URBAN FARMS:
THE MODERN GATHERING

A black screen with no visible objects or details.

Outdoor gathering at night with string lights, wooden tables, and people eating and socializing under trees.

Around these parts, we know a thing or two about food, tradition, and neighbors supporting neighbors. As we enter the season of gathering and giving thanks, we’re exploring the growing urban farm scene across the Lone Star State. Nestled in the heart of bustling cities, these farms are cultivating more than crops; they’re nourishing communities.

If the original Thanksgiving was about celebrating a successful harvest and the bonds that held a community together, then urban farming truly embodies the modern version of that spirit.

A dense assortment of orange, yellow, and orange marigold flowers.

A woman wearing a large straw hat and denim overalls holding a large bouquet of red and yellow flowers, standing in a garden with other plants in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Nature Nurturing

Some gardens become key components of a city’s "green infrastructure." They help manage excess water by reducing stormwater runoff, increase local biodiversity, and fight the urban heat island effect. And since the food doesn't have to travel far, they help decrease the city’s carbon footprint to boot!

Garcia Street Urban Farm, San Antonio

Garcia Street Urban Farm might be best known as the city’s preeminent source of marigolds, the iconic symbol of Dia de los Muertos celebrations. The farm plants an abundance of the traditional flower in shades of gold, yellow and orange ahead of the occasion each year. On the other 364 days of the year, the farm is known for its thriving intersection of education, food production and community engagement. In an effort to promote a local ecosystem, Garcia Street plants several types of flowers to attract local pollinators and raise funds through seasonal pick-your-own-flower events.

A Healthy Harvest

Urban farms are fantastic for delivering fresh, healthy food directly to residents, which is especially important in food deserts. These farms often double as educational hubs, teaching citizens about nutrition.

Urban Roots, Austin

A visit to Urban Roots is a celebration of the fruits of one’s labor. More than 75% of the fresh produce grown onsite is devoted to expanding food access across Central Texas. But they’re doing more than providing the ingredients. Chefs teach cooking skills to youth who can go on to feed not only themselves, but their families and potentially start culinary careers. With a focus on land stewardship, the traditions of working hard and sharing the harvest are instilled in all who visit.

Person holding a bunch of multicolored carrots in an outdoor garden with green plants and a greenhouse in the background.

Bringing Neighbors Together

Urban farms serve as powerful anchors for community development, quite literally nurturing neighborhoods and bringing people together for local projects. In cities dealing with empty or neglected spaces, turning plots of land into vibrant hubs helps reduce problems like trash and illegal dumping, while boosting social interactions. These transformed places become important community gathering spots.

Elmwood Farm, Dallas

Situated in the South Dallas neighborhood of Oak Cliff, Elmwood Farm understands that food brings people together. And growing the food yourself has the power to build lasting relationships while developing essential skills. They offer hands-on agricultural classes and experiences that also promote conscious consumption. Hospitality shines when Elmwood partners with 3rd Place Commons to host regular family-style farm-to-table dinners where all are invited to come together and slow down over a meal.

Bhakti Urban Farm, Houston

More than a farm, Bhakti Urban Farm is a place to nourish your soul; a sanctuary amid the hustle of Houston. Guests are invited to connect with nature as a means of grounding, while gaining insight into holistic wellbeing. The farm is rooted in the ancient principles of Indian spirituality: caring for cows and tending the land alongside yoga and meditation classes. Nature and spirituality are inextricably entwined at this sacred space that hosts spirituality-based gatherings, workshops and retreats.

Culture and Community in Bloom

Best of all, when you spend money at a local urban farm, that money is more likely to stay and circulate through other local businesses, creating a positive "multiplier effect" in the local economy. So urban farms are much more than enjoying a local harvest. They are about strengthening social fabric of our neighborhoods and celebrating both the bounty and the community that is right next door.