It takes more than a green thumb to keep 20 acres of vegetables growing, something Joel Bray, founder of the Shining Light Garden Foundation, has managed to do for nearly 10 years. Supporters of the organization enjoyed a lovely evening last Tuesday at the fifth annual Spring Dinner at Osceola Bistro to benefit the grassroots nonprofit whose motto is “feeding the hungry, one garden at a time.”
Bray has turned what began as a backyard garden tended in his spare time, into a nutritious lifeline for the less fortunate.
“I had more than I could eat, so I started giving it away,” Bray recalled. Over the years the garden has grown from a small patch into 10 and now 20 acres, greatly expanding the number of people they can help.
At Shining Light Garden, they give it their all: The garden is 100 percent volunteer-run, it is subsidized 100 percent by donations and 100 percent of the vegetables and flowers they grow are given away. Proceeds from the dinner will go toward purchasing seeds and farm equipment, making repairs and improving irrigation.
As they gathered before dinner, the 150 guests perused silent-auction items and were entertained by members of the Vero Beach High School Orchestra Ensemble.
Osceola owner Chef Chris Bireley, a Vero native and longtime advocate of the garden, served up a delicious farm-to-table meal that featured a vegan plate, shrimp and grits, steak-frites or roasted chicken breast, topped off with brownie à la mode.
“God continues to meet our needs,” said Bray. “I would like to thank the community for their support. The people here rally around a good cause, and as long as there are hungry people our mission is to continue feeding as many people as we can.”
Bray said he hopes to eventually farm 100 acres, adding, “I know it will happen; it’s just a matter of when. We’ve doubled our production and can grow more crops on the same property. Our vision is to continue to expand as long as there are hungry people. We just want to continue to feed them.”
Noting that high percentage of Indian River County residents live in poverty, Bray said, “We’re finding more people who need our help and how we can best meet them.”
Greg Vafiades, Shining Light Garden vice president, said that since its inception the Garden has given away upwards of 18,000 bushels of fresh vegetables.
“It was just three of us in the early days. We had three shovels, a borrowed tractor and 10 acres. Now we’re growing on 20 acres and give to about 25 nonprofit organizations, including food banks, soup kitchens, thrift food pantry’s and countless people in need,” said Vafiades.
In addition to fresh tomatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, potatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, eggplant, collards and okra, flowers are grown, cut weekly and arranged by volunteers for patients at the VNA Hospice House.
Connie Derman, garden volunteer and event organizer, has dirt in her veins. A member of the Garden Club of Indian River County and “an old farm girl from Pennsylvania” she was naturally drawn to the nonprofit.
“It’s amazing how many needy people there are in Indian River County,” said Derman. “If people can’t eat they can’t live. If we can help a little bit, it makes it all worthwhile.”
For more information, visit ShiningLightGardenFoundation.com.
