The Wild Farm SATX supports women and girls learning sustainable urban agriculture in a two-acre hub in Donaldson Terrace.
SAN ANTONIO — At The Wild Farm SATX they grow food and flowers, but it’s all in support of their main mission, which is to support women and girls who want to learn about sustainable urban agriculture.
Of the two-acre haven in the heart of a residential neighborhood in the Donaldson Terrace area, co-founder Jovanna Lopez said “I always love telling people that because I don’t think people believe that there are big lots inside a 410, but there are.”
Lopez said because they have space for lots of different ventures, they are able to teach people how to do many different things on a small scale.
Lopez said “Our mission is essentially to educate women on how to grow in their own spaces.”
“This might be too big for your yard, but there is a smaller version of it that you could build if you come here and learn. Like we can teach you how to do it on a budget,” Lopez said.
Using an irrigation system as an example, Lopez said they used scavenged materials and guile to build something that works for a fraction of the cost of a commercial system.
Lopez said, “We were able to put it in like maybe under $1,000 by piecing together things, looking up things online, and we want to be able to pass that on to people so that they know that it is actually attainable to build your own space on a budget.”
On the value of inspirational creativity, Lopez said “I think people look at this and think, ‘Oh my God, this is fancy!’ and it is, but it’s like anybody could do it.”
Anisa Riccardelli said spending time in the garden is a valuable asset.
“I’ve been here since October. I’m doing a work study here and I’ve been learning a lot about regenerative agriculture and sustainable farming, like growing crops and everything without using pesticides, making sure that we’re keeping the soil healthy,” Riccardelli said as she harvested Lagos spinach.
Riccardelli said the African plant is well adapted to Texas and an important food source.
“It does really well here because of our heat, and it’s a very hardy plant for us, but it’s like a spinach substitute. It has a lot more iron than the typical spinach you see though, so it’s got that benefit as well,” Riccardelli said.
The newly minted farmer said the knowledge is critically important when food insecurity is top of mind for so many.
“It’s been really great and inspirational, getting to be in a garden like this. We grow everything from seeds, so getting to see the whole process has really been beautiful,” Riccardelli said.
Riccardelli said wanting to snack while working is a natural instinct in a healthy environment.
“A lot of these plants that we grow are edible. Even the flowers are edible, like the marigolds are edible. You can eat the flowers, you can eat the stems, and people will make them into tea,” Riccardelli said.
Student farmer Bethany Whittaker said “I’m studying environmental science at school, so this is super applicable to what I want to do in my career.”
She said restoring tired soil and the concept of regenerative agriculture are attractive areas of study.
“I’ve talked to a lot of the volunteers that come through and they also have learned a lot just from volunteering like you can just be here for even the shortest amount of time and learn so much while you’re here,” Whittaker said.
With regard to teaching women and girls life-enriching skills, Whittaker said “I think it’s awesome. I think we definitely need more women in outdoor spaces.”
“I think starting at a young age to teach people anything, especially in male dominated fields, it’s awesome to get women out there and learning the proper processes for all of this stuff,” Whittaker said, adding “Honestly just having a space where women can support each other and empower each other is just a really genuinely special experience.”
More information about the farm, in the 400 block of East Cheryl, and the group can be found on their Facebook page.