NFSSE's horticulture & floral design programs, provide vocational training & educational instruction to students with intellectual & developmental differences. Berry Good Farms, North Florida School of Special Education’s horticulture program, provides vocational training and educational instruction to students with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. The objective of the program is to offer a wide variety of growing methods and applications so to increase students' understanding and appreciation of sustainable farming, thus making them competitive candidates for employment in a related field. Our horticulture program offers a multitude of on-trend farming methods including aquaponics, hydroponics, and mass production for a wholesale market - using all organic farming. The vision of Berry Good Farms is to provide a self-sustaining industry for students and post-graduates encompassing education, hands-on experience and compensated employment. Since that time, the farm has grown substantially, both in yield and capacity, as well as vision. The farm grows organic and hydroponic vegetables, herbs and fruits. Produce and culinary goods are marketed to restaurants, caterers, chefs and the local community. North Florida School of Special Education is a private, non-profit school for children and young adults with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. The school also has a post-graduate program designed for young adults between the ages of 22-40+ years. Students have a variety of intellectual disabilities including Down Syndrome, Autism, Traumatic Brain Injury, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Lowe’s Syndrome. Currently, Berry Good Farms offers three programs: Culinary Arts, vocational training on the farm, and Barkin' Biscuits dog biscuits. The Culinary Arts program at NFSSE works hand-in-hand with the farm, using fresh, seasonal produce to create healthy and nutritional meals for weekly lunch service and special events. Due to the success of the horticulture and culinary arts program, our next expansion will be the purchase a food truck, which will be used as a mobile outreach. The food truck will offer a unique opportunity as an offsite vocational training program and healthy lunch option for the community. This facet of our horticulture and culinary arts program will promote fresh, healthy foods servicing local businesses and special events in Jacksonville utilizing our freshly grown produce. Berry Good Farms Barkin' Biscuits is our newest vocational training program. The dog biscuit production program offers vocational training for both Transition and Post Graduate students. Our young adults learn to make all natural dog biscuits incorporating ingredients from the school's farm. Our young adults who participate in this program receive instruction on following recipes, mixing ingredients, rolling and cutting the dough, baking and finally packaging of the biscuits for the retail marketplace. Berry Good Farms has become a recognized vocational training program in the Jacksonville community. The purpose of our programs is to provide Transition students and Post Graduates with the necessary skills so to be competitive when seeking jobs, become productive citizens in the community and gain a level of independence, enhancing their future. Berry Good Farms provides a safe environment with meaningful work, encouraging our students to reach their maximum potential.
