GROVELAND, Fla. — As Lake County continues to grow, Groveland leaders have put together a plan to balance new development with the current agriculture.

What You Need To Know

  • The City of Groveland has a goal of 51% of the land being agriculture and green space leaving the rest for development

  • It’s all part of their strategic plan to balance the two

  • Now they have an Eco-Agrarian Lifestyle Focus Group, where local farmers can help meet the city’s goal

The goal is having 51% of the land being agriculture and green space, leaving the rest for development.

Part of reaching that goal is having an Eco-Agrarian Lifestyle Focus Group made up of local farmers.

Keith Keogh, a retired chef who settled down on a farm in Groveland, is the chair of the city's Strategic Plan Committee.

Keogh has been cooking up a storm for decades. Growing up in Lake Mary, he got his start at Disney.

Soon, his food became his passport getting stamps around the world. But when he retired he settled down on a farm in Groveland.

“As a chef, which is my profession you’re only as good as you what you have to create with,” said Keogh. “One part is the agriculture, bringing people closer to the land. The eco is how we take care of our water.”

While Keogh’s life is on the farm, he understands growth will happen.

“We don’t expect everybody to have a farm, we don’t even expect everyone to have a backyard garden. But those who want it, we have to make it very attainable,” said Keogh.

Keogh is open to growth, but with his experience in the kitchen and on the farm, he wants to make sure his community isn’t overdeveloping and they stay with their roots.

“Being a chef is taking everything the farmer does and taking credit for it. Everything starts with the product that you get. The quality of that product really impacts what the chef puts on his plate,” said Keogh.

The focus group meets every quarter with smaller groups every two weeks. They are hoping to tackle community gardens and composting first.