The airport community garden — a well-kept secret

I grew up in a two-family house owned by my grandparents. We lived upstairs and they, along with my Uncle Joe, lived downstairs. Every year my grandfather would put up a garden that was the envy of the neighborhood. As he hit his late 70s, it was my job to be his trusted assistant. That being said, I have been gardening pretty much my whole life.

When my wife and I moved to Fernandina Beach, we decided to rent first, which deprived me of any garden space. I had heard rumors about one of Amelia Island's best-kept secrets, a community garden located on airport property across from the Humane Society. I learned that the gardens also partner with Keep Nassau Beautiful, which promotes a clean and beautiful environment through community events and education. I had to investigate this further.

On a chilly March afternoon, I stopped by the garden and met Dan Groth, the head gardener, and immediately put myself on the garden’s growing wait list. Months went by, but in July of 2025, I was assigned to my individual garden allotment. What I discovered at the Airport Community Gardens was more than just people growing vegetables. Here was a group of people who not only enjoy growing vegetables and flowers but also like to donate a fair share of their produce.

It was recently announced that members of the Airport Community Gardens collectively donated over 1,500 pounds of fresh organic produce to local charities in Nassau County, all of which were raised during the first six months of 2026. This compares to 1,100 pounds for a similar period in 2025 (a 37% increase) and a 300% increase compared to 2024.

Recipients have included Barnabas Nassau (food pantry), Micah’s Place, Gracie’s Kitchen, Salvation Army Hope House, Authentic Impact, and several others. In addition, many gardeners share their bounty with countless neighbors and friends (especially tomatoes and zucchini during the early summer months). “We don’t give it away because we grow too much,” says Groth. “We grow too much just so we can give it away.”

The sense of community and sharing doesn’t end there. Community Garden members, to quote Groth, “are a collection of folks who love to be outdoors and who enjoy growing, eating and donating clean, organic, inexpensive, locally grown veggies. We have a lot of fun, and we’re constantly learning new ways to grow our own food.”

Members also look out for one another, either by watering plots when a gardener is away or suggesting ways to control pests and diseases. For me, this was huge. Coming from a cold New York climate with a shorter growing season, adapting to Florida heat and occasional frost took some getting used to. Groth’s weekly emails warning about cold fronts or extreme heat are especially useful. Having two longer growing seasons was another garden perk that members helped me get through.

It seems like everyone associated with the garden likes to teach and learn how to be more self-sufficient. Many of the gardeners have volunteered to teach and work with Fernandina Beach students. Additionally, every November the garden hosts an open house where anyone can stop by, view the gardens, speak with the community gardeners and most likely go home with some fresh veggies. This year’s event is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 15 from 2-4:30 p.m.

The garden is open to all full-time Nassau County residents. There is a waiting list, but each lot can have up to four gardeners, as lot sizes vary. If you would like more information or to check on availability, you can call 440-759-6097 or send an email to gardengroupfb@gmail.com

Mike Angarola and his wife Ann have been vacationing on Amelia Island since their daughter started attending Jacksonville University in 2012. They always knew they would retire here, and since January 2024, that's been the case. Mike is a former small business owner, having run an Italian specialty store featuring many of his mom's recipes, sauces and Italian dishes.

If you have a story you'd like to share here in the Fernandina Observer — about a neighbor or friend or stranger or business that showed kindness, or about kindness and compassion in general — please contact Peggie Weeks at pegweeks@gmail.com