Imagine a world where everyone has equitable access to Local, Healthy Food

By becoming a member you will be invited to exclusive SUAC Member only events, in addition to receiving a 10% discount on events and courses, coupons from participating SUAC Partners, and more!

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$25/YearIndividual Membership

$35/YearFamily Membership

$50/YearNot For Profit Organization Membership

$100/YearSmall Business Membership

SUAC Directory

Visit the Directory to learn about our network of business and non profit members.

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How We Are Making An Impact

Become a Volunteer to join our team in assisting with community gardens, fundraising, event support, and in-school gardening programs.

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Jordan Park

Revitalization of the Jordan Park Community Garden in collaboration with the St Pete Housing Authority

John Hopkins Middle

Educational Program & School Garden

Lakewood Elementary

School Garden Educational Program

UF IFAS Extension Family Nutrition Program

Educational Program in partnership with the University of Florida

Monthly SUAC Meetings

We hold our monthly meetings free of charge every month

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Get Updates On Monthly Meetings, Volunteer Oppurtunies & More

Meet our Board Members :

Lisa Pineda

Taiguey! Hola! Greetings!

I am honored to serve as the President of SUAC for 2023/24. My hope is to continue the mission and expand the reach of of SUAC by advocating, educating, and mentoring our community to create a more equitable and sustainable food system.

We will also push the envelope past sustainability to explore the indigenous and African origins of permaculture.

Our success does not rest upon the knowledge and efforts of a few, therefore I entreat those of like mind to join us. I look forward to productive collaboration to life up Tampa Bay as a model to be replicated in other communities. Please join us!

Amber Pedersen

Born and raised in St. Pete. She first became in engagecd with Urban Agriculture when she decided she wanted to eat more salads, but noticed how sometimes instead of being consumed they would waste away in the fridge. After noticing this the thought came that would provoke the action “I can grow this stuff” and onward to the vastness of the internet to learn the process of where to begin. Permaculture was the system that made the most sense, and she went on to read Gaia’s Garden and take her first Intro to Permaculture Class in May 2018 in at Grow Permaculture in Brooksville. She was so taken that her front yard exploded into guilds and piles of mulching the very next day! Attending 1st SUAC meetingin June and In October 2018 completed the Permaculture Design Course and became a regular at SUAC Meetings working to be more and more involved with everything Urban Ag.

Vice President

Samantha Harris

A St. Petersburg native, Samantha Harris developed a deep interest in connecting the dots as an inner-city youth. Currently, her involvement in the non-profit, Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival Inc., includes executing it’s vision, fundraising, and program delivery regarding the Black and African-American food experience, spanning food consumption, culture, and lifestyle choices. She has a degree in Liberal Arts with career backgrounds in Accounting and Finance. Samantha is a two-time author and publisher. She enjoys traveling, interacting with the youth, and looks forward to publishing her first cookbook.

Treasurer

Sunya

I have been working as a graphic artist, brand designer and strategist for holistic and sustainably minded organizations for 15 years.

I am passionate about partnering with organizations like SUAC to apply my creative mind in new ways and help strengthen relationships by making a more meaningful, memorable impact among all who connect with us!

Secretary & Marketing Director

Brenda Grahm

I am a native Floridian committed to community cohesion and resilience. I work with the Educational Programs, grades pre-k thru 12th. I volunteer at the Enoch Davis Recreation Center Senior Garden. I completed a rewarding career in Aviation Safety. My biggest hobby is learning. I enjoy travel, learning about different cultures and the natural world.

Bob Murphy

Robert (Bob) Murphy is a senior citizen and an advocate for environmental justice. He’s a volunteer for the organic garden at the Sunshine Center in Saint Petersburg and he’s involved in other mutual aid programs. Bob is a community minister (Unitarian Universalist) with training in public health work.

Jeanie Ghafari

My name is Jeanie Ghafari. I am an environmental activist. I belong to Sierra Club, Food & Water Watch and SUAC. Social Work, Teaching Preschoolers and Childcare are some of my jobs. Free time is spent lasagna gardening, composting and rain harvesting. Yoga and herbal medicine are current fields of practice. Direct service to those in need is close to my heart.

Brad McCoy

Brad, a native of Florida originally from Lakeland, relocated to St. Petersburg in 2017. As a dedicated Clinical Researcher, he consistently pursues opportunities for professional development and continuous learning. Beyond his professional endeavors, Brad is an avid gardener, cultivating a diverse backyard food forest featuring over 60 varieties of fruits and vegetables, as well as tending to chickens, bees, and the sustainable farming of mealworms and black soldier flies. His commitment extends to the front yard, adorned with native Florida plants.

Driven by a profound passion for nature interconnectedness, Brad actively seeks ways to foster a deep appreciation for the environment. This commitment aligns with his broader aspiration to inspire and guide others in developing a profound love for nature, fostering a collective understanding of its importance in our lives.

Whitney Blair

Whitney Blair is a Florida native who moved to St. Petersburg in 2014 to pursue a master’s degree from the Patel College of Global Sustainability. She graduated in 2017 with concentrations in both Water and Food Sustainability & Security. She then worked for a local nonprofit, the Edible Peace Patch Project, to build school gardens and teach garden education in Title-1 elementary schools. She originally served on the SUAC Board 2019-2021. Whitney currently works to promote sustainablilty in St. Petersburg, and In her spare time, she is usually outdoors enjoying the natural beauty of Tampa Bay.

Have a question or interested in speaking at a future meeting? Email us.

wedigstpete@gmail.com