Arden residents are now starting to reap the bounty of the community’s five-acre working farm. The first-ever crop of vegetables, herbs and flowers were recently harvested at the “agrihood” off Southern Blvd.
Residents were invited Nov. 14 to pick up their share of fresh okra, swiss chard, dill, rosemary, basil, green onions and a bouquet of sunflowers. This marks the start of the monthly farm share program, where residents will receive a selection of five to eight naturally grown items from the Arden Farm.
Arden is the first of its kind in South Florida and among the few places in the country to feature a farm as a central component to community life. The five-acre parcel is run by two skilled farm directors and will produce more than 50 varieties of vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers to be evenly shared among residents. The farm also features an event barn where residents can gather for seasonal themed events, market days and classes on a range of topics, from organic gardening to flower arranging to healthy cooking. Residents can also dig into the experience by participating in volunteer days and farm tours.
Developed to promote healthy living, community engagement and a connection to the great outdoors, Arden will eventually include 2,000 homes that will back up to a community green space, including parks, playfields, greenways, nature trails or lakes. The scenic property features 20 miles of expertly mapped walking and biking trails; a central lake for fishing, kayaking or canoeing; parks; playfields; and an event lawn that will be regularly programmed by Arden’s lifestyle director.
Freehold Communities is the visionary development team behind Arden and is currently developing more than 10,000 residential lots in five states.
Arden is located at 19425 Southern Blvd. The impressive collection of top-quality homebuilders at the 1,200-acre community includes Ryan Homes, Lennar, Kennedy Homes and Kenco Communities. There are more than 20 innovative floor plans to choose from in a spectrum of styles and designs. For more information, visit www.ardenfl.com.
