NACO WELLNESS’ ORGANIC SAN JOSE COMMUNITY GARDEN

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From the beginning, Naco Wellness Initiative realized lack of healthy food was one of Naco’s most pressing challenges. In its early years, the organization provided supplies, tools, and instruction to support school and family gardens.  

In 2020, when Covid-19 shut down daily life, the Promotoras – deeply concerned for their neighbors – proposed a new solution. The NWI Board responded quickly. An empty 1.5-acre lot in one of Naco’s poorest neighborhoods was cleared and planted. With guidance on best practices from Arizona State University and other partners, the first harvest in fall 2021 provided fresh food for hundreds of families.

Today, the San Jose Organic Community Garden has become a model of sustainability. It features a large greenhouse, miles of drip irrigation lines, a 7,000-gallon cistern, water pumping and rain capture systems, composting facilities, worm farm, and space for food preservation.

Harvest yields continue to grow each year. When crops are ready, Naco’s most vulnerable residents receive abundant bags of fresh vegetables at no cost. In 2026, the garden also produced its first commercial crop – garlic – helping to supplement the organization’s annual budget.