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at about the same time and
finalized their vision by filing the
necessary paperwork with the
state. The initial financial outlay
was minimal, with the nursery’s
original stock coming from
Thacker’s Satellite Beach yard.
The hyperlocal approach is
practical, given the hot, humid
and salty coastal environment.
As more northerners become
Floridians, the knowledge gap
becomes more evident and
frustrating. Most know that you
can’t move to the beach and
expect to nurture foliage from
cooler climes. But even the right
plant for the environment is
going to need a hand.
Banana River Yard’s second objective
is to be a free-flowing font
of knowledge. There is no charge
for advice. But in the slightly
more-formal atmosphere of Plant
School, Thacker and herbalist
MariaElena Marks-Monge request
a $10 donation per participant to
help defray costs.
“We have a pretty loose
approach, as you can see by the
coffee can money jar,” Thacker
said. “Some people pay more,
some pay less. We don't really
ask, but the money does help
cover the cost of materials.”
Its third objective — to be a
community meeting place —
happened by design with classes
such as yoga in the yard and the
Plant School where parents get
to know each other.
The school’s drop-in nature
means that no one knows how
many children will attend each
week but there is a core of
dedicated families who support
the effort.
UNIQUE CLASSROOM
If a child were to create a
classroom, it might look like the
one Thacker and Marks-Monge
have assembled. There are picnic
tables, hanging plants, potted
plants and planted plants, most
of which are heavy with fruit. >> John Penn drops a longan seed into his seedling pot to take home.
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