August 2025

By Carolina Hinojosa

In April, we cultivated our new Huerto Familiar on the south side of San Antonio, strategically located within a mile and a half of the Galeria E.V.A. This initiative marks a significant step in our ongoing commitment to fostering local food security and community engagement. The huerto, known as Huerto Casa Nopal, embodies a unique philosophy, defining itself as a "space of remembrance." This concept underscores a dual purpose: to revitalize and remember the inherent richness of the soil through careful cultivation and to serve as a "memory project" for the individuals and families who participate in its growth.

In Casa Nopal's urban backyard, the essential groundwork for a thriving garden began with the crucial establishment of infrastructure. The absence of a readily available water source necessitated the installation of a complete irrigation system, a prerequisite for sustaining any life. This foundational task was undertaken collaboratively by Jess Mayes of Terra Advocati, Maricela Infante of a todo dar productions, and Dr. Kenny Walker of the Urban Bird Project. Only upon the successful completion of a reliable supply of running water could the subsequent stages of soil preparation and planting commence. The installation of the irrigation system paved the way for composting, broad forking to improve soil aeration and structure, and finally, the eagerly anticipated planting day, marking the true beginning of Casa Nopal's backyard garden.

On volunteer day, in partnership with Alexas and Maya from the Traditional Center for Indigenous Knowledge and Healing, they generously guided students from UTSA, the Urban Bird Project, and staff from the UTSA Libraries on the relationship between humans and corn, where the diversity of corn is central to nourishing ourselves and the soil. The symbiotic relationship between corn, beans, and squash creates a complete protein known as the three sisters, demonstrating nature's inherent intuition. In honor and respect of the Ponca and Pawnee Tribes, we planted Xude Blue Corn at Casa Nopal. In May, the Xude was thriving and waist high, as the rains have created a wellspring of life for this corn. This thriving corn is a powerful symbol of interconnectedness and the enduring wisdom of Indigenous agricultural practices. Ometoetl. We give thanks.

Students and library staff were also guided through the process of making compost tea, learning the practical steps involved. This educational session was enriched by the fact that Jess Mayes had already initiated the brewing process for the compost tea a full 24 hours before the volunteer event commenced. This allowed participants to witness and understand the subsequent stages of production, building upon the initial preparation already underway. The demonstration provided hands-on experience and valuable insights into the benefits and methods of creating this nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer.

Just before lunchtime, volunteers, including Urban Bird Project’s Eres Gomez, Dr. Jen Smith, and Dr. Amelia King-Kostelac, began planting into the soil, broad forking, and composting to create a pollinator garden, an herb garden, a vegetable garden, and the milpa. The pollinator garden included an almond bush, lantana, milkweed, copper canyon daisies, blackfoot daisies, Greg’s mist, butterfly bushes, hot lips, and more purchased at Fanick’s Garden Center and Nursery. The row of trees included figs, pomegranates, loquats, mulberries, and blackberries. The herb garden included donated lemongrass, two varieties of basil, donated yerba buena, thyme, oregano, citronella, sage, sorrel, donated manzanilla, and some purchased at Rainbow Gardens. The vegetable garden included donated indeterminate tomatoes, determinate tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, a wide variety of chili peppers, a watermelon seeded by my daughter Brooklyn, and recently sprouted huahtli (amaranth).

The conclusion of the volunteer planting welcomed lunchtime, creating a convivial atmosphere of shared accomplishment. Art and Carol, Casa Nopal’s neighbors, thoughtfully prepared chicken, rice, and beans for thirty-plus dedicated volunteers. The Urban Bird Project acquired a generous assortment of tacos from El Charro de Jalisco. This neighborhood taquería, conveniently located at the intersection of Pleasanton Road and Southcross, provided tacos of nopales (cactus), guisada (stew), and papas rancheras (ranch-style potatoes) for the communal meal. As volunteers ate lunch, discussions naturally revolved around the shared passion for birds and plant propagation, solidifying the sense of partnership that had blossomed throughout the afternoon's labor. The backyard was filled with reciprocity, with generous donations of pots, clippings, and compost.

Just four weeks after the completion of Huerto Casa Nopal, while driving by, an elderly couple asked me for a bit of the nopal that Terra Advocati thoughtfully placed in the front yard along the fenceline. This placement, of course, was entirely intentional, designed to share the garden's bounty with the neighborhood. Antonia and her husband inquired if they might have a small portion of the nopal. As one of the stewards of Casa Nopal. I welcomed Antonia into the backyard. There, amidst the burgeoning plantitas, she carefully selected a snake plant, rosemary sprigs, and lantana cuttings. This interaction perfectly embodies the spirit and shared resources at the heart of Huertos Familiares’ urban gardening initiatives.

By working collaboratively with the land, community members will forge lasting memories and cultivate a sustainable source of healthy, locally grown food for their neighborhood. The vision for Huerto Casa Nopal extends beyond simply producing food; it aims to create a vibrant hub where the act of gardening becomes a shared experience, strengthening community bonds and fostering a deeper connection to the natural world. The proximity to Galeria E.V.A. further enhances the potential for community collaboration, memory-making, and the integration of art and culture within this space. We envision the Huerto Familiar as a thriving example of how human effort and ecological stewardship can converge to create both tangible and intangible benefits for the local community, nourishing both bodies and spirits while preserving and creating meaningful memories.