Gardens of Good

 Shakera Raygoza- Terra Preta Farms/The Hub of Prosperity/The Hour Farm

Photo of crops from farm while the general public passes

I had never thought of myself as a farmer. I didn't know the first thing about farming or tending to agricultural anything. My grandmother would often grow various flowers and vegetables at her home, and while I spent an extensive amount of time there, I never fully paid attention to the processes in her garden. I would happily accept the fruits she'd bring in from her trees and plots but never bothered to check this out for myself. As an adult, I wish I had. Instead, I would simply buy my produce from H-E-B or Sprouts and call it a day. That was until… last year. 

It was brought to my attention in the fall of 2024 that my university had a student garden. I was surprised by this and found myself in an actual greenhouse and agriculture hub on another side of the campus. While I couldn't partake in the gardening efforts in this space, I was alerted to a community garden down the road that was opening up its beds for the season. While it was somewhat daunting to just show up at a random garden, I pushed through anyway, letting my curiosities take control. What I found was the Hub of Prosperity, a community farm space dedicated to "sustainable agriculture research" and community education. While scoping out the various elements of this farming space, I learned that this community endeavor stemmed from the Terra Preta Farms run by Shakera and Juan Raygoza. I then delved deeper into their efforts in the community and learned about their mission and all the good they've done in the Rio Grande Valley. 

Shakera Raygoza was a registered nurse and mother of 3 when she and her husband, Juan, decided to grow their own food for their family a decade ago. With the commitment to health and healing the body from within, they set to growing organic fruits and vegetables and selling the surplus at local farmers markets across the valley (Rio Grande Valley). Through this work, Shakera dedicated herself to eventually implementing regenerative agricultural practices. This aimed at cultivating and rebuilding the soils and ecosystems they depended on. Through various techniques such as compositing, cover cropping (growing plants to improve soil and protect it from erosion, not usually harvested), pollinator incorporation, and rotating crops, Shakera improved soil conditions for more nourishing produce.

As time progressed, the Raygoza farming flourished, and Shakera found that she could provide more for the community. As a woman of color, Shakera became involved with the National Young Farmers Coalition to support not only up-and-coming farmers in general but BIPOC farmers as well, giving space for diverse farming access, practices, and education. Over the years, Shakera has brought several farms and community hubs to life to give back to the community. With Terra Preta Farms, she has cultivated a space of organic, ethically grown produce that is shared with the community. She also had a hand in creating the Hub of Prosperity community garden for folks to learn about farming, sustainable agricultural efforts, and research, as well as engage with others in the farming community. Through this hub, Raygoza hosts regular workshops to educate the public on gardening practices, soil instruction, planting guidance, healthy recipe lessons, and more. There are weekly farmers' markets on Saturday mornings for volunteers and gardeners to share the fruits of their gardens (literally and figuratively), as well as seed exchanges to try, share, and learn about different produce. Raygoza also hosts donation services where folks can donate boxes of produce to provide for families living in food deserts. Shakera has fostered strong partnerships with local markets, donation programs, community health and nutrition initiatives, and other CSA programs (Community-supported agriculture). Raygoza has also spoken up and provided testimony to the state House Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, requesting considerations for climate change and the effects on local growers in the south. 

I never thought I would grow a vegetable in my life, and I am grateful for this experience that I stumbled upon. I became aware of some of the beautiful things coming together within this community. The thing that bothered me though was that no one was discussing this. Information about these farms and gardens was not regularly shared, and no one talked about what Shakera Raygoza was doing within the community. The efforts put forth to provide people with access to healthy foods, to the tools and spaces to learn and grow produce for themselves, and to making connections across the Rio Grande Valley…ensuring folks in the community are fed. 

I have yet to meet Mrs. Shakera Raygoza personally, though I felt she was someone worth highlighting. Over the last decade, her efforts have contributed to local residents' education, research in agriculture, and the betterment of others. I should also add that being a part of what she started has been highly motivating. I have felt inspired to not only eat better/be more mindful of what I am putting in my body, but also just sharing this information and volunteering in the community to ensure our people are cared for and aren’t going to bed hungry. 

While my spring crop isn't ready, it was overwhelming (in a good way) to say I finally grew vegetables in the fall. “Empowering” could also fit here, though I don't know if I am fully capable of successfully setting up my own garden at home yet. Might need a few more seasons before I am ready for that.