Our Stories & Tips

Fresh Food on Every Corner: What La Ceja Taught Me About Food Deserts in Florida

Posted by Catalina Obando on

Fresh Food on Every Corner: What La Ceja Taught Me About Food Deserts in Florida

When I visited La Ceja, a small town in Antioquia, Colombia, something immediately stood out. Almost every block had a little produce shop—legumbrerías or tiendas—overflowing with fruits, herbs, and vegetables. They weren’t fancy or modern. Just simple corner stores with crates of papayas, tomatoes, cilantro, and citrus spilling onto the sidewalk. People walked home with bags of fresh food. Vendors chatted with neighbors. It was normal. And it made me realize how not normal that is in many parts of the U.S., especially where I live. A view inside a small neighborhood tienda. In Colombia, shops like these are everywhere—no...

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A Letter to Our Leaders: Please Help Us Stop the Abandonment

Posted by Catalina Obando on

A Letter to Our Leaders: Please Help Us Stop the Abandonment

Today, another dog walked into my farm.Scared, sweet, skinny. Most likely dumped.And she’s not the first. Far from it. We now have five abandoned dogs at our farm. Some were adopted. Some were lost. And many more never made it off the road. Redland is a beautiful place, but it’s become known as a dumping ground for unwanted pets. It’s breaking our hearts. We care deeply. That’s why this hurts so much.But we cannot do this anymore—not alone. I run a small farm, I have a full-time job, I manage a business, and I already care for six animals of...

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I Hated Board Games—So I Made One as a Thank-You Gift

Posted by Catalina Obando on

I Hated Board Games—So I Made One as a Thank-You Gift

I never liked board games—so why did I end up making one? In this blog, I share my journey at the Agroecology Lab, how I found inspiration in an unexpected place, and the process of creating a collaborative agroecology game as a thank-you to my team. From learning a new language (the language of science!) to using AI to bring my ideas to life, this experience changed the way I see agroecology and teamwork. Read the full story here!

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Meet the Heart and Soul of My Farm: My Beloved Pets

Posted by Catalina Obando on

Meet the Heart and Soul of My Farm: My Beloved Pets

When you think of a farm, your mind might go straight to rows of plants, fresh herbs, and the joy of a bountiful harvest. But for me, this farm is so much more—it’s also home to six incredible companions who have each left their unique pawprints on my life. Let me introduce you to the furry, lovable chaos that makes my farm feel complete. Oliver: The First and Forever Heart Oliver was my first pet—the one who taught me how deeply you can bond with an animal. I rescued him in New Jersey, and for nine wonderful years, he filled...

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Unlocking Your Garden’s Potential: Introducing Our Free Garden Journal

Posted by Catalina Obando on

Unlocking Your Garden’s Potential: Introducing Our Free Garden Journal

Discover our free, downloadable Garden Journal—a must-have tool for every gardener! This journal includes pages like a USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, Companion Planting Guide, Seed Inventory, Observations Log, and more. Each section is thoughtfully designed to help you track your garden’s progress, plan layouts, monitor soil health, and document plant growth. Perfect for gardeners of all levels, the journal brings ease and organization to managing your growing space. Download it today to start capturing the details of your garden journey!

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