Jennifer Nuñez, a current farm student at Maharishi International University in Iowa, has always had a passion for farming that can be traced back to her childhood memories. Her grandfather had livestock on his land, and she remembers enjoying fresh goat cheese and milk. It was not until years later, however, that she realized that her passion for farming had been with her all along.

After an internship with Garden Farms in Las Vegas, Nuñez found that teaching children about the importance of soil health and growing their own food was something that was truly important to her. She believes that knowing how to grow food is crucial in today’s world, especially in urban areas where fresh produce is not always easily accessible.

It was through this work that Nuñez met Farmer Pete, a local farmer in Las Vegas, who is trying to make healthy food accessible to all children and parents. Together, they have built a beautiful community at Arturo Cambeiro School, where Nuñez has been able to share her love of gardening with others. This has opened up doors for her to build connections with other gardeners in Las Vegas, especially on the east side, where food deserts are prevalent.

For Nuñez, gardening has not only been a way to connect with her community and teach others about healthy food, but it has also been a healing tool for herself. She believes that people and gardens are similar in that if we pour love into them and add diverse abundance, they will thrive. In the same way, communities need to come together to work as a team to feed each other and build strong foundations that can sustain them.

Although Nuñez’s journey into farming was not a direct path, it has led her back to her roots and reconnected her with her passion for farming. Through her work in Las Vegas, she hopes to inspire and encourage others to grow their own food and build healthy communities.