The GFWC Apopka Woman’s Club wishes to thank each organization for supporting the 58th Annual Apopka Art and Foliage Festival. We also thank our partner, City of Apopka for providing the bus and driver for both days. Dates, times and tour destinations are listed below. Tickets are $5 a person, which include a bottle of cold water. The Bus Tours Booth is located near First Street —just look for the colorful balloons.
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Saturday, APRIL 27
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10:00-11:15 AM - WEKIVA HIGH SCHOOL AQUAPONICS
Come and see Wekiva High School’s aquaponics garden. It is a sustainable aquapon used as a teaching tool for students who demonstrate an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, known as STEM Learning. You will see the wonderful learning and teaching opportunities through creation, education and science.
12:00-1:15 PM - LONG & SCOTT FARMS
In 1963 Frank Scott, Jr. came to Florida from Virginia, rented 100 acres of land and started Long & Scott Farms. Currently the farm is operated by the fourth generation Scott family. Come out and enjoy a hayride tour of the only farm left still growing the famous Zellwood Sweet Corn. You will be able to check out Scott’s Country Market and Scott’s Country Café. Hear about their annual fall corn maze and get the scoop on their Scott’s Zellwood Sweet Corn Jamboree. Bag lunches can be ordered when you sign up for the tour. If you are unable to visit the farm tour, Long & Scott has a Booth in the foliage area of the Art & Foliage Festival where you can purchase fresh picked corn and produce.
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2:00-3:00 PM - AVIAN RECONDITIONING CENTER
The Avian Reconditioning Center gives an up-close encounter with Bald Eagles, hawks, falcons, kites, vultures and owls. Poised at the top of the food chain, raptors play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
The Avian Reconditioning Center is a specialized wildlife facility dedicated to the care, rehabilitation and conservation of raptors, also known as birds of prey. We provide education programs with live birds for groups of all ages designed to encourage interest and concern for Florida’s unique, indigenous and migratory raptors species. Our “hands-off” rehabilitation efforts are very successful and allow us to return many orphaned and injured raptors to the wild each year. When necessary, our use of the ancient art of falconry enables us to work closely with raptors to more completely assess the birds’ flight capabilities. The methods insure the best chance of survival upon release back into their natural habitat.
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SUNDAY, APRIL 28
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10:30-11:30 - OUR VITAL EARTH
Future Farmers of America sit up and take notice. The “Wonder Worm”, the Earth’s unsung hero, is in the area! Do you keep a compost pile in your backyard? Why not add your own worm farm?
With environmental concerns and the mounting cost of organic waste and landfills, worm farms can provide the solution. In fact, Australia has reduced their garbage and landfill problem by 65% with the use of worm farms. The worms eat
the garbage and then recycle the waste into castings which can be used as plant and soil enhancements. The castings are 100% pure organic! The castings are
richer in plant nutrients than the soil; have about three times more calcium and several times more nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Ask “Bernie” about the Worm Café’ and the Worm Tea.
SUNDAY cont.
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12:15-1:30 PM – AGRI-STARTS
Since our humble beginnings in 1984, our family mission has been for AgriStarts to be the world’s leading and most reliable supplier of plant tissue culture starter plants and services. That is what we strive for every day.
We are partners with the Orange County School System in their Transition Program. These are young individuals that have some mental and/or physical disabilities but have the potential to be integrated into some type of productive work situation.
Furthermore, AgriStarts, Inc. works with the Universities of Florida and Georgia on their hybrid blueberries for field production and to growers who grow them for retail. We work with the University of Maryland and North Carolina State with their patented raspberries. Possibly the most exciting thing is we produce thornless blackberries which are new hybrids out of the University of Arkansas.
Another area that is growing in popularity is growing native plants. We work with a number of the most notable native plant experts in the state.
Check out our website www.agristarts.com.
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2:00-3:15 PM - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER
Apopka is fortunate to have a valuable neighbor like the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (MREC), which is part of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS).
MREC is home to the grapevine genetics and plant pathology research laboratories and the site off an historic grape research program that began at the university in 1891. You will hear an update on current research activities in foliage plant production, cut foliage production, landscape ornamental
production, entomology (insects) and integrated pest management. In addition current projects include citrus nursery production and specialty crops (hops and the microbrewery movement). You will also find out about educational opportunities for personal and professional development.
Do you enjoy seedless watermelons? If so, thank a UF research scientist.
Do you value efforts to minimize chemical usage in controlling pests when it comes to agricultural practices? Then thank a UF research scientist.
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Do you want to learn more about what UF is doing in your own backyard? Join us for a walking tour of our facility. Do not miss this rare opportunity to learn from the experts. For additional information about the MREC facility or the UF/IFSA, visit