Neighbors Feeding Neighbors: Inside the Shared Harvest Garden

At the Villages Homeowners Advocates, we believe in neighbors helping neighbors, and few programs bring that mission to life like the Shared Harvest Garden.

This volunteer-run nonprofit garden in Lady Lake, championed by the VHA, grows fresh, seasonal produce. From tomatoes and peppers to squash, okra, cantaloupes and more, Shared Harvest Garden harvests produce that doesn’t just sit on a shelf; it goes straight to local food banks, soup kitchens, and churches, feeding food-insecure families right here in our surrounding communities. In record seasons, our volunteers have harvested up to 24,000 pounds of produce for neighbors in need.

The garden is just one piece of a bigger picture. The VHA is built on a philosophy of fostering positive, constructive dialogue, solving real issues, advancing education, and giving back through philanthropy and community support. Shared Harvest Garden puts into practice the “giving back” portion of these missions one season at a time. But it is only possible with the support of VHA members like you.

Today, we are asking for your help as volunteers are needed. Planting begins at the Shared

Harvest Garden this month, and we’d love your support. Whether you can give a few hours or

make it a regular outing, every pair of hands makes a difference for families who need it most.

To learn more about volunteering, contact Peter Russell at [email protected].

Can’t make it out to the garden yourself? Donations are another wonderful way to help. Financial support is what stands between the garden and its next big leap: a second greenhouse that traps solar heat and shields plants from harsh winter conditions, like the hard freezes that damaged crops here this past winter. With a second greenhouse, we could extend our growing season by weeks or months, meaning more produce reaching food-insecure families year-round. Every gift, large or small, moves us closer to that goal.

To offer financial assistance, please scan here:

Or, visit our website at thevha.net and click on the Donate button at the top of the page today.

Haven’t seen the garden in action and want to learn more? Watch a short video of our final 2026 harvest season and see what your membership helps make possible by scanning here:

Or type this in your browser: https://youtu.be/2lPRazXzQeo

Learn more about the VHA and find other ways you can get involved at the vha.net and browse our website to learn about our many events and programs!