Expanding a School-Based Garden to a Farm to Support Student & Family Food Access

The Blackshear Elementary Garden, in partnership with EriRene Farms, is evolving into a structured school-based farm and food access initiative designed to directly support 200–300 students and their families in Houston.

What began as hands-on agricultural education has grown into something more urgent and impactful: increasing access to fresh, nutritious food for the school community.

As the program expands, we are working to strengthen the farm’s capacity to:

Increase food production for student households
Support harvest distribution to families
Integrate STEM education with real-world food systems
Improve irrigation and year-round growing capacity
Build long-term soil health and sustainability systems

This expansion will allow the garden to operate not just as a teaching space, but as a reliable source of fresh produce that directly benefits families.

What Expansion Funding Will Support

The image displayed reflects one active section of the current garden footprint. The full expansion plan includes converting additional campus space into structured growing areas to dramatically increase production and family food distribution capacity.

Based on our structured development plan, the estimated investment for this next phase is approximately $14,900, with additional contingency for scaling and sustainability.

Funding priorities include:

Farm Infrastructure & Growing Capacity

Expanded raised bed systems
Soil, compost, and amendments
Shade cloth and protective structures
Small greenhouse / hoop house

Irrigation & Water Systems

Drip irrigation systems
Timers and water efficiency tools
Rain barrels and freeze protection

Food Production & Harvest Systems

Vegetable and herb seeds
Fruit trees and berry plants
Seed-starting infrastructure
Harvest bins and food-safe storage

Distribution & Family Support

Folding tables and produce distribution setup
Coolers and reusable produce bags
Food-safe handling equipment

Composting & Soil Regeneration

3-bin compost system
Soil monitoring tools

Our Goal: $18,000

This funding will strengthen the farm’s ability to serve as:

A hands-on agricultural classroom
A food production space
A family support resource
A sustainable urban farm model within a public school

This is an investment in food security, education, and long-term community resilience.

Supporters will receive updates as expansion milestones are reached and harvest distribution increases.

Together, we are building more than a garden. We are building access.

— EriRene Farms

Blackshear Elementary Farm & Food Access Expansion Initiative