Lehigh Acres man grows garden to feed those in need despite cold snap

LEHIGH ACRES, Fla.—Daniel Bunonocore is a man on a mission in Lehigh Acres. He is working tirelessly to grow fresh food to donate to people in need, but recent cold snaps have posed significant challenges.

"I thought it would be doing a lot better," said Bunonocore.

Bunonocore has dedicated himself to this garden, pouring his heart and soul into it. He has created 10 garden beds and plans to add another 10 next year.

"And there are 10 beds altogether right now. Next year I'll do another 10 beds," said Bunonocore.

He works four days a week on his acre of land, hoping it will eventually feed those in need. However, there is still a long way to go.

"I would love to have people who know gardening well enough that they could show me things that I don't know. I'm fortunate that I can do this, but I don't have maybe the best skill set to do it," said Bunonocore.

The early January cold snap made the situation worse, affecting many of the plants in the garden.

"These are all different types of tomatoes here... and you can see the frost really knocked the heck out of most of these guys," said Bunonocore. 

While some plants, like cherry tomatoes, have survived, others are barely hanging on. Two green peppers are among the few that have made it through.

"And then there's broccoli and cauliflowers in these cinder blocks over here. And then there's celery down over that way. But even you can see the tomato plants over this way also really got the crap knocked out of them," said Bunonocore.

This garden is deeply personal for Bunonocore. It is a tribute to his late wife, and he has set aside money to ensure it continues long after he is gone.

"So, I mean, there's a lot that could be done here, and I'm retired so what am I going to do? I mean, I've been blessed in my life, and I'm fortunate, and I've always been taught to help other people," said Bunonocore.

 Despite the challenges, Bunonocore remains committed to his mission, continuing to water, plant, and dream of a better future for his garden. 

"And the bees nest here, it's not doing very well. I think the Queen disappeared, okay, but if you if you scan out there, you'll see the mango trees that are out in the distance and stuff. And there are other fruit trees around here," said Bunonocore.

Bunonocore hopes to find others with the skill set and knowledge to help him achieve his dream.

"So if I had other people who had the skill set and knowledge, that would be awesome, but you're not giving up. Oh no, no, no, no," said Bunonocore.

He has already paid for the land and materials and has offered to donate part of the lot to organizations that could benefit. 

Bunonocore's dedication to his mission is unwavering, and he continues to seek help from the community to make his dream a reality.

Got a story suggestion? Contact Chris Cifatte through his email here: chris.cifatte@winknews.com