Exploring Life & Business with Julieta Munoz of Growing Roots

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julieta Munoz.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I love telling the following story because it is why I’m here today and it’s a reminder that no matter what you’re going through, you are going to where you need to be.

As a little girl, I wanted to be a veterinarian, so when high school came to an end, I applied to Cal Poly Pomona (CPP) for the vet program to follow my childhood dream. Unfortunately shortly after being accepted, the university dropped my application because as a 19 year old, I didn’t know I had to turn in my transcripts via e-mail. As a result, I enrolled in community college. During those three years, I took courses on the path to animal health science. Once it was time to transfer to CPP, my application was denied again because my GPA was too low. Truthfully, I had not taken some classes seriously at community college. Having spent up 3 years at community college, I knew that if I didn’t get into CPP, I would feel lost. I remember preparing a speech I gave to what seemed like the whole hierarchy at the Agriculture Department, explaining why I deserved to be admitted into the vet program. The Dean was moved by my speech and granted me the opportunity to enroll in the Plant Science Department – if I took a few more courses, I could still apply to vet school. Overjoyed, I showed up to my first day! My first class was a Basic Soils Science class and the professor showed us a short documentary of soil as an ecosystem. Once the class ended, I walked out of the room feeling enlightened and knew that’s where I needed to be. Goodbye animals! I’m here to conserve soil and sow seeds!

Studying Plant Science at Cal Poly and working for Spadra Farm at the campus gave me the knowledge and passion for urban agriculture. I really believe it can solve many of the problems that plague our society today such as climate change, while strengthening our communities, mental health, and consuming more nutritious food. Access to nutritious, sustainable, and locally grown food is a right and not a privilege.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has not been smooth and sometimes I feel like I can’t see more than 5 feet ahead of me. I know what the next step is, but not necessarily what comes after. I’ve never considered myself a businesswoman before so the legal aspect of establishing Growing Roots as a non-profit has been a journey of its own. I didn’t know I needed a Board, but the right people came along. I didn’t know I needed to ensure our volunteers, but hey, now we have workers comp.

The biggest challenge has been to find funding and land, but even those things are manifesting on their own.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Growing Roots’ mission is to strengthen community through building and maintaining urban farms and gardens in Pomona, CA. I envision farming at several lots and having well-paid Black and Indigenous farmers. This vision is compounded by collaboration with other organizations and businesses in the city such as the Farmers Market and other “sister farms” in the area. We offer volunteer workdays at two locations: The Growing Roots Garden and Center Street Community Garden. We also host workshops at the garden on a range of topics including how to sow seeds, learning to use weeds as medicine or even on crystal healing.

I am an indigenous woman standing tall at 5’1” who is passionate and relentless in her vision for food sovereignty. I love connecting with people through the soil. When our current system is taxing on our bodies and our minds, it’s necessary to find ways to just be. Running an urban garden is hard work and requires countless hours, and it’s easy to forget that community gardening is supposed to be restorative – not just for the land but for ourselves. At present, I am practicing intention when we’re at the garden and remembering the simple benefits from quietly sitting under the pomegranate tree.

I am Urban Farmer and Founder of Growing Roots, but I would be amiss if I didn’t shout out Daniel Quintero and Patty Almanza – Director of Soil Regeneration and Director of Events and Community Engagement, respectively. They have been with me from the start and am grateful for their presence and support. Our soils would not be as productive nor our events as warm and welcoming without their investment.

I am most proud of our volunteers’ commitment and ownership. I remember when it was just me pushing wheel barrows at Center Street Community Garden on a hot summer morning. Today, we have a consistent and reliable group of about ten volunteers. I am proud of everything we’ve learned along the way and I love seeing members interact and learn in the garden. Growing Roots would not be Growing Roots without our community.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Be passionate about what you’re doing because that is what will give you the motivation to overcome whatever obstacles come your way. Keep your options open and be flexible – the path to reach your goal may not be the one you expect or planned. Trust yourself.

Contact Info:

• Email: jmunoz@wearegrowingroots.org
• Website: www.wearegrowingroots.org
• Instagram: @_growingroots

Image Credits:
Images by Growing Roots