TAMPA, Fla. — Organic cucumbers at Sweetwater Organic Community Farm are not subjected to the traditional vegetable beauty contests.
“As you can see they are not the ones you get at the store where they are all perfect,” said General Manager Cindy Casterlin. “We’re happy with that because what we are growing is natural food.”
Natural food – right in Tampa.
Casterlin was witness to the wreckage left behind from Helene — and then Milton.
The farm’s western border is along Sweetwater Creek.
“We’re not near any storm surge. This is just freshwater. But it came down this creek, it came over this bridge,” said Casterlin, perched high above the current water levels at the bottom of the creek. “It just inundated our neighborhood with water.”
Casterlin’s first attempt to get to the farm-post Milton was unsuccessful. There was too much water.
“I was concerned because we have chickens. And that was the reason I came that afternoon, because I really wanted to check on them,” said Casterlin.
It took another day for the waters to recede.
And her little buddies made it, thanks to her efforts securing their roost.
This is where Casterlin is meant to be.
After a career behind a desk, she goes back to the beginning.
“I used to go and collect and harvest eggs for my grandmother, right — she had chickens, she had horses,” Casterlin said while feeding her friends.
And they had their own garden.
Here, Casterlin can celebrate this mighty little crop that made it — the eggplants.
Even with fencing and a playground and a Café to repair, they’ve already come very far in the clean-up.
“It is in definitely a much better place than it was two weeks ago. And that is largely almost 100-percent — volunteer labor,” Casterlin said.
One benefit Casterlin wanted to emphasize: For SNAP recipients, the farm used to match their purchases for up to $40. Now there is no cap. And they are eager to connect with people who need food.
Next up for the farm is creating a campground.