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This fall, our Coalition for Regenerative Ecologies and Agriculture (CREA) Internship Program, a partnership with the University of Texas at San Antonio and Alamo Colleges St. Philip’s College , is growing in every sense of the word. This year, we have expanded the fully paid internship program to include three new partner sites, giving students even more ways to connect classroom learning with hands-on regenerative work. Altogether, fifteen students are now spread across fi

Terra Advocati is proud to celebrate the appointment of our good friend and collaborator, Antonio Carrillo Bolea, as the Director of Agriculture for the State of Veracruz . (Dirección General de Agricultura y Fitosanitaria) This recognition is not only a personal achievement for Antonio, but also a powerful affirmation of the values and vision he has dedicated his career to: regenerative agriculture, agro-ecological systems, keyline design principles for watershed management,

When our group of students from UTSA and the Alamo Colleges arrived in the bustling port of Veracruz this June, the air was heavy with salt and moisture from the early rains. Waiting for us was our guide and partner, Antonio Carrillo Bolea , the kind of person you hope to travel with in Mexico. Antonio is not just our team leader while in Mexico, he is a practitioner, a teacher, and a visionary who has spent years building regenerative systems through his work with Estampa Ve

The Coalition for Regenerative Ecologies and Agriculture (CREA) Study Abroad Program offers students from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and St. Philip's College (SPC) an immersive experience in regenerative agriculture and ecological stewardship. This six-week program includes two weeks in San Antonio and 3 weeks in Veracruz, Mexico, where students engage in hands-on learning with practices such as vetiver systems, agroforestry, permaculture, and beekeeping. P

During our May 2025 fellowship visit to the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project , we engaged deeply with the living legacy of the buffalo and its profound significance to Indigenous foodways, ecological balance, and cultural sovereignty.  Guided by Ranch Manager Denise Lozano, and founder Lucile Contreras , we witnessed how the reintroduction of buffalo to ancestral lands is not merely an act of conservation, but a powerful movement of healing, restoring ecosystems, revitalizing tra

This past weekend, the Coalition for Regenerative Ecologies and Agriculture (CREA) took an inspiring trip to visit the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project in Welder, Texas. Joined by fellows from UTSA and Alamo Colleges’ St. Philip’s College , students and professors experienced firsthand the impactful work being done to restore the cultural heritage and ecological balance of the land. Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by Ranch Manager, Denise Lozano and Lucille Contreras , th

During our April 2025 fellowship visit to Sovereignty Ranch , we had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in a living example of regenerative agriculture and ecological stewardship. Guided by Mollie and Ryland Engelhart, co-founder of Kiss the Ground , we explored hands-on practices that restore soil health, support biodiversity, and build resilient communities. This experience deepened our understanding of how regenerative systems can heal both land and people. It reaffirmed

Last week, the Coalition for Regenerative Ecologies and Agriculture (CREA) Fellows visited Gardopia Gardens on the city’s east side. Gardopia is transforming San Antonio by increasing access to fresh food, educating the community on sustainable practices, and tackling issues of nutrition and food justice. Their work is not just about growing food; it’s about growing healthier, more resilient communities. We were greeted by Dominic Dominguez, the Chief Operating Officer, and

In March 2025, our Coalition for Regenerative Ecologies and Agriculture (CREA) fellowship brought us to Gardopia Gardens in San Antonio, Texas, where we engaged with a vibrant model of urban agroecology and community empowerment.  Guided by co-founder Dominic Dominguez, we explored how small-scale, neighborhood-based gardening can transform food deserts into hubs of health, education, and ecological renewal. Through hands-on learning and dialogue, we witnessed the power of lo

This week, Terra Advocati, the University of Texas San Antonio , and Alamo Colleges St.Phillips College kicked off our Coalition for Regenerative Ecologies & Agriculture (CREA) Spring Fellowship Program at the San Antonio Food Bank , a cornerstone of support for communities across Southwest Texas. We were warmly welcomed by M itch Hagney, the Director of Food System Resiliency , who guided us through their expansive facility and shared the incredible impact the Food Bank ha

2024 was a busy year for Terra Advocati! We began the year with a significant leadership transition as we welcomed a new Executive Director, Jess Mayes, a Director of Artistic and Transformative Practice, Marissa Ramirez, and four new board members, Nadia Gaona, Dr. Amelia King-Kostelac, Dr. Priscilla Solis Ybarra, and Bryan Hummel. The leadership change resulted in countless hours of administrative paperwork but more importantly gave way to a period of introspective explora

Our journey continued to Coatepec, a charming city nestled near the capital of Veracruz, Xalapa. This region, known for its rich coffee culture, scenic landscapes, vibrant markets, and laid-back college town atmosphere, felt like a world apart from the rural environments we’d been exploring for nearly three weeks. Coatepec was to be our first taste of urban life on this trip, and it brought a new rhythm to our travels. As we entered the city, the weather was a stark contrast

Leaving the heat of northern Oaxaca behind, the CREA group headed for Huatusco and soon found ourselves immersed in cool, misty cloud forests in the shadow of Pico de Orizaba. We had arrived at Las Cañadas Bosque de Niebla , a project that has inspired countless conservationists and permaculturists for over two decades. Founded by Ricardo Romero, this project became Mexico’s first private conservation easement and stands as an icon of regenerative practices. Upon our arriva

Our journey as the CREA group continued through the sugarcane lands of northern Oaxaca, near Tierra Blanca, where we arrived at Granja Nut and Rancho San Ricardo, two inspiring examples of what’s possible when producers and industry leaders commit wholeheartedly to regenerative practices. At Granja Nut, the site of the Las Margaritas sugar cane refinery, the story is one of forward-thinking transformation. For years, this refinery has dedicated a substantial portion of its p

This week, we embarked on an unforgettable adventure into the heart of Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, with students from UTSA and Alamo Colleges , to study regenerative agriculture in Mexico and witness the transformative power of nature-based solutions firsthand as part of the Coalition for Regenerative Ecology & Agriculture Program. We arrived in the midst of one of the hottest and longest droughts in Mexico's history, a stark reminder of the urgency to regenerate not only the soi

This week, the CREA Fellows and team had the privilege of visiting the Garcia St. Urban Farm, where they were warmly hosted by Jovanna Lopez. The visit provided an insightful glimpse into the farm’s urban agricultural practices and its commitment to sustainability. Joining the tour were Director of Eco Centro, Rose Flores, Michael Lopez from Opportunity Home San Antonio, members of the Lewis Family from the Huasteca Regenerative Agriculture Center (HRAC), and Bryan Hummel, wh

This week, CREA fellows had the opportunity to visit the San Antonio Food Bank’s (SAFB) Mission San Juan Farm, a remarkable project that combines regenerative agriculture, community engagement, and food security. Our visit, led by Mitch Hagney, Director of Food Sustainability at SAFB, introduced the fellows to this unique farm's operations and its critical role in supporting the food bank’s mission to combat hunger in Southwest Texas. Located on the historic grounds of UNESC

Today, the CREA team and fellows were invited to visit the San Antonio Food Bank (SAFB), hosted by Mitch Hagney, Director of Food Sustainability. This visit marks one of the first of many site visits planned for our CREA fellows as part of our multi year program. These visits are designed to deepen our students' understanding of the food supply chain from farm to table, and highlight the challenges of hunger both locally and globally, as well as the intricate logistics requi

This morning, The Coalition for Regenerative Ecologies and Agriculture (CREA) Team had the pleasure of meeting Dominic Dominguez at Gardopia Gardens , located on the city's Eastside. Gardopia's mission is "to grow healthy communities through garden-based learning"—a simple yet profound statement. Many people don't associate urban community garden programs with the term "regenerative agriculture," but we do! Gardopia has had a significant positive impact on the lives of nearby

In the latter part of 2023, we were thrilled to learn that a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Education program was awarded to our partners Amelia King-Kostelac , Kenneth Walker , and Jennifer Smith at The University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA ), and Marissa Ramirez from SPC Mexican American Studies . Terra Advocati’s Jess Mayes, in collaboration with Estampa Verde's  Antonio Carillo Bolea, played an instrum