By Rylee Richardson, ASU sustainable food systems graduate student
The Farm
Surrounded by the saguaros of Three Points, Arizona, Andrea Carter and Sergio Matias manage Luna De Sonora Farm. Through Andrea’s background in agronomy and connection to Native Seeds, the farm has been committed to growing southwestern crop varieties of their current selection of herbs, root vegetables, and oats. Luna De Sonora sells to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, local restaurants, and Pivot Produce, a Tucson-based produce distributor.
SOIL Farm Project
Sergio and Andrea are leasing fifty acres of land from Pima County. However, they are only responsible for fifteen of these acres and sublease the rest to two other local farmers. Through the Shared Opportunity with Infrastructure and Land (SOIL) Farm Project, these farmers utilize communal infrastructure and equipment such as wash stations, coolers, and hand tools. The ability to purchase shared materials is primarily due to the Thriving Communities Grant funded by the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, along with smaller grants from various sources. Although the SOIL Farm Project enhances agricultural opportunities for local farmers through collective resources, farmers operate independently. Since Pima County only charges the farmers for their productive land, individuals can explore regenerative practices like cover cropping with reduced risk.
Farming Practices
Sergio and Andrea’s commitment to native crop varieties and cover cropping are just a few examples of mindful farming practices Swette Center graduate students have been studying over the course of the semester. On Luna De Sonora Farm, organic pest management is implemented through hand weeding and gates preventing large animal access. In place of fertilizer, the farm also imports chicken manure from local farms.
Through the Swette Center’s Managing Natural Resources for Food Production course in the Fall, students engaged in the ongoing debate regarding water conservation in the dry region of Arizona. During the student’s visit to Luna De Sonora, these students were able to observe the irrigation process for a single field on the farm. By watching the operation of the well pump and siphoning water into the field for flood irrigation, Sergio illustrated the labor and time required for agricultural irrigation processes. While Luna De Sonora has received concerns from individuals in the agricultural industry regarding water use, Andrea has a different perspective on the challenge. By limiting waterings through flood irrigation, the farm can better tend to crop needs. “Watering wisely” is ingrained into farm procedures through deep, less frequent waterings during critical stages of plant growth. Intentional watering promotes plant health and provides a low- tech, accessible irrigation system for farmers.
Vision for the Future
While the farm is still growing, Sergio and Andrea have ambitious visions for the future of Luna De Sonora and its neighboring farms. As additional farms are introduced to the SOIL Farm Project, there is expressed interest in the expansion of shared equipment. Through increased grant funding and a system for repairs and maintenance, more expensive infrastructure like tractors could be shared. For Luna De Sonora specifically, more acres are planned to be in production to feed more people. The family currently invests in crops with natural healing properties like calendula and oats but are looking to expand their selection to supply medicinal herbs to the community. When financially feasible, small fields of drip irrigation and pasture for livestock could be incorporated into farm operations as well.
The visit to Luna De Sonora Farm introduced the trials of small-scale family farming, as well as opportunities for collaboration. Swette Center graduate students experienced different perspectives that challenged previously formed conceptions of sustainable agriculture. The class came away from the visit with new insights on the impact of grant funding and collaborative programs for local farms that can be applied to the future of food policy.
This blog is part of a series from the Swette Center's annual Arizona Food and Farm Immersion, a required course in their two graduate programs. Students tour the state, meeting with farmers, ranchers, entrepreneurs, government staff, and non-profit leaders.