Hummingbird Agrotek
Two agronomists revive a once-trash-ridden land with the help of ZFP’s Restore grant and Compost Connector program.
Finding Love and Land
Somewhere along a dusty road in southern California, less than ten miles from the border of Mexico, lies a little oasis. Bees and butterflies flit happily between fruit trees. But it hasn’t always been this way. This land had been a literal dump when it was purchased by Ofelia and her husband, Eric. Though trash needed to be removed and work would have to be done to coax the sandy soil back to life, they knew right away that this was where they were meant to be.
Years ago, Ofelia first got to know Eric when both worked as agronomists growing microscopic plants and algae for pharmaceutical products at a biotech company in Calipatria, CA. They loved the area and knew that when it came time to fulfill their dream of buying a farm, it wouldn’t be far from where they met.
The farm got its name, Hummingbird Agrotek, because hummingbirds were significant to both Eric’s father and her own mother, a naturalist and self-trained agronomist who gardened in Mexico to put fresh food on the table for her children. When they toured the property for the first time, they spotted a hummingbird and took it as a sign from their parents who have passed on. “Eric said ‘That’s my dad!’ and I said ‘No, that’s my mom!’”
Big Plans for the Soil
They purchased the land in May 2019 and began planting in September. They established orchards with fruit trees like nectarines, peaches, plums, apricots, apples, figs, olives, and pomegranates as well as a vineyard. She expects they’ll get their first harvest this year, which they plan to sell locally. “We live in a neighborhood that is lower income, and we don’t have a supermarket, so it would be great for the community to have access to fresh fruit.”
Promoting soil health has always been important to Ofelia. “When we bought the land, you still didn’t hear much about atmospheric gasses. Since I’m a scientist in that aspect, I was always concerned about it. I want to leave something to my grandkids so they understand that they need to protect the environment better than my generation.” She made efforts to introduce soil biology, like leaving leaves on the ground as a natural mulch, but costs prevented them from doing all that they wanted to.
“I don’t know how to tell you how grateful we are! What you’re doing with Zero Foodprint grants and Compost Connector is my dream come true. I really wanted to [incorporate more regenerative practices] but couldn’t afford it.”
- Ofelia
Reaching a Turning Point
After being turned down from two government grants, they applied to Zero Foodprint’s Compost Connector program, and were awarded. The next summer they applied to ZFP’s Restore CA program, which they were also awarded. These grants allowed them to plant cover crops and apply compost to their fruit trees, which will combat erosion and improve water retention. “I don’t know how to tell you how grateful we are! What you’re doing with Zero Foodprint grants and Compost Connector is my dream come true. I really wanted to [incorporate more regenerative practices] but couldn’t afford it.”
Since water is scarce in their area, Ofelia reveals their next project with great enthusiasm: agave. This resilient plant evolved to thrive in arid regions. Though it can take an agave 5-6 years to reach maturity to be harvested for spirits like mezcal, she lists all its other marketable uses: food flavorings, agave syrup, and inulin, a type of prebiotic fiber good for the digestive system. They applied for an import permit from the USDA to source their agave plants from Mexico and hope to start planting this spring.
With the help of their son, they’ve also installed solar panels around the property so the farm runs entirely on solar energy. Just last fall she planted a pollinator garden with her grandchildren and hopes to install more in the near future. Though there are still odds and ends to be cleaned up, Ofelia has a vision for what this place will be: “In five years it’s going to be beautiful. The kids from local schools will come and get fruit from the trees, that’s my dream.”
About Hummingbird Agrotek
“After years of professional experience, Ofelia and Eric embarked on a new adventure in 2019, purchasing 200 acres of land in southeast San Diego County. Their vision was simple yet profound: to cultivate a farm that not only produced high-quality crops but also contributed positively to the environment. With a focus on regenerative agriculture, they set out to protect natural resources, preserve biodiversity, and mitigate climate change impacts.”
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Zero Foodprint awards grants for projects that take carbon out of the atmosphere and put it back where it belongs: in the earth, creating healthy soil and better food. To do this, we focus on regenerative farming practices like composting, cover cropping, and managed grazing that can restore life to our soil while removing carbon from the atmosphere. Together, we have the power to grow more nutritious food, heal natural water cycles, and create habitat for biodiversity to thrive. Explore previously funded projects to see what this might look like on your farm.
For more information, read through other Restore Grant FAQs.oes here
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As a result of Senate Bill 1383 implementation, California is ramping up compost production. Through Compost Connector, Zero Foodprint works with local jurisdictions to make the best use of this compost by directing it to farms and ranches where it can sequester carbon and promote healthy soil.
Zero Foodprint (ZFP) is a nonprofit organization restoring the climate, one acre at a time. We believe that by regenerating soil, local food economies can play a critical role in reversing the global climate crisis. We work with food and beverage businesses, philanthropy, and government to bring the next dollar to implement the next regenerative practice on the next acre. This regenerative economy benefits every person who grows food, every person who sells food, and every person on this planet who eats food.
