Main fundraiser photo

Replant & Revive the Grimal Grove!

#GrimalGroveStrong! The past 5 months have been an extremely trying time for the Florida Keys, especially in Big Pine Key where Hurricane Irma's strongest winds and highest storm surge made landfall.  A direct hit from a Category 4 storm like Hurricane Irma not only brings largescale devestation, but the aftermath has left our community in a state of limbo and doubt.
So many lost their homes, landscapes, businesses and many families in the lower Keys have been split up as they struggle to rebuild their lives.(Picture: Front Gate of the Grove after the Hurricane.)

The Grimal Grove is no different. Patrick Garvey,
"re-founder" and owner, his wife Angelica, their twin 4 year old girls, Ana and Zoe, and their dog Bella suffered a devestating hit.  Angelica and their girls had to relocate, while Patrick stayed behind to focus on reparing and rebuilding the Grimal Grove.

(Last time Garvey family was together at the Grove.)
(Bella, Grimal Grove manager and iguana control consultant. She was injured in the midst of the debris at the grove, but never left Patrick's side.)

Many Grimal Grove volunteers had to deal with their own losses and family upheaval. They had many tough decision to make themselves. It was a difficult time for all.

Despite all of our challenges, we've made a lot of progress the past several months at the Grove. So far, we managed to save 90% of the historic trees.  It's too early to tell if all will make it but we are hoping, working and hugging.

Now is the moment  to rebuild and replant the historic Grimal Grove. 

Growing Hope Foundation is the non-profit 501(c)3 entity associated with the Grimal Grove. Originally founded by Patrick Garvey and Josef Crosby in 2011, Growing Hope’s mission is to educate and empower people to reconnect to their food source.  Growing Hope is responsible for keeping the Grove a community shared space, and sustaining a community food movement. Growing Hope continues to work with Patrick to rebuild despite the many challenges.
There is now a plan in place and we are excited for our big March Madness event!

Rebuild and Replant:
In the month of March we plan to build a new fence, restore the soil and begin the replanting process.

First we need to build a new fence as the original fence was completely destroyed. It is impossible to do agriculture in Big Pine Key without a fence (thanks to our little friends the Key Deer).  And it’s extremely difficult to put a new fence anywhere in the Key Deer Refuge.

Patrick spent a lot of time over the past 7 years, researching Mr. Grimal and the Grove.  Thanks to his efforts, he was able to prove the original fence existed. It was officially documented with the Monroe County Property Appraiser, not long before Irma hit. A permit was sumbitted in late October and was approved in late January 2018.  Now that we can build a new fence, we are working with environmetally and socially minded local businesses and volunteer groups  to assist with the build, keeping passion high and overhead low. This is a huge project for the Grove. We will install over 1180 linear feet of fencing. Without a fence it is impossible to continue  this inspiring project.

Once the fence is up, we'll begin planting. Our goal is to plant 20 trees in March to replace the 70 trees lost from the storm.  We'll plant some established trees to make an immediate imprint, as well as smaller and rarer trees that will begin to reframe the unique and famed Grimal Grove.
Click on the link to watch the 8 min story. 
 Old Man and The Grove

Our hope is to reopen our gates by Fall 2018.

(We’ve been clearing and cleaning the grove. It’s looking a lot better. Many of the trees are coming back!)

The Grimal Grove is a valued community resource focusing on tropical fruit, local food, education, plant propagation, history, nature, and the arts. It also serves as a unique tropical fruit adventure for visitors of the Florida Keys.  Please help in the revitalization of this unique and special place. 




(This 1 min video  was shot shortly before the storm.)
Our fundraiser ends on April 30th.

All funds will go directly to the purchasing of materials and labor. All donations are tax deductible.
If you prefer, you may write a tax deductible check directly to the non-profit.
Please make checks out to:

Growing Hope Foundation
PO Box 420924
Summerland Key, FL 33042.

Thank you for considering contributing to this worthy cause. We understand that many may not have the resources to share financially. But if you love Grimal Grove please....share this with others, and come out to help!!

Thank You,


Growing Hope Foundation Board of Directors

Donations 

  • John Clemente
    • $200 
    • 6 yrs

Fundraising team: Fundraising team (4)

Patrick Garvey
Organizer
Raised $1,051 from 6 donations
Big Pine Key, FL
Growing Hope Foundation 7208 15Th Ave
 
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
Daja Henry
Team member
Sophia Palmacci
Team member
William Chalmers
Team member
This team raised $1,045 from 11 other donations.

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