Pulptown’s local director says the UCF Knights are still not her National Champions, but nonetheless, is proud of them and their winning season. 

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