“The health of the water is exactly the same as the health of the land; the health of small places is exactly the same as the health of large places.”
-Wendel Berry
Our Mission
To nurture a culture of health in our communities to renew the bond between people, place and food.
We develop farms as essential health infrastructure to upend systemic inequalities at the neighborhood level. We invest in small solutions as the pathway to realizing larger structural change.
Our Vision
Neighborhoods where farms are part of the fabric of the community’s daily life and where everyone regardless of age, income, race, or circumstance has the tools to be healthy.
Our Values
We invest in the small to achieve the big
We create solutions that lead to other solutions
We do the work to pursue equity
We grow food in our community, for our community, by our community
We work together for the common good
We tell stories to explain our “why”
Our History
In 2014, Small Places was founded to develop urban farms as essential health infrastructure to upend systemic inequalities at the neighborhood level. We do this through agricultural placemaking on underutilized land that is centered around fostering community health. We focus on community food production and distribution, education, farmer training and community building through the tool of urban farming.
What makes Small Places Unique
We are farmer founded and managed
and are fully invested in the why, how, and what of a well-managed, productive and beautiful neighborhood farm.
Our farms are foundational health infrastructure
that create value for area stakeholders through programs, networking, collaborations and partnerships.
Our farms are part of the fabric of the community
and foster a culture, identity, and connection to people, place and food.
Thank you to our AMAZING supporters!
Aaron Drunsic
Albert and Ethel Herzstein
American Heart Association
Angelica Garza
ARPA Reducing Food Insecurity Harris County
CenterPoint Energy Foundation
Charitable Foundation
Charity Guild of Catholic Women
Charles and Faye Popeney
Charles Sommer
Charlotte B. Proehl Foundation
Chick-fi l-A/Houston Astros
Complete Communities/Humana
Corporation
Dan Cohoon
David Woodard
Drew Patton
Dynamo Dash Charities
Feeding America Food Equity Impact
Good Earth Foundation
H-E-B
Harris County Healthy Food Financing Initiative
Heimbinder Family Foundation
Helmuth Goepfert
Houston Food Bank
Hugh M Mcintosh
Humphrey Company, LTD
James P Hennessy
John S Dunn Foundation
Josh Beker
Keating Family Foundation
Lynn Aven
Patricia Calvo
Paul Smith
Permanent Endowment Foundation of Moody Memorial Methodist Church
Sandra Tirey
Sara Mcintosh
Susan Vaughn Foundation
Taylor and Krissi Reid
TCP Group
Teri Ogg
Texas Methodist Foundation
The Brown Foundation, Inc.
The Cullen Foundation
The Elkins Foundation
USDA Urban Agriculture Innovation & Production
Vitol, Inc
William Stamps Farish Fund
Our Founders
Small Places was founded by native Houstonians and brothers Mark, Tommy, and Daniel Garcia-Prats. Together and with the help of their friends and family, they launched their first small place, Finca Tres Robles – the only working farm in Houston’s historic East End neighborhood. In 2022, Small Places transitioned to a federally designated 501(c)3. Together they create a dynamic team with the necessary skills to manage and develop an agricultural business that doesn’t just produce food, but educates, fosters community, and remains on the forefront of innovation and localized economic development.
Thomas Garcia-Prats
Co-Founder, Executive Director
Daniel Garcia-Prats
Co-Founder, Director of Operations
Mark Garcia-Prats
Co-Founder, Board Member
MEET OUR BOARD
Drew Patton, Retired PDR (Chair)
Christi Vasquez-Martin, NASA (Vice Chair)
Dana Shamas, Bayou Bliss Yoga (Secretary)
Alan Sheppard, Gulf Star Group (Treasurer)
Rozina Damani, Chevron
Mark Garcia-Prats, Greystar
Breah Koosono-Ampem, Frost Bank
