In 2025, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens was honored to join the Urban Agriculture Resilience Program—an initiative led by the United States Botanic Garden and the American Public Gardens Association.
This national program supports public gardens in fostering food education, sustainability, and hands-on growing experiences to address food insecurity across diverse communities. For Vizcaya, participation marks not just a new initiative, but a meaningful extension of its mission—rooted in history, driven by community, and focused on the future of Miami’s youth through the development of a thriving urban farm.
A Hands-On Learning Experience at Vizcaya’s Urban Farm
At the heart of Vizcaya’s involvement is a new school field trip program designed specifically for Title I schools. This initiative provides hands-on learning in Vizcaya’s urban farm for third to fifth graders, with a focus on planting, observing, and making connections between nutrition, agriculture, and community health.
The goal? To instill an early understanding of where food comes from and how it affects not just personal health but also broader environmental and societal well-being.
“We want students to learn how food is grown, how it’s connected to their bodies, and how it connects them to the people around them,” Sheila explains. “It’s about building healthier people and healthier communities.”
From the Ground Up—Literally
This project was only possible because Vizcaya’s Urban Agriculture team was already invested in the basics—like building soil from scratch and dealing with very determined peacocks who love munching on kale. Farming in an urban setting comes with unique challenges, but after months of hard work, the effort is paying off in the form of a productive and educational urban farm.
“Many kids live in apartments with limited green space, so our urban farm and gardens become a rare chance for them to explore nature and agriculture in person,” Sheila notes.
This access is especially meaningful in a city like Miami, where the urban heat island effect and dense development often limit exposure to nature—particularly for low-income families.
Cultural Roots and Culinary Connections
A core component of the program is a partnership with Common Threads, a nonprofit focused on nutrition education. Together, Vizcaya and Common Threads created culturally relevant, seasonal recipes that students make as part of their visit—recipes that reflect the communities served and connect directly to the lessons of the urban farm.
“Our spring recipe, for example, is a Jerk Black Bean Dip with Pineapple–Kale Relish,” says Sheila. “It has a Caribbean flair, which resonates with many of our students. It’s a way to honor the original stewards of the land and connect our program to local cultures.”
These recipes empower students to make their own healthy snacks at home. They are accessible, easy to follow, and safe for students to prepare independently—without adult supervision.
While this culinary element is definitely fun for students, that’s not all it does. It also helps students develop food prep skills, expand their taste preferences, and build a positive relationship with healthy eating in connection with the ingredients they explore in the urban farm.
“Some kids are trying cherry tomatoes for the first time,” Sheila says. “Others are recognizing herbs their families use in traditional teas. It sparks a sense of pride and familiarity. These activities extend beyond the farm and encourage communication with families about eating healthy.”
This acknowledgment of students’ own cultural knowledge helps reinforce that they’re not just learners in the garden—they’re contributors.
Growing with Vizcaya’s Mission
It’s worth noting that this program aligns with Vizcaya’s roots. To support self-sufficiency, the Vizcaya estate was built with a matching village and farm back in 1916. The Village included staff quarters, a garage and workshops, barns, and greenhouses and fields that supplied fresh flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Reviving these practices today honors that legacy while looking toward a more sustainable, inclusive future—with the urban farm serving as a modern-day link between past and present.
“We’re tapping into Vizcaya’s history and using it to shape a healthier tomorrow,” Sheila shares. “Food is a universal connector. Learning gardening and recipes in the field enriches the curriculum by integrating history, wellness, science, math, and art. It also promotes environmental stewardship in an engaging and meaningful way.”
This program is part of the 2025 Urban Agriculture Resilience Program, a collaboration between the United States Botanic Garden and the American Public Gardens Association.
