Jackfruit, kale, basil are just some of the produce growing on several acres of land in the heart of Watts.
Alicia Salmeron: That is one of the most robust Kales I have ever seen. It is on a lean yet it still produces, it tastes fabulous, it’s super organic.
Alicia Salmeron is showing me around Mudtown Farms. She’s the manager and has been here for a few years.
Salmeron: The kids love it, the parents love it, the generations that used to live here absolutely love it, they want to see more of it, they want more parks like this. Having over 120 fruit trees, 1.5 acres of fertile growing land that is almost self sustainable that is what this foundation is all about. Making sure there is food for the generations to come.
And that’s their goal. Making sure local residents don’t have to worry about where to get fresh organic produce.
Salmeron: During the winter seasons we can only feed about thirty people. In the warmer seasons we can feed up to ninety to one hundred. Because we do it weekly we have a system where they are only allowed to take so much so that everyone else can take some, otherwise one person can dominate it and there’s not enough to go around.
Mud Town Gardens has been around for decades but it’s gone through many changes. At one time buildings stood on this fruitful plot of land, but during the infamous Watts Riots in 1965, the buildings burnt down. Overtime, residents cleaned it up and turned it into a very rustic garden. Eventually, in 2005, the Watts Labor Community Action Committee bought the land and formally named it Mud Town Farms.
Reginald Simms: The name Mudtown came from the community of Watts.
Reginald Simms has lived in Watts for the past 50 years. He’s MudTown’s groundskeeper and maintenance man.
Simms: Before the city of Los Angeles came in an put streets and curbs in, everything was dirt so when it rained what did it turn into? So they called Watts Mudtown back in the day, it was in the 30s and 40s because there was no streets.
Simms grew up in the Jordan Down Housing projects that sit adjacent to the farm.
Simms: I was ten years old looking at this place in that window right there. My vision was what could this be. I wanted it to be a park area cause if the kids can’t play and release all that energy you know what they gone do its gone get bottled up now when they release it they angry.
And Simms’ vision came to be. People from the neighborhood enjoy this green space all year round. Jorge Escobar has lived in Watts for more than 30-years.
Jorge Escobar: It’s the first time that I am actually in the garden. SOT: I was having some anxiety, panic attacks and to be honest this has calmed me down and hopefully it doesn’t get too populated cause I’m the type that likes the city from a mile away.
And he’s not the only one. Oscar Rizo is a farmer at the garden and lives in the area, too. He works inside the greenhouse where he plants seedlings into trays.
Jonathan Martin: What is your favorite area of Mudtown?
Rizo: My favorite area is Zone C.
Jonathan Martin: Should we check it out?
Rizo: For sure. The reason why I love this place is because we literally walk out right here we work right here, so we are looking right in front of it the whole time.
Oscar can see the entire farm from this area.
Rizo: Its very peaceful, its like a safe haven. Outside of these gates its a lot of crazy stuff going on.
And that’s true. Many say this is a rough neighborhood. Watts is known more for its gang violence. In fact, this was the birthplace of high profile gangs, like the Crips and Bloods. But here, people find solace.
Rizo: It has helped with my mental health for sure. I’ve learned how interested I am in nature and how I truly love growing foods. One thing I want to do is bring more knowledge and teach our community how to grow their own foods in their backyards because you don’t have to starve.
Or as Ms. Alicia explains you can grow the food right here in the garden.
Salmeron: Cause we do have resident plots in the back that they can actually have a full year growing cycle but a lot of people don’t know about that.
Or you can come to a class.
Salmeron: So continuously engaging on the weekends for the community giving them what they want, they want classes, they want workshops, they want activities they want more food. Getting them here and getting our voices heard actually allows us to get the community here.
And building a community is what Mudtowns Farms plans to do for generations to come.