UNF Healing Garden receives Florida Yards and Neighborhoods gold-level certification
The University of North Florida’s Healing Garden has recently been awarded the gold-level Florida Yards and Neighborhoods (FYN) Commercial Certification from the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
To receive this distinction, a garden must exhibit and follow nine “Florida-friendly landscaping principles” using low maintenance, low impact environmentally sustainable practices. The gold award signifies the highest possible excellence standards.
This designation exemplifies UNF’s continual commitment to designing, planting and maintaining landscapes that preserve water quality, wildlife habitats and sustainably initiatives. A specific point of pride for the Healing Garden, as well as UNF’s other botanical gardens, is its sustainable use of storm water. By not treating storm water as a waste byproduct and using it for filtration and recharging the campus’ aquifer, it is transformed into a valuable resource.
The UNF Botanical Garden’s mission is to foster environmental conservation, sustainability, biodiversity and stewardship of healthy ecosystems for the purpose of education, research, and community outreach through natural and unique living garden displays. Across the University’s beautiful campus of nearly 1,600 acres, the Botanical Garden staff and volunteers work to preserve the natural native and ornamental horticulture while providing recreation and educational opportunities, awareness and understanding.