Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Nicodemou.
Christina, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Born and raised in Long Island, NY, I grew up growing vegetables, fruits and herbs in my backyard with my dad. My love for gardening inspired my first entrepreneurial journey after graduating from college, a garden design company that specialized in artistic perennial beds flowing with texture and color as well as ornate container gardens and window flower boxes for local clients desiring a bold and un-manicured landscape. Through this work, my father and I also offered enriching opportunities for students to collaborate in redesigning their school grounds into efficient gardenscapes that beautified the school property but also created a learning sanctuary for all students and staff to benefit from. I was also an active volunteer and youth mentor at urban community gardens throughout Brooklyn, where I lived in my twenties. A successful business consultant, youth mentor and urban gardener, I thought I would never leave NYC. I found myself suddenly inspired to move to South Beach, Miami in the winter of 2010 for new adventures.
There, I would meet my husband and find the new passion, both in my relationship and journey as a mother to two children, but also as a leader in the non-profit world in South Florida. My husband is the founder and director of the non-profit organization StreetWaves, which offers youth mentorship to inner-city children through swim instruction and surf lessons. I stepped up as Director of Development of his organization to support StreetWaves’ successful expansion to three counties and helped secure funding through grants and fundraising to establish year-round after-school programs and summer camps. After discovering the Delray Beach Children’s Garden, I was inspired to move our family to this charming village by the sea and offer my experience and talents to DBCG’s mission, as gardening and horticulture was still my passion. I wrote the $100,000 Impact 100 Grant for the garden as a volunteer last year amidst my personal battle of Stage 3 Breast Cancer. The grant would allow the primarily volunteer-run organization to hire a new Director and a Program Assistant, as well as replenish much-needed supplies. The two garden co-founders had me in mind for the Director’s position, but I was undergoing 5 months of chemotherapy and still had surgery and radiation ahead.
In April 2018, DBCG was honored as a grand finalist of the grant and the position of Garden Director was offered to me! It had always been my dream to start a children’s garden… turns out a magnificent vision for one already existed in Delray Beach. I am now in remission and serving as Director of DBCG’s growing children’s environmental education program. I am a passionate Delray resident, proud homeschool mom, and a community leader at the forefront of nurturing eco-consciousness in our children and families of Palm Beach County.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Certainly being diagnosed with Stage 3 Cancer at the age of 38 with two children ages 4 and 2 was my biggest struggle. I endured 6 months of chemotherapy, major surgery, 8 weeks of physical therapy and 32 rounds of radiation. Finding my passion in the Delray Beach Children’s Garden helped me to get through my battle and provided a fun, safe sanctuary for my family during this challenging time.
Delray Beach Children’s Garden – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The Delray Beach Children’s Garden was created to nurture eco-consciousness in children. We believe that given the opportunity to learn, play and explore in nature, children will grow up wanting to be environmental stewards. We also understand the positive impact a green space can have on a community.
From the start, the founding committee believed that a garden for children should include children in the design and build. Children have been an integral part of creating what the garden has to offer today, from serving as judges at our design charrette to working as volunteers throughout the build.
Today, DBCG offers year-round environmental education through classes, workshops and field trips, as well as enriching community events. We also offer diverse volunteer opportunities for community members. We are known for our woodworking workshops, early childhood nature craft classes, Meatless Monday potlucks and our playful pop-up events. We are unique in that we offer intergenerational gardening and education with a twist of play elements specifically designed for children. We are proud of all that DBCG represents and for bringing awareness to food-growing practices and sustainability methods to so many children and their families.
Garden Features: Veggie Garden Labyrinth, Rare and Tropical Fruit Trees, Fishpond, Twig Tunnel, Banana Forest, Well Wishing Healing Garden, Beach Sandbox, Interactive weather and solar power stations, Dream Boat, Dream Garden, Giant Storytelling Chair with a Treasure Chest of books,, the Simon Grass River Hut for classes, celebrations and gatherings.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Personally, I have recently re-defined success as being grateful, appreciative and happy on a daily basis. Sickness gives you a great appreciation of health and what our true priorities are in life. I don’t want to waste my time in a rat race that isn’t satisfying to me. I would rather live in a tiny home and feel present in my peace and joy each day than make a huge salary and not be happy in my day-to-day. In regards to “success” in a career, I appreciate the word to mean doing what you love for a living. I feel very blessed to love what I do and believe in what I do so passionately. I feel like its really important not to quit your daydream… and it’s also really important to lead in life by example and make an impact in this world in some way. For me, that is by instilling eco-conscious habits in children to promote environmental stewardship today and in the future.
Pricing:
- DBCG Annual Individual Membership – $50
- DBCG Annual Family Membership – $100
- DBCG Annual Business Membership – $250
Contact Info:
- Address: 137 SW 2nd Ave, Delray Beach, FL 33444
- Website: www.delraybeachchildrensgarden.org
- Phone: 561-463-2528
- Email: christina@delraybeachchildrensgarden.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/delraybeachchildrensgarden/
Image Credit:
PAPPHOTO
Melissa Korman
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