BRADENTON, Fla. — Manatee County Commissioners spent $150,000 to install a garden in one of its neighborhoods. The goal of the project is to maintain the historical significance in agriculture that dates back to the 1900s.

“The whole Elwood Park area is agriculturally zoned," said David Schumur the parks and grounds operation manager for Manatee County. "They've got a history of farming and small businesses, and it's kind of in their roots and what they’ve done, and it makes sense for this area to give them a place to garden."

Janyel Taylor loves spending time with her daughter, Juniper.

“Those magical years are short," she said. "In the scheme of things, 18 years just fly by."

One of their favorite activities is gardening.

“I always wanted our daughter to be into growing plants and to know where her food comes from," she said.

This passion is why Taylor helped start the Elwood Garden with Manatee County commissioners. On this day, the two are planting broccoli.

“We are like a grassroots community," she said. "Elwood Park has been around for over 100 years, and our roots are actually in agriculture. To bring this history back through a community garden, I think, is the best thing we could have done."

The county is offering for anyone in Manatee County to sign up for a membership. There are 34 spots, and it will cost $25 a year to have your own 4-by-8 foot plot to create your own garden.

“Oh, the community is so excited," Taylor said. "There were 15 of us here, and it was so fun to see everyone in a positive environment where we are excited to learn and to grow."

None of this is new for Taylor. Her family owns a plant nursery, but her roots started when she took an agriculture class at Braden River High School.

“My teacher, Ms. Berry, was so inspiring and so connected with horticulture and plants," Taylor said. "I was hooked, and I got my degree at the University of Florida in agriculture education, and I was an AG teacher."

Even 5-year-old Juniper already has a green thumb.

“There are so many beautiful flowers and pretty plants," she said.

Taylor said she hopes other places in the county will have a community garden.

“I hope it ignites the county to continue to grow literally with gardens and to not only build the Elwood Park community stronger, but to also bring in other neighbors so they get to experience our agriculture history as well," she said.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held Jan. 13 at 10 a.m. at the garden, which is located at 4008 39th St. E in Bradenton