HOPE for Small Farm Sustainability began as an idea from Diana and Saul Padilla, both farmers and owners of Yahweh’s All Natural Farm & Garden, an organic urban farm in Harlingen, TX. The couple began receiving more and more calls in the mid 2000’s from farmers in the area for farming mentorship and business advice. Being well connected in the Rio Grande Valley agricultural community, Saul and Diana became well trusted sources of knowledge and formally founded the nonprofit in 2012 to share their regenerative farming practices.

Since it’s inception, the organization’s role has grown from only mentorship to community food connectors. At the heart, the organization is and always will aim to serve the small local grower, but it has since grown to also work in the equitable food access space as well as future farmer youth development work.

The organization’s engagement spans throughout the Rio Grande Valley, into Central and North Texas. In all of Texas, HOPE is the only farmer to farmer training organization that provides whole farm business support to farmers and ranchers with the focus on regenerative agriculture practices.