Story By: Skylar Catherwood

Eat Your Yard Jax is a farm that was founded by Tim Armstrong alongside his sons. The farm’s mission statement is “Our mission is to educate children and adults on growing healthy food by providing demonstrations and resources to empower them to participate in urban agriculture.” What initially started as something for Armstong to do with his sons has turned into a gathering place for the community of Jacksonville to learn about local fruits and vegetables and how to grow them. This year was the farm’s 4th annual Persimmon Festival.

The purpose of the festival is to highlight the farm, build opportunities, raise money for the farm and bring the community together. The festival is filled with local vendors that are involved with the farm or are involved in agriculture in addition to food, drinks, live music and of course persimmons! Beyond the festival, throughout the year the farm is open to the public for tours, to purchase plants and herbs, workshops and children’s field trips for local schools. A portion of the staff and volunteers at the farm are made up of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Mr. Armstrong worked with the North Florida School of Special Education for 10 years where he helped create Berry Good Farms into what it is today.

Many of his students including his son Cody who had down syndrome came to the farm to work. This is when the farm was turned into a non-profit to be able to expand and help more by creating more equal opportunity employment and inclusivity in the community.