Cultivating Hope in Hard Times: Palm Center Market & the Power of Growing Together

By Erica Plants | Gardening Under Influence & Plant and Heal Co.

Greetings, Cousins—

Today, I want to talk about something powerful happening right here in Houston, Texas, but also across front yards, balconies, and back porches all over the country. It’s about reclaiming our power through gardening—even when the world feels like it’s upside down.

Let me start with a beautiful example from the Old Spanish Trail/South Union neighborhood: Palm Center Market.

This isn’t just a pop-up selling squash and tomatoes. Palm Center Market is a living, growing tribute to community legacy. Nestled in a neighborhood park at 5997 Beekman Rd, they’ve reactivated the same market space that once flourished from 2014–2019. But what makes this revival so special is how they’ve honored the elders and organizers who came before them. This ain’t no startup trend—it’s legacy work. That part matters.

They’ve got a master gardener on site tending a professionally built raised-bed garden, growing fresh produce right in the community. Folks don’t just come to buy vegetables. They come to reconnect. They come to heal. They come to remember that we still got each other.

Every 2nd and 4th Saturday from 10 AM–2 PM, you’ll find good food, good people, and a growing vision for health and wellness, all sprouting up right there in Houston soil. Check them out on IG: @palmcentermarket or visit palmcentermarket.com.

The Bigger Picture: Why Growing Still Matters in 2025

Now let me zoom out a little. Because while Palm Center Market is local, the why behind it is global.

Let’s be real—2025 has been rough. In just the first 90 days of this administration, we saw nearly $4 trillion evaporate from the stock market. That kind of volatility rattles folks. People are losing jobs, food prices are up, and the world feels uncertain. But gardening? Gardening helps us take some of that control back.

Whether you’re planting in red Georgia clay, Texas heat, or on a small patio up north, this movement is deeper than dirt.

Why I Believe Gardening is Protest, Healing & Power

1. Self-Sufficiency
   When the system stumbles, we don’t panic—we plant. Growing your own food—even just a little—adds a layer of security nobody can take from you.

2. Cultural Memory
   For many of us, seeds are sacred. They carry the memories of our grandparents’ gardens, freedom plots, and the foods our ancestors carried through every migration.

3. Mental Health & Healing
   Touching soil soothes the nervous system. Watching life grow reminds us we still have something to look forward to.

4. Community Resilience
   Just like Palm Center Market brought neighbors together again, gardening can revive forgotten spaces—and our relationships. Sometimes the food is just the doorway.

What You Can Do Right Now (Even If Times Are Hard)

• Start Where You Are.
  Got a windowsill? Grow herbs. Got a patch of clay? That’s rich soil with the right care. Don’t wait for “perfect.” Grow with what you got.

• Build Together.
  Share seeds. Host a garden day. Bring someone some collard cuttings. This ain’t just about survival—it’s about reconnection.

• Focus on Long-Term Nourishment.
  Plant things that come back—perennials, trees, hearty greens. Let your garden be your insurance plan.

• Stay Informed.
  Follow programs like Palm Center Market and other urban farm efforts. If your city has compost programs or land access programs, tap in. (We see you, Epic Compost in North Florida and community projects across the South!)

In Conclusion: It’s Not Just a Garden. It’s a Movement.

Whether you're in Houston, Georgia, or anywhere seeds can grow, know this: You are not powerless.

Palm Center Market is doing what many of us are called to do right now—build on legacy, grow where we are, and bring people together around something real. Something nourishing. Something that will last.

Let’s keep planting, teaching, and tending—not just to our gardens, but to each other.

Until next time…

Stay rooted. Stay ready. Stay growing.
🪴 Shop seeds & bundles at PlantandHeal.com
📍Follow me: @gardeningunderinfluence
🗓️ Visit Palm Center Market: Every 2nd & 4th Saturday, 5997 Beekman Rd, Houston TX

Yours in community and cultivation,
Erica Plants
Plant and Heal Co. | Gardening Under Influence
“Grow with what you got.”