“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.”
-Wendell Berry | Environmental Activist, Farmer, Writer
Our farms are a foundational health infrastructure that creates value for area stakeholders through programs, networking, collaborations, and partnerships.
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 part of the fabric of the community and foster a culture, identity, and connection to people, place, and food.
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.
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.
In 2014, Small Places was founded by native Houstonians and brothers Mark, Tommy, and Daniel Garcia-Prats to develop urban farms as essential health infrastructure to upend systemic inequalities at the neighborhood level.
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. Through agricultural placemaking, these urban farms leverage underutilized land centered on fostering community health. Beyond growing food, these small spaces remain at the forefront of innovation and localized economic development.
In 2022, Small Places became a federally designated 501(c)3. From inception, we’ve focused on community food production and distribution, education, farmer training, and community building through the tool of urban farming.
Co-Founder, Executive Director
Co-Founder, Director of Operations
Co-Founder
Left to Right: Melanie Rodriguez, Josh Beker, Lauren Croucher, Amanda Trevino, David Cisneros, Betsy Kruse, Diana Ramirez, Eboni Taylor Mallett (not pictured)
David Cisneros Romulus Development Partners
Melanie Rodriguez Elevate Latina Leadership Coaching (Vice Chair)
Lauren Croucher (Treasurer)
Josh Beker Roberts & Kehagiaras LLP (Secretary)
Betsy Kruse Enbridge (Chair)
Eboni Taylor Mallett
Amanda Trevino Greater Houston Partnership
Diana Ramirez
