The Refugee Collective Farm – Elgin, Texas
Grant Award: $5,000
Project: Install drip irrigation and establish an evergreen windbreak of Italian cypress, juniper, and sumac to protect crops, promote biodiversity, and improve access to culturally significant produce for refugee communities.
Outcome: The Refugee Collective Farm brought farmers, volunteers, and community members together for planting days to establish a living windbreak designed to shield crops from harsh weather and improve growing conditions over time. Paired with drip irrigation, these systems support water efficiency, soil health, and long-term climate resilience in Central Texas’s challenging conditions.
Beyond infrastructure, the project fostered hands-on stewardship and strengthened community ties by engaging refugee growers in building a more stable and productive farm landscape. The windbreak will protect crops and enhance biodiversity for years to come, supporting culturally significant food production and greater food security.
