SAN ANTONIO — Local nonprofit, Gardopia Gardens, is hoping to inspire the city's east side to grow nutritious food while expanding access to resources to be able to maintain that healthier lifestyle.
But in a world surrounded by processed food, making a change can be difficult for some. CEO and founder of the nonprofit, Stephen Lucke says nutrition is key.
"I decided the best nutritionist would actually be a farmer,” Lucke said.
His passion for sustainable living grew at the University of the Incarnate Word.
“That took me down the wormhole of learning to grow my own food,” he said. “The eastside is considered a food desert, also a food swamp. There’s a ton of unhealthy options.”
At Sunday’s farmer’s market, small businesses and nonprofits are providing those additional options to inspire a greener lifestyle.
Parker Domerechsteiner, assistant director of events for Big Green, a nonprofit based in Denver is on a mission to get everyone in America to grow food.
“We believe growing food changes lives," Domerechsteiner said. "And it does that because it gets people outside. It’s a response to what is occurring, which is that fresh healthy food is not readily available in every community in the united states. And that’s a problem.”
Domerechsteiner says planting the seed is all you need. Big Green’s aim is transforming neighborhoods one city at a time.
Lucke advises starting small.
“Start with something simple," Lucke said. "Some herbs. Grow some rosemary. Grow some basil. Grow some thyme, grow some oregano. Something super simple.”