Texans have cultivated the land for generations, engaging in subsistence farming and growing cash crops for their livelihood. As spring arrives, Texas farmers gear up to harvest specific crops and sow seeds for a fall yield. Meanwhile, in a quiet San Antonio neighborhood, an urban farming initiative is revitalizing a previously overlooked lot.
Jovanna Lopez has been involved with urban farming for about seven years. At a recent open house, she explained plans for Wild Farm SATX in the Donaldson Terrace neighborhood.
Wild Farm San Antonio is transforming a property in the Donaldson Terrace neighborhood into an urban farm. According to Jovanna Lopez, one of the leaders at Wild Farm, the parcel, located a few miles from Jefferson High School, had been vacant for approximately a decade.
Lopez has been part of the urban agricultural scene for about seven years and has participated in various local farming projects. This new venture at Donaldson Terrace has gained momentum with philanthropic assistance and sweat equity.
June 15 marks one year since Lopez and the Wild Farm team began remediating illegal dumping and overgrown vegetation after the previous resident vacated the property. They have removed old tires, lumber, sheet metal, and other debris, as well as discarded toys, balls, and helmets, likely from a practice field or children’s play area.
Wild Farm SATX plans 20 50-foot rows for planting. Half the field is currently covered, to sterilize the soil in the Texas heat.
“It took almost a year of diligent land clearing and assessment of the land,” said Lopez. “We still have so much more to do on the land but we want to do it in an intentional way and ensure that we are doing things that will benefit the ecosystem we are trying to restore. Everything is planned in phases and to give the land time to recoup.”
Planting the Seeds
With about a quarter-acre cleared, the Wild Farm team has laid out 20 rows, each 50 feet long, for planting. The field is oriented east to west, ensuring it receives sunlight all day. Black tarp covers half the field, and over the next few months, the Texas heat will sterilize the soil. The outer edge of the field currently has a ring of mushroom growth planted to break down organic matter and return it to the soil, which is also true for the mulch being added in the rows. A drip irrigation system will keep it watered throughout the season.
Wild Farm has a selection of vegetables and other produce planted, including a row of leafy greens such as lettuce, kale and arugula.
Six to eight rows are planted, and the placement of specific plants in each row is deliberate. For example, tomatoes are planted alongside fragrant herbs, which serve as a natural insect repellent. Some areas feature trellises to support fruits and vegetables that grow on vines, such as cucumbers and beans. One row contains herbs, including parsley, cilantro, and dill. Another row includes root vegetables like potatoes and chard. There is also a row of leafy greens featuring lettuce, collards, kale, and arugula.
The team previously attempted to bring bees to the property as pollinators by reaching out to a beekeeper to place hives. However, the colony struggled to thrive, leading the farmers to suspect that pesticides were being used somewhere along the bees’ flight paths. Lopez explains that future efforts will include installing a water feature on the property to keep bees in a tighter area.
Growing for the Future
As the redevelopment of the Donaldson Terrace property progresses, the team is considering refurbishing the house and outbuildings. Short-term goals include cold storage for produce and flowers, creating an area for processing harvested vegetables and flowers, and establishing a test kitchen for teaching.
“Our goal for this year is to get our Community Supported Agriculture off the ground and running,” said Lopez. “We also are excited for the Fall and Dia De Muertos season! We will be growing Cempasuchil (marigolds) and Mano de leon (celosia). We hope to have a small celebration and gathering during that time.”
The Wild Farm team has put up a green house with planter boxes to start seeds for various crops.
Lopez says that the restoration of bedrooms and bathrooms could facilitate resident interns who would spend a few semesters studying agriculture while gaining hands-on experience on the property. An outbuilding, likely a solarium, can be converted into meeting or classroom space. The team has added one new structure: a greenhouse to start seeds.
While Wild Farm SATX is still in its infancy and is producing its first crops this year, Lopez mentions that long-term plans envision the Donaldson Terrace property remaining a functioning urban farm. It aims to offer educational partnerships in agriculture and to provide a steady supply of vegetables and flowers for sale at their own stand or at community markets and events.
For more information on Wild Farm SATX, visit: Instagram: @thewildfarmsatx or Facebook: The Wild Farm SATX