The Raphael Family Farm & Nursery

12/10/2026

Another day on the farm! 🌱🌿

Wrapping up today’s nursery inspection with . There’s so much that goes into growing and maintaining a registered Florida nursery beyond just planting seeds.

Building something from the ground up, one season at a time. 🌱

08/10/2026

The pollinators are putting in WORK over here! 🐝🌸

If you’ve been following my Japanese Murasaki sweet potato journey, we’re officially on round TWO! 🍠 I reused slips from my first harvest, and this second round is even more lush and full of blooms!

And apparently, I’m not the only one impressed. 😂🐝

Caught this little visitor making its rounds through the flowers, and I believe it might be an Eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica).

But I need my garden people to weigh in! 👀

🐝 Do you think I identified it correctly, or could it be another type of bee? Drop your guesses below!



Shontelle Walton-Raphael | Broker Associate | Compass
954.552.2261 | [email protected]

02/10/2026

🍃🍃🍃🍃 Peppermint

22/08/2026

From sweet potato slips planted on April 8 to a wagon full of Murasaki Japanese sweet potatoes. 🍠

This is the full harvest from our LaBelle garden bed—grown without pesticides and harvested by hand at Raphael Family Farm. I expected a good yield, but the size of some of these potatoes genuinely surprised me!

They’re curing now to develop their naturally sweet, chestnut-like flavor. A limited amount may be available soon. Comment “MURASAKI” or message us if you’d like first access.

21/08/2026

Just a little preview of today’s Murasaki sweet potato harvest! 🍠 We planted these slips in April, and look what came out of the soil—grown right here at Raphael Family Farm without pesticides. Full harvest reveal coming this weekend!

20/08/2026

Four months ago, these were slips. Today, they’re proof that patience beneath the soil pays off. 🍠

I planted these Japanese Murasaki sweet potatoes in April, and clearly, I was not prepared for what was hiding beneath those vines. 😂

Also, don’t judge my peeling lips—I’ve been outside in this Florida heat digging up potatoes. 😂

Growing food on our Southwest Florida homestead is one of those experiences that makes every bit of work worth it. This is Avenues to Acres™ in real time—home, land and legacy, one harvest at a time.

A little garden-to-table education: Murasaki is a Japanese-style sweet potato known for its deep purple skin and white flesh. It’s a fiber-containing, whole-food carbohydrate that can fit into a diabetes-conscious plate—but it’s still a starchy vegetable, so portion size matters.

What should I make first?

07/07/2026

Three Miracle Leaf plants headed to their new homes this week. 🌿📦

Known throughout the Caribbean as Miracle Leaf or Leaf of Life. Back home in Barbados, we call it Wonder of the World. It’s been a favorite in homes and gardens for generations.

Every plant is carefully inspected, hand wrapped, and sealed before it leaves our farm. I hope opening each package feels just as special as packing it.

What do you call this plant where you’re from? 🌿

18/06/2026

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard!

Nenette Dintemann, Cathy Sutphin, Kym Williams, Donna Hope

15/06/2026

🌿 New Plant Alert 🌿

Costus Igneus is now available at The Raphael Family Farm & Nursery!

Also known as the Insulin Plant, Step Ladder Plant, or Fiery Costus, this tropical perennial has been growing in our nursery garden beds and is now available in limited quantities.
✔ Nursery-grown plants
✔ Healthy, established root systems
✔ Freshly potted before shipping
✔ Limited quantities available
Shop the link in the comments 👇🌱

First come, first served.

Also known as Fiery Costus, Spiral Flag, or Step Ladder Plant, the Insulin Plant is a beautiful tropical ornamental known for its vibrant green leaves and unique upright growth pattern. Popular throughout tropical gardens and traditional wellness gardens, this plant has been appreciated for generati...

15/06/2026

🌿 New Plant Available 🌿

Broadleaf Thyme is now available at The Raphael Family Farm & Nursery!

Also known as Mexican Mint or Cuban Oregano, this fragrant, easy-to-grow herb is a favorite for home gardens and kitchen herb collections.

✔ Nursery-grown plants
✔ Freshly potted before shipping
✔ Beginner-friendly
✔ Great for containers or garden beds
✔ Limited quantities available

Shop the link in the comments 👇🌱

First come, first served.

Broadleaf Thyme, also known as Mexican Mint or Cuban Oregano, is a fragrant, easy-to-grow herb prized for its thick, velvety leaves and bold aroma. Popular in Caribbean, Latin American, and tropical gardens, this versatile plant can be grown in containers, raised beds, or directly in the ground. Thi...