Happiness Grows Here: Finding Magic at Ananda Farms in Terra Ceia

There are few places, if any, in Tampa Bay, where families can go and enjoy Michelin-caliber, locally sourced dining while their kids experience the magic of outdoor play. This is what makes Ananda Farm, a 40-acre property in Terra Ceia Island, so unique and special.

The farm was founded by best friends Chris and Kristy Boss and Kobe and Kyleen Hinkle, who dreamed of a place where their own families could unplug and freely play.

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Kristy passed away from an aggressive form of breast cancer in 2022, but her dream and legacy are thriving in this place, where “Happiness Grows.”

It’s a place where kids can explore a giant treehouse nestled in the oak trees and roam Sunshine Gardens where vegetables grow and flowers are in full bloom – and it’s all only a 25-minute drive from the hustle of downtown St. Pete, just off the Sunshine Skyway.

We caught up with the owners Chris Boss, Kyleen Hinkle and operating partner Chef Nicole Holtzman, a Michelin-trained chef, about this place of magic they’ve created for the community.

The spring season has to be so exciting as a farm-to-table chef!

Kyleen Hinkle: Right now, we've got the flowers which you can use as a part of the meal, and then we have our arugula, zucchini and zucchini blossoms. We've got broccoli, we've got three varieties of beets, we've got two varieties of carrots. I actually have to go check my charts because it’s like a variety of 27 vegetables.

We have our farm meetings every Monday morning. We're like, ‘OK this is what's ready to harvest,’ and it's such a … beautiful meeting where we come up with the ideas and … cultivate it together, so it's a really nice combination.

Our culture here: We talk about our hands. It might sound a little crazy, but you plant with them, cook with them … everything is in your hands, and our heart and soul is what gets into the food here.

Sustainability is also a big part of the culture here at Ananda Farm.

Nicole Holtzman: Our whole goal is no waste. We're big about compost, so anything in the kitchen, anything in the garden here, always gets composted. The compost piles get used for fertilizing our big organic farm here. And we're big on that; we don't like pesticides. We’re big on feeding our souls. You are what you eat.

What has the experience been like being a part of making Kristy’s farm dream come true, from the food grown here to the opportunities for kids to play?

Nicole Holtzman: It’s just happiness. It sounds a little cliche, but happiness grows here. She [Kristy] wanted happiness here; that's all she wanted for people. She wanted her kids to run free, and she wanted her kids' friends to run free.

Kyleen Hinkle: Absolutely. Just turning off, unplugging, and just running, you know, that was what we wanted for our kids. I think we've done a good job of that here, and we're always thinking of new ideas and trying to grow, so it’s an ongoing project.

It’s got to be kind of a cool feeling to unwind here with your own families because you still have your careers.

Kyleen Hinkle: We're all very busy people, so when we come out here after a normal work week, it is surreal to look around and be like, wow, this is so cool and when people ask about it, it's almost weird to think yeah, this is our farm, you know, it is a cool feeling.

Chris Boss: It's cool that we can do it together as best friends. All of our kids come and really enjoy it as much as we hope that our guests do.

Play was a focus, but so is education (which we can see on the signage for each activity) so kids really can learn as they play here since each activity is themed after a fruit or vegetable. But this is just a part of it.

Chris Boss: Probably one of our biggest things is education and just working with the community and schools. There really isn't a working farm in Pinellas County, so we're probably the closest thing, and so to create the programs where the kids can come out and help us farm some and get their hands dirty is really the biggest initiative.

It looked like the winter season was a success with the Savor the Season Holiday Festival. What else do you have planned here on the farm?

Chris Boss: Easter is going to be a lot of fun. We have opened up to birthday parties, which have been really popular. We'll close sometime in May when it gets too hot. And then we'll reopen, probably at the end of September, with the pumpkin patch, the corn maze. We are opening up to more events.

And now is a good time to visit too!

Chris Boss: Please just come out and visit us. Nothing beats Florida spring weather. Come listen to some music and let the kids run. Our fresh grouper and snapper sandwiches are probably my favorite, and farm-to-table food and good beer and wine.

It sounds like you all are in this for the long haul.

Chris Boss: We take a lot of pride in the fact that this whole project is really a legacy project, and we hope to pass it on to our kids and that it's around for a long time.

Where to eat and drink at Ananda Farm:

• The Nest Rooftop Beer Barn
• Twisted Roots Tavern Bar
• Harvest Crust Pizza Barn
• The Flour Shop for donuts, sweets, and coffee
• Kristy’s Bar: Wine, Beer, Cocktails

Let’s PLAY!

There are 15 attractions to explore, including some of these favorites:

• The Passion Fruit Jumping Pillows
• Dragon Fruit Lair Treehouse
• Peter’s Pelican Playground
• Coconut Circuit Trike Track
• Gem Mining
• Gaga ball: A mix of four square and dodge ball
• Tug of War
• Hay Castle
• Corn Cove corn pit
• Giant Bubbles
• Pineapple Plunge Land Slide: Why pineapples? They’re planted on the side of the hill —grow fresh pineapple, but also add benefit; it helps hold the soil together.
• Tractor rides every 30 minutes
• Sunshine Acres: the farm where you can see the food grow and even pick your own when available!

Ananda Farm Location:

• 579 Ken Hubbard Road, Terra Ceia, FL

Spring Season Hours: January-May

• Friday: 3 – 8 p.m.
• Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

READ MORE about Farms in Tampa Bay: 

• U-Pick Farms in Tampa Bay: Where to pick citrus, berries, and veggies now!
• The 12+ Best Farmers Markets in Tampa Bay
• Peachy Perfect: U-Pick Peach Farms in Tampa Bay You Must Try!
• Ananda and Keel Farms: Offering Seasonal Fun for All Ages!

Featured Image: The Hinkle Family in Ananda Farms flower field | Originally published in the March 2025 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.