Since moving ENTRE to 415 W. Jackson in the Fall of 2022, I’ve dreamt that the small plot of unkept land that was our backyard would one day be transformed into a thriving community garden. A place where we can host potlucks, workshops and other gatherings that center and celebrate the natural world. As a geology hobbyist and amateur naturalist (I’m a member of the Texas Master Naturalist RGV Chapter), I wanted to find a way we could reforest this little patch of land, turning it into a sanctuary for butterflies, native bees, and other crucial pollinators that help keep our world alive. Through my TMN group, I stumbled upon another local organization, The Native Plant Project, and began dedicated more time towards learning about the native plants of our region and the importance of preserving our region’s natural habitats. It was at an Anti-LNG postcard writing event we held at ENTRE that I would meet Josue Ayala, a fellow TMN and board member of the Native Plant Project. I showed him, along with other TMN members who attended the event, our back yard and shared my dream of starting a garden that our community could help maintain and enjoy. Later that month, Josue and I met to discuss the best set up for recording the NPP monthly meetings. After hearing a little more about the organization and their needs, I proposed a barter: “What if I record, edit and upload the meetings for NPP, in exchange for you all helping us start and maintain a native garden in our backyard?” A few months later, I was at their September meeting with our camera kit, recording the first meeting of the season.
Anti-capitalism is one of our guiding principles at ENTRE. We understand that we exist within this system, but that doesn’t mean we have to play by those rules, especially when exploitative, classist, and racist practices are connected to it. Capitalism is the killer of humanity and we are inundated to believe that this system is the only system we can participate in. This is NOT TRUE. ENTRE is registered as a C-Corp, not a non-profit, so we are technically a business. (I always say that we’re in the business of ‘selling’ dreams, lol) However, just because we are business owners does not mean we are conducting “business as usual.” ENTRE is a worker-owned cooperative with a non-hierarchical governance model, and alternative forms of compensation and labor exchange are just one way we subvert traditional transactional relationships. My barter with the Native Plant Project is just one example of how we put this into practice.
From September 2024 to February 2025, I showed up each month (sometimes another ENTRE Worker-Owner would sub in if I couldn’t make it) with my camera, zoom recorder, and a small light to record the meetings. During this time, I was also meeting with Josue to discuss the garden’s layout and design. I knew immediately that I wanted Cenizo (Leucophyllum frutescens) in the mix–I have a very kindred relationship with this plant as it reminds me of my childhood in Rio Grande City. I love the silvery green leaves and lavender-hued blooms. Josue suggested we also include Skeleton-leaf Golden Eye (Viguiera stenoloba) and Pigeonberry (Rivina humilis). Our goal was to create a natural hedge between our yard and the adjacent parking lot. We also wanted to plant a tree that would give moderate shade once it matured, and Jann Miller, NPP President, suggested a Tenaza (Havardia pallens). Blueprints of the garden’s layout were drafted, taking into account the growth radius of each plant and the seasons each would be flowering. Finally, once we all agreed on the design, we chose a day to plant.
At 10AM on Saturday March 2, Josue, Jann, Trilby King, Kane Peavy, Josue’s mom Patricia Ayala and her boyfriend Roberto Rodriguez arrived at ENTRE, ready to put some native plants in the ground. We had our work cut out for us, though. The soil in our backyard was hard-packed, we had to use pickaxes to break through. We dug up a lot of broken tiles, glass, bricks and other unidentified artifacts, it felt like an archeological dig! (I used a lot of the bricks and rocks we dug up to create a border for the garden bed, we like to repurpose things here!) A few hours later, we had all 17 plants in the ground, all donated by Mike Heep and Ken King. Becca Rodriguez donated mulch from her family’s farm in Harlingen, and the truckload that we had delivered got used up quickly!
Six months, three native plants–Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum), Tropical Sage (Salvia coccinea) and Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus)--and one “Sausage” tree (Kigelia africana–NOT NATIVE but grown from seed by Joey Santore, an NPP member and incredibly charismatic botanist) later, our garden is THRIVING. It’s incredible to see how the plants have settled into their new home, and tending to them has been a daily ritual that has brought me the peace I’ve needed, especially in the aftermath of the flood and re-assessing of ENTRE’s programming and internal structures.
September marks one year for this partnership with NPP. I am excited to get back to the monthly meetings (every 4th Tuesday of the month at the Valley Nature Center–they are open to the public, consider joining if you are into plants!), and even more excited about launching ENTRE’s latest program: Sunday Garden Club.
Starting September 14th, we’ll be meeting at the garden every Sunday from 5:30-6:30PM to weed, water and connect over a shared love of plants. Our hope is to cultivate a group of plant-loving community members who can help us maintain and grow our beautiful native plant garden. We invite you to join us, no matter your skill level! We’ll offer training on the garden’s specific needs. Bring a pair of gloves, any small gardening tools you may have, comfy clothes and a water bottle (we got a cooler to refill!) and perhaps a snack to share!
There are still so many dreams for this small green space in Downtown Harlingen. We have planted the seeds (quite literally) and will patiently tend to the land to see what else it calls us to contribute.
Written by C. Díaz
ENTRE Co-founder + Worker-Owner
