Anyone who knows Jupiter knows it’s a wonderful place to raise kids. Pretty much anywhere you go you see happy, active kids fully involved in and enjoying life… biking, skating, playing baseball, swimming, skate-boarding. So much so, I thought I’d seen it all. Then I ran across the Veggie Kids on my Saturday morning pilgrimage to the Abacoa Green Market!

 

The three oldest kids in the remarkable Shirley family— Renee 12, Josiah 10, and Katie 6 — grow and sell their own homegrown, remarkably oversized produce under the guidance of their father, Steve, an agronomist. The 7,000-square-foot garden they tend is on the family’s Jupiter Farms property. Not only do the kids produce seasonal produce (October till June)… tomatoes, eggplant, beans, squash, radishes, carrots, onions, potatoes, corn, broccoli, cauliflower and GIGANTIC cabbages… fresher and more luscious than any this blogger has yet seen. But they now also have fresh eggs year-round from 22 free-range chickens and a website filled with all sorts of smart saleables. These kids are single-handedly reviving the concept of cottage industry!

Clearly, at their house, kids rule. But don’t take my word for it. Visit their website at www.veggiekidsfarm.com and discover one more reason why buying a Jupiter home is ideal for any family who really wants to put down roots!

   

Tuscany is all about family

Picture it…a long table heaped with food, bottles of wine and la familia. That’s Under the Tuscan Sun. Under the Florida sun the picture is a bit different, but the net effect is the same.

Emphasis on family. A fneighborhood filled with Mediterranean-style homes, built safe and soundproof by DiVosta. Ranging in price from $275,000 or thereabouts (depending on today’s market) to about $650,000 … from townhouses to 5-bedroom single family in a variety of sizes and shapes.

Fresh wide streets lined with trees, front porches, bike lanes, friendly neighbors. Dads throwing baseballs, kids playing catch, mom’s walking dogs. Families headed toward the park, the clubhouse, the pool, the ice cream parlor in downtown Abacoa.

Now if all that sounds a bit more Pollyanna than Anna Maria, so be it. But the prevailing, overarching, unmistakable theme is still the same. When you talk about Tuscany, you talk about family. No better place to raise one than Tuscany at Abacoa in Jupiter, FL.

Many, most homes today are designed with front-entry garages. And I personally hate them! They detract from the beauty of a home, dominating the visual scene.

More than just an architectural eyesore, front-entry garages create the opportunity for all sorts of unpleasant views. How often have you looked into an open garage to see car repairs in progress, unpacked moving boxes stacked to the rafters, piles of trash, garbage cans, messy do-it-yourself projects in process, or bags of dog food and piles of old clothes scattered about. Hardly appealing to the neighbors.

We all live with a certain degree of clutter and messiness.  But with the right garage orientation you can dramatically limit its public exposure!

Valenica at Abacoa front elevation without garage views!

Homes have private alleys with rear-entry garages!

Clearly if John had Donne his homework, and visited this charming Divosta Abacoa neighborhood rimmed by lush green golf courses and lazy little lakes, he would have known just how beautiful that concept can be.

In The Island, well-established trees line the streets. Three, four and five bedroom homes are amply endowed with big welcoming front porches and portachaches. Houses on the outside back up to rather spectacular views of the golf course & lakes.  And even though the street names ring of Barbados and Bermuda…the architecture is far more Cape Cod than Caribbean. But don’t worry.  The net effect is pure charm.

It’s a family environment. Contiguous to the best of Abacoa, but slightly removed as its name implies. Quiet, lush and lovely. And the prices are surprising for all Divosta built in to these delightful homes. Finished in 2001 or thereabouts, still fresh enough to feel new, and incredibly well kept up…these houses will hold more than their value for many years to come. They’ll hold people who know you can live happily in an island of tranquility and still feel comfortably connected 

Located within the town of Jupiter, in the heart of Abacoa (the last word in master-planned communities), sits the charming neighborhood of Mallory Creek. Created with Built-Solid construction and Key West Architectural styling,  Mallory Creek is the latest jewel designed by Divosta Homes. It is set among preserves and waterways that complete its tropical feeling. And encompasses a delightful mix of villas, townhomes and single-family homes with front porches and balconies that overlook lushly landscaped, tree-lined streets. With its immediate access to downtown Abacoa amenities and  all that Life in Jupiter entails, Mallory Creek is a neighborhood not to be missed or viewed lightly. The amenities alone built into each home far exceed the norm…and, in fact, include many things other builders consider upgrades! You can get in on pre-construction pricing with builder incentives if you buy now. And if you register through Seacrest Florida Properties, you’ll also get a plasma TV!

"The Martello" starting at $595,900

"The Nautica" starting at $379,900

"The Magnolia" starting at $239,900

Yesterday, May 31^st, the neighborhoods of Abacoa came together in quite a remarkable way. Their residents competed at tennis, golf and track in a 5K run. The contests began at 8 am and by 3 pm Valencia was pronounced the Grand Champion…the neighborhood that had swept in almost all categories. And in the process, my husband, Dane, and I managed to snag a second place for Valencia at golf. Second overall was the New Haven neighborhood, followed closely by Charleston Court. Plaques were awarded in Downtown Abacoa amid live music and delicious munchies (served up as a Taste of Abacoa). Clearly a good time was had by all in this first annual Battle of the Neighborhoods. Possibly the only battle in history to foster a real sense of community!

There’s always something fun going on in Abacoa! Visit www.BristolManagement.com right now and see for yourself. And while you’re at it, sign up for The Battle of the Neighborhoods scheduled this weekend.  There’s a pep rally and baseball game at Roger Dean Stadium on May 31…followed by neighborhood competitions in golf, tennis and a 5K run on June 1, along with live entertainment. Now how’s that for community involvement! Isn’t this the kind of neighborhood spirit you’d enjoy. So if you live in Abacoa…don’t miss out. If you don’t…check it out. Jupiter is a great place to live. And Abacoa is one huge reason why.