In the heart of South Phoenix, something powerful is growing. And it’s not just produce. Heart & Soil People’s Garden has transformed from a once-vacant lot into a thriving, women-led urban farm that is reshaping what community, food access, and local entrepreneurship can look like in Arizona.
What started in 2022 as a donated patch of land has evolved into a living ecosystem of purpose. Today, the garden is cultivated by 12 active women growers and produces more than 14,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables each year, offering a steady source of nourishment in a neighborhood long impacted by limited access to healthy food.
At the center is Founder and Garden Director Chanika “Nika” Forté, a seventh-generation farmer who brought both heritage and vision to the space. Under her leadership, the garden has become more than rows of crops. It is a platform for self-sufficiency, education, and connection. “We have so many growers now, and more are coming. Being able to produce vegetables builds the kind of self-sufficiency our community needs right now to ensure everyone has access to healthy food,” Forté says.
Now, the garden is entering its next era. A newly added Garden Education Center is turning this outdoor space into a hub for learning, skill-building, and economic opportunity. Designed as a functional classroom, the center expands what’s possible on-site, from hands-on agricultural training to workshops that connect growing food with building a business.
The expansion follows a $1 million investment from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, the largest private donation in Local First Arizona’s history. That funding expanded the footprint and upgraded the experience. Additional land was acquired, infrastructure improved, and features like ADA-accessible pathways, raised beds, shade structures, and an expanded irrigation system were added to support both growers and the broader community.
For Local First Arizona Founder and CEO Kimber Lanning, the evolution of Heart & Soil reflects something bigger than agriculture. “Teaching urban farming, nutrition and financial empowerment in this multigenerational community is exactly what this neighborhood deserves,” Lanning says.
And that is where the garden stands out. Beyond the harvest, Heart & Soil is cultivating future farmers and entrepreneurs through programs like the Ag Business Boot Camp. Participants gain space to grow while learning how to turn their skills into sustainable income. From composting and crop planning to financial literacy and market development, the garden is as much about opportunity as it is about food.
“This effort shows us what is possible when community comes together around a shared vision,” says Renee Parsons.
In a city where growth often means concrete, Heart & Soil offers something more grounded. It is equal parts garden, classroom, and community catalyst, proving that when you invest at the ground level, everything rises.
Insider Takeaways
- The garden began in 2022 after a vacant South Phoenix lot was donated by local business owners Pat and Howard Fleischmann, sparking a community-driven transformation.
- Founder Chanika “Nika” Forté, a seventh-generation farmer, leads the space with a focus on cultural heritage, food access, and long-term sustainability.
- Heart & Soil is cultivated by 12 women growers and produces over 14,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables annually for the surrounding community.
- A grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation funded both the garden expansion and broader entrepreneurship programs through Local First Arizona.
- The Garden Education Center serves as a hub for hands-on training in crop planning, composting, soil health, and sustainable urban agriculture.
- The space doubles as a community gathering point with workshops, youth programming, and open-air markets designed to strengthen neighborhood connection.
