She greeted us with a quiet smile, wiping her hands on her skirt, and said: “Ven, deja que te lo muestre” (Come, let me show you.)
Seeds of Health & Hope - Community Garden Letter
Rick Rusch • August 11, 2025
Growing Food - Growing Tradition - Growing A Community
Señora Mercedes was one of the first of the twelve recipients to receive the tools to start their home gardens.
The Home Garden Project was born during mission visits to the outskirts of Guaymas, where the daily struggles of local families revealed a clear and pressing need. Inspired by these encounters and guided by the spirit of Saint Francis—who urged the Friars to care for both people and the earth—the vision took root: to empower families to nourish themselves by cultivating their food. This simple yet powerful initiative promotes self-sufficiency, healthier living, and a deeper, more sacred connection to the natural world.
Twelve families received the tools to start their home gardens. With seeds, young fruit trees, garden tools, fencing, and water tanks, they now grow the food that feeds their children and heals their communities. These are not just gardens—they symbolize resilience, dignity, and faith in the future.
Señora Mercedes
During our March 2025 pilgrimage, we came across a house situated along a dusty road, filled with flowers and surrounded by a vegetable garden. We met Señora Mercedes on a warm afternoon, just as the sun was high in the sky, casting its light above the trees. She stood in front of a small, yet lively garden tucked behind her modest home — tomatoes climbing old wooden stakes, cilantro resembling white burst of fireworks, and beets glowing red beneath the soil.
As we walked through the rows, she plucked a handful of tomatoes. She said, “I came to the Mission for food. For help. They gave me more than that — they gave me seeds, tools, water, and hope.”
Padre Martín points to a row of beets and asks why she is growing so many. “These are healing foods,” she said. “Good for the blood pressure, among other uses. People come and ask for them, especially the elders. I don’t sell anything. I grow enough for myself, and I give the rest away.”
What struck us most wasn’t just the abundance of food — it was the abundance of spirit. Señora Mercedes didn’t recover — she transformed.
What began as survival has become generosity. What was once dependence is now dignity.
Help Us Grow Green Spaces and Hope
Will you help us grow this life-changing project? Your contribution can equip a family with the essential tools they need to begin, starting with water tanks.
A donation of $850 can launch a new chapter of self-sufficiency for one family. You can also scan the QR code to choose a donation or a monthly recurring amount that fits your budget.
“Together we can plant seeds of change – one Home Garden at a time in Guaymas, Mexico.”
— Fr. Martín Ibarra, OFM
Donations can be made at www.casafranciscanaoutreach.org or via our QR code.
