On the east side of San Antonio, Gardopia Gardens, a local nonprofit, is on a mission to revolutionize the community's approach to food. With processed food being the norm, the initiative aims to inspire residents to grow their own nutritious offerings and embrace a greener lifestyle, according to KEN5.

Stephen Lucke, the CEO and founder of Gardopia Gardens recognizes the challenge in breaking the cycle of unhealthy food consumption. "I decided the best nutritionist would actually be a farmer,” Lucke told KENS5. Where fast food is plentiful, Lucke describes the east side as a "food desert, also a food swamp," laden with options that do more harm than good.

The nonprofit is not alone in its quest. At a recent farmer’s market, where local small businesses and nonprofits gathered, Parker Domerechsteiner of Big Green, underlined the transformative power of personally cultivated food. "We believe growing food changes lives," Domerechsteiner stated, highlighting the broad issue of fresh, healthy food scarcity in American communities.

For those new to the concept, both organizations advocate beginning modestly. "Start with something simple, some herbs," Lucke advised, suggesting rosemary and basil as starter plants. Domerechsteiner echoed this sentiment, suggesting, "planting the seed is all you need," signaling Big Green's broader ambition to revitalize neighborhoods with hands-on agriculture, one city at a time.

This collaborative push towards sustainability and nutrition education reflects a growing acknowledgment of the role urban agriculture plays in health and community development. With grassroots efforts like those of Gardopia Gardens and backers such as Big Green, San Antonio's east side may soon be seeing a lot more green, in both gardens and diets.