Text Julian Lucas
Photography Julian Lucas & Growing Roots

It’s not often we hear or see farming or gardens in urban areas. (I just don’t really like using the term “urban”). Starting over. You can believe it or not, but many of us live in a food desert, especially if you're in a city where the population is primarily people of color and densely populated. If you don't know or understand what a food desert is, I'm going to do my best to explain. The food desert would most like to consist of an overabundance of liquor stores in almost every corner of the city. The food desert would most like to consist of an overabundance of liquor stores in almost every corner of the city. "Our farms are more than 200 miles away so that people do not have access to fresh fruit and vegetables."

Thanks to Growing Roots, a non-profit group made up of local farmers with creative ideas. Julieta Muñoz, an urban farmer and founder of Rising Roots, has put her education into practice. Though becoming involved and studying soil and plant science at Cal Poly Pomona. Julieta worked on a project for her undergraduate work and found the Center Street Garden and the urban garden in the town of Pomona CA. "This is the garden that planted the seed for the Growing Roots," says Julieta. After completing the Contaminates in the Soil project. Julieta wanted to stay and donate her time by helping out with the community plots. In 2017, Growing Roots became a reality.

Growing Roots is made up of 4 members; Patricia Almanza is the Director of Events and Community Engagement. Daniel Quintero, who is a farmer in the city and the Director of Soil Regeneration. Julieta is the founder and Seleny Rodriguez is an urban farmer who is also a member of the board of directors.

“We believe nutritious locally grown food is a right and not a privilege”. 

Growing Roots explains their goal is to grow fresh, local, and sustainable food available to the various communities, with an emphasis on connecting locally grown food to low-income people of color. “We believe that nutritious locally grown food is a right and not a privilege”.

Since the organization has partnered with the community garden, “Center Street Garden” The garden has become a mecca for members of the community to come out and volunteer their time on during a work days. Volunteers can help with weeding, harvesting, fertilizing, and sowing seeds. Food that is harvested is distributed within the community. Extra food is sold at the local Farmers Market.

Additionally, Growing Roots grows food off their residential property and has recently partnered with Emerson Middle School and have built their first Growing Roots Garden. “We are ready to grow abundantly and ready to keep strengthening community”.

“This has become a matter of activism and social justice for us. Our ultimate goal is for Pomona to be able to feed itself. It may sound silly but a dream of mine would be to close the Jack N the Box on the corner of Holt and Garey Ave, that business just keeps people at their lowest amongst other businesses here”. - Julieta Munoz

To learn more about Growing Roots visit them at Center Street Garden located at 192 E Center Street in Pomona. Or visit Growing Roots here.