Before the community of
Harmony was created in east
Osceola County, there was a
project called the Harmony
Institute. The Institute
forms the philosophical -
and even spiritual - heart
of Harmony, Florida.Founded as an independent
501(c)(3) charitable
organization in 1996, the
Harmony Institute was
created by former Orlando
Humane Society director
Martha Lentz to promote the
public health value of
living in close proximity to
animals and natural wildlife
ecologies. The Institute was
named in memory of Margaret
Harmony Eastman, the mother
of the founder.
The 100-acres within
Harmony's 11,000 acres
provide the philosophical
and moral leadership that
today guides the development
of the Harmony community.
Among other activities,
the Institute studies and
develops programs to
innovate new ways for human
beings to enjoy peaceful,
healthy, coexisting
relationships with the
animals and the environment.
