Garcia Street Urban Farm
Programs
Our farmers market offer a direct connection to fresh and affordable produce, herbs, and flowers. Cash, PayPal, and EBT are accepted. Please bring a reusable bag. Follow us on Instagram for updates about produce and guest vendors.
Alamo Colleges students receive free produce with Student ID. Contact us at sac-ecocentro@bjzhtst.com for information about low-cost and free produce markets at San Antonio College.
In addition to healthy produce, we have a beautiful cut flower garden. These flowers provide food and habitat for our local pollinators and make the most amazing bouquets too! Not only do they support birds, bees, butterflies and other pollinators, but funds from flower sales go directly toward feeding our community. All proceeds support the distribution of fresh produce to our community members, including local food pantries, schools, and housing authority residents. You can purchase fresh flowers at our markets or our seasonal events.
PICK-YOUR-OWN Flower Days at Garcia Street Urban Farm
Each season, we open up the farm for community members to harvest their own flowers. Whether you want a few lovely bouquets for your friends and family or a stunning arrangement, harvest your own flowers! We provide the tools, know-how and maybe even a little entertainment while you load up on a bucket load of fresh, seasonal blooms.
Check our Facebook and Instagram for upcoming opportunities. Your purchases directly support the farm and our efforts to provide our community with fresh produce and healthy resources.
Register for workshops and events offered at Eco Centro and Garcia Street Urban Farm. New workshops and events are added throughout the year.
Get involved by signing up to be a Farm Friend. Work with our team as we grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers. No experience is necessary. Sessions are held Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. and the first Saturday of the month from 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Follow us on Instagram for other dates and opportunities to support the farm.
Who We Are
Garcia Street Urban Farm was formed as a partnership between the Alamo Colleges District (San Antonio College, William R. Sinkin Eco Centro) and Opportunity Home San Antonio. We strive to create and maintain a thriving space at the intersection of education, food production, and community engagement.
Our Mission
We strive to empower our community to engage in the local food system through our unique regional ecosystem and our dynamic green space on San Antonio’s Eastside that produces fresh healthy food, supports local farmers, and empowers all with educational resources.
Our Vision
We envision a community wealthy with fresh, healthy food and cultural and educational resources, supported by our urban farm and dedicated partners.
Our impact through urban food production: Urban agriculture increases access to healthy, locally grown, and culturally appropriate sources of food. Growing and sharing food builds wealth in disinvested and underserved neighborhoods while preserving green spaces, providing places for neighbors to come together, and building community cohesion. Urban food systems lessen the burdens of food insecurity, diabetes, heart disease, and other nutrition-related health impacts. Locally grown food increases climate resilience, captures and stores carbon, creates urban wildlife and pollinator habitat, improves watershed health, reduces pollution, generates jobs, and grows local economies. Our 4.1-acre urban farm on San Antonio’s Eastside collaborates with local partners to create pathways for sustainable, local, urban food systems where our community can access healthy, nutritious food.
Objectives
- Create access to learning about organic, regenerative urban farming
- Improve cross-community pollination of farming initiatives
- Increase access to nutrition education on food systems
- Promote food security
- Develop and strengthen partnerships and build community engagement
- Build safe, healthy, and sustainable environments for our neighbors, community members, students and the greater San Antonio area
Unique Features
- One of the only housing authority, community, and higher education-led urban farming and food production initiatives in the nation
- Collaboration with local distribution networks and community markets to create and strengthen farm-to-market, table, and neighborhood pathways
- Urban pollinator meadow and wildlife habitat
- Research plots in partnership with local universities and colleges
- Robust educational programming for community members, youth undergraduate and
- Graduate students, farmers, and food production specialists (certificate and associate degree programs)