This week, the CREA Fellows and team had the privilege of visiting the Garcia St. Urban Farm, where they were warmly hosted by Jovanna Lopez. The visit provided an insightful glimpse into the farm’s urban agricultural practices and its commitment to sustainability.
Joining the tour were Director of Eco Centro, Rose Flores, Michael Lopez from Opportunity Home San Antonio, members of the Lewis Family from the Huasteca Regenerative Agriculture Center (HRAC), and Bryan Hummel, who was actively working on a groundwater infiltration project on-site. This diverse gathering of experts and enthusiasts created a rich environment for discussing sustainable farming techniques and regenerative practices.
The group was given a comprehensive tour of the farm, beginning with the market garden, which showcases the farm's commitment to growing healthy, organic produce for the local community. The Fellows also observed the experimental use of the vetiver system, a natural, plant-based solution for erosion control, water conservation, and soil regeneration. In addition, the farm’s native pollinator habitat and cut flower operation were highlights, illustrating the farm’s dedication to biodiversity and fostering local ecosystems.
A key part of the tour was the introduction to contour and keyline design. This regenerative farming technique, integral to the farm’s layout, was demonstrated as a nature-based solution for various environmental challenges, such as aquifer recharge, stormwater mitigation, pollution reduction, and biofiltration. The group learned how the farm uses contour swales, shallow, vegetated channels dug along the landscape’s natural contours to manage water effectively. These swales slow, spread, sink, soak, and store stormwater, capturing runoff from the surrounding neighborhood and directing it toward an on-site orchard. This process not only mitigates the effects of heavy rainfall but also recharges the soil and helps sustain the orchard’s growth.
The visit to Garcia St. Farm provided the CREA Fellows with a hands-on understanding of the intersection between urban agriculture, sustainability, and water management. The farm’s integration of innovative solutions like contour and keyline design serves as a powerful example of how urban spaces can be transformed into productive, regenerative landscapes that support both the community and the environment.
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