Garden Grows New Opportunities

By Katie Rice

In October 2016, brothers Jeff and Jon Shell started a produce business in downtown Pensacola called Jeff’s Corner Garden, which is located inside the northwest portion of a larger urban garden named From the Ground Up. Jeff’s Corner was blossoming and growing so much they added a second larger location a few months later. Recently, the Shell brothers have also acquired a small house next door to ARC Gateway in Pensacola, which they have converted into an indoor nursery for a variety of produce.

Jeff Shell is on the Agency for Persons with Disabilities waiting list, and he received job coaching services from the Employment Enhancement Project (EEP), which is a state funded program allowing individuals on the waiting list to receive supported employment services. Jeff was also part of the first graduating class at the Arc Gateway Program for Adult Learning and Support (PALS) program, which is housed at the Pensacola State College campus. His ARC Gateway job coaches have provided support and they advocate for Jeff’s business, helping to ensure its success.

Jeff’s Corner Garden harvests a variety of organic heirloom produce, individual heirloom plants, fruits, vegetables, and herbs. The brothers started making weekly deliveries in a custom specially air conditioned van that maintains the produce and plants at the exact temperature needed to sustain them until delivery. Some of the delivery places include many popular downtown restaurants, including Jackson’s Steakhouse, End of the Line Café, The Vault, Pot Roast and Pinot, Restaurant Iron, The Fish House, and several others. Recently, Jackson’s Restaurant has teamed up with Jeff’s business to obtain their lettuce and fresh greens exclusively from his business. With so much demand, this business surely has planted its roots and will continue to bloom across the Pensacola area with continued success!