Truck Farm Tampa's Mobile Garden is Seminole Heights-Bound

For the second year in a row, Truck Farm Tampa's mobile garden is traveling to Tampa Bay communities to spread the word about the importance of growing healthy food. The garden will make a stop in Seminole Heights at the Sunday Morning Market on two dates: May 12 and November 10.

As part of its mission to improve the nation’s food supply chain and commitment to sustainable farming practices, Chipotle will host farmers market events with Truck Farm Tampa through the remainder of the year, according to a news release from Kerrie Sparks of SPM Communications, LP.

At each event, families who attend will be able to experience the mobile garden first-hand and partake in the best of the season’s bounty at each market, the release said.

During the event, Chipotle will pass out a "Grow Your Own" card to kids that will include a cilantro seed disk for planting, a salsa recipe and a BOGO burrito buck, the release said.

Marisa Langford, a Seminole Heights resident who owns Truck Farm Tampa, said she created the concept after seeing a Truck Farm documentary.

"I really wanted to bring it to Tampa because I saw so much potential," she said. "The concept is a mobile garden education unit. We go around the community to events, schools and libraries and do an educational event where we have the Truck Farm, a garden in a truck."

Seminole Heights gardener David Whitwam of Whitwam Organics assisted with the project, in addition to GoGo SqueeZ, a healthy applesauce product, and Whole Foods Market.

Langford said she wants people to take pride in the foods they eat and grow, and learn how to create their own gardens.

"It only takes sun, soil, water and air to grow anything."

Below are the Tampa Bay locations where the mobile garden will be, with Seminole Heights locations in bold:

• April 7: Hyde Park Village (South Tampa)
• May 12:  Seminole Heights Sunday Morning Market 
• June 1: Wiregrass Fresh Market
• July 13: North Tampa Market (Carrollwood Village)
• August 4: Hyde Park Village (South Tampa)
• September 7: Wiregrass Fresh Market
• October 6: Hyde Park Village (South Tampa)
• November 10: Seminole Heights Sunday Morning Market 
• December 14: North Tampa Market (Carrollwood Village)

For more information, go to http://www.tampabaymarkets.com.