We are thrilled to announce that Terra Advocati has been awarded the San Antonio Office of Sustainability Community Action Fund Neighborhood and Community/Business Grant!
This grant will support the development of the Huertos Familiares garden at Galeria E.V.A., a transformative urban market garden project on the Southside of San Antonio. This initiative is not just a garden, it’s a powerful community tool designed to promote food security, biodiversity, and cultural preservation while advancing the city’s goals for climate equity.
Huertos Familiares builds on the vision of Galeria E.V.A., founded by Veronica Castillo, a renowned Indigenous artist from Puebla, Mexico, who has already turned her gallery into a hub for community resilience.
At the onset of the pandemic, Castillo began preparing over 5,000 meals for the unhoused, neighbors, and the elderly, using organic ingredients indigenous to the Americas. The garden project will support this work by transforming the exterior space at Galeria E.V.A. into a multifunctional, biodiverse garden that produces food, hosts community gatherings, and serves as a learning space for sharing regenerative practices.
The garden will consist of a pollinator habitat, seed library, composting station, and a tool lending program. These elements, alongside educational workshops, will provide the community with the resources and knowledge to create their own home and neighborhood gardens, further expanding food production across San Antonio’s Southside.
The project not only supports local food production but emphasizes traditional and Indigenous food preparation techniques, strengthening cultural ties within the community.
Project Impact and Community Benefits
The Huertos Familiares project directly addresses food insecurity, a growing concern in many underserved neighborhoods. By creating an urban garden that produces healthy, affordable food, Terra Advocati and Galeria E.V.A. aim to combat food deserts in the area while reducing the carbon footprint associated with traditional food supply chains. The project also serves as a hands-on educational site where community members can learn to install and maintain gardens, cook nutritious meals, and understand the importance of local biodiversity.
Additionally, the garden will host educational workshops on topics like seed saving, composting, and pollinator protection, empowering families to replicate these practices at home. By doing so, the project supports the creation of a resilient, community-based food system that enhances access to locally grown produce, increases biodiversity, and builds a stronger, more self-sufficient community.
Alignment with San Antonio’s Climate Ready Plan
Huertos Familiares directly supports the goals of the SA Climate Ready Plan by promoting biodiversity, reducing food transportation emissions, and enhancing community resilience. The inclusion of a pollinator habitat, native plants, and sustainable agricultural practices ensures that the project contributes to the city’s broader objectives of increasing local food production and fostering healthy ecosystems.
Through collaborations and partnerships with organizations like the San Antonio Office of Sustainability, a Todo Dar Productions, UTSA/ SPC Coalition for Regenerative Ecologies and Agriculture (CREA), and Urban Bird Project. Terra Advocati and Galeria E.V.A. will leverage additional resources and expertise to expand the reach and impact of the project. These collaborations not only strengthen the initiative but ensure its sustainability and replicability in other communities.
We are deeply grateful for the support of the San Antonio Office of Sustainability and look forward to seeing how this project will grow, both literally and figuratively, to benefit our community.
Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to get involved!
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