By Rick Burnette Rick and his wife Ellen are CBF field personnel in Florida. They founded Cultivate Abundance in Immokalee in 2017. “There are few places in America more beloved than the Blue Ridge, rising like an ancient Great Wall across a third of the breadth of the nation. It has the burnished beauty of … Continue reading
By Grayson Hester Grace can be manifested in many forms, often appearing in the unlikeliest people and the most unexpected places. It can even show up in a plant. Just ask Lupita Vazquez Reyes, the Community Gardens and Outreach Manager for Cultivate Abundance in Immokalee, Fla. For someone who has spent her entire life around … Continue reading
By Rick Burnette “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (II Corinthians 9:6-7) One Saturday morning in February at Misión … Continue reading
By Grayson Hester Maria knows, perhaps better than most, that for things to grow, there must be patience. For things to flourish one needs resilience and humility, a willingness both to get hands dirty and to let go. Having moved from the mountains of Guatemala to Immokalee, Fla., 22 years ago, Maria understands the necessity … Continue reading
By Marv Knox Imagine going hungry in a desert while surrounded by a tropical garden. That’s Ellen and Rick Burnette’s ministry paradox. They serve migrant farmworkers in Immokalee, Fla., where industrial farms yield 14 million pounds of fruit and vegetables per day during harvest season. But the people who pick that produce can’t afford it … Continue reading
By CBF field personnel Rick Burnette Matthew 7:17-18 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. When we moved to our subtropical North Ft. Myers property in late 2013, we began planting various types … Continue reading
By Rick Burnette “Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.“ —John … Continue reading
By Jennifer Colosimo In the southeastern U.S., the tiny town of Immokalee, Florida, is home to a growing population of migrant workers who make up a large part of the local workforce. They’re predominantly farmworkers who help grow millions of tons of food for exportation every year. Ironically, for these residents, the place they call … Continue reading
By Bekah Rhea COVID-19 is spurring us on to take up a wide variety of hobbies. Gardening is one of the most popular, presenting the opportunity to spend time outdoors and away from Netflix. In fact, so many people are starting their “COVID gardens” that seasoned community gardeners like CBF’s Rick Burnette are having some … Continue reading
By Rick Burnette Friday, June 12 Friday afternoon, June 12, was scorching hot in Immokalee, Florida. Practicing social distancing, we were sharing food with a few hundred residents in the parking lot of Misión Peniel – a food pantry ministry supported by Southwest Florida PC(USA) congregations. Off to the side, a few staff from Doctors … Continue reading