This past September our Mother Blanche N. Lloyd had finally succumbed to her illnesses she was battling since her stroke, not too many years ago. You might have seen her at the weekly farmers market sitting with her friend Maggie over by the band, clapping and bopping her foot to the bluegrass music she loved to listen to. It was with her support that the farmers market was even possible, as she loved the thought of little kids running around, playing and petting the animals while the parents got to enjoy a little bit of what she was so lucky to have for so many years. Since her passing, the decision has been made to sell the farm. All her children are grown with families of their own and places of their own. The decision was one that everyone knew would have to be made at some point, as hard as it would be, but none the less would have to be made. All of her children, and at some points many of her grandchildren, were also lucky enough to have grown up here on the farm. As much as we love the farm and recognize it as our homestead and place we grew up; we all realize that times are not the same as they used to be, and it’s just not practical to try and keep it any longer, its run its course, and as sad as it may be, must be sold.
      This is why we are reaching out to the communities in and around the area. In the same way we opened up the farm during the farmers market and petting farm, we now are opening up the question as to would the area benefit from a new school and park and trail heads on the property, or is more development more beneficial, we tend to think that a school and room for future expansion makes good sense. We as a family have offered for sale (at fair market value) the 35 acres that everyone knows as Good Neighbors Farmers Market. We offered to sell the farm to the Seminole County School Board/Seminole County BCC/and Seminole County Parks and Recreation as a site that could be used for school expansion to help minimize school overcrowding, conserve green spaces, and add to bike trails and walking paths. At first they were very excited saying that there is currently a shortage of classrooms in the area and that it will get even worse in the next 3-4 years due to all the apartments and developments going up; but then, they quickly realized that they were terribly underfunded and would need to partner with the county or other entities to make any kind of deal work. This obviously was not the message that everyone wanted to hear; however, they did say that if the community was to come together and make their voices heard that it would go a very long way into persuading the powers that be that this is good for the community. They did also note that there are no longer any other large suitable tracts available in the area especially having an elementary school already there (Rainbow Elementary) which obviously would be a huge advantage.

       So basically, this is a call to let your voices be heard in order to bring something positive to the community. We (the Lloyd Family) would rather visit the area and say “this little park here was once your Grandma/Grandpas farm, its beautiful isn’t it”; versus, ”those homes or apartments over there is where your Nema/Papa used to have a farm”. As you can imagine, developers are beating down the doors wanting to buy the farm, we have over a dozen contracts already offered to us. THE SAD TRUTH IS; IF THE SCHOOLS OR COUNTY DOES NOT PURCHASE THE PROPERTY, IT WILL BE DEVELOPED. If having the farm used for Schools or parks or both means something to you, pass on the info.

       Contact your county commissioners, contact your School Board and Superintendent, contact your local Mayors and ask them to get involved with the county, contact your homeowner associations, contact others that would like to see the property go to schools or parks and recreations, contact anyone that you think matters. 

Thank you for your time and consideration
Sincerely, The Lloyd Family