Case Study: Back to the Garden

John Stanley, Owner of Back to the Garden, grows a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables on his farm in Wimberly, Texas. From his signature lettuce mix, to fresh carrots, and specialty herbs, Back to the Garden supplies restaurants, farmers' markets, and distributors with high quality, truly local produce. ​

Back to the Garden is housed at Montesino Ranch, which is nestled adjacent to the Blanco River just minutes away from downtown Wimberly. While Back to the Garden is the centerpiece of the Ranch, there is also agritourism opportunities for customers to stay at their on farm house rentals, host weddings and events, or book ranch tours.

John Stanley has close to 10 years of farming experience in Texas, Tennessee, and Canada. The Texas farm has been in production for two years. Austin Foodshed Investors provided a loan for soil amendments and working capital, and will also be providing long term planning and advisory services.

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Deal

Milestone: By purchasing the proper soil inputs and increasing labor, Back to the Garden plans to increase the amount of acreage cultivated, increasing revenue at least x2 post-investment.

Months to Milestone: 12

Vehicle: Loan

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Impact

Back to the Garden grows heirloom vegetables with care, without the use of conventional fertilizers or pesticides, employing growing techniques that will progressively build the soil and benefit the environment.  They believe that locally-grown food has the ability to nourish a community spiritually, as well as physically. Back to the Garden also cultivates new agricultural talent and young farmers. They are currently implementing a professional development program with their farm manager and have bigger plans in the future for a young farmer incubator program.

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Team

Owners - John Stanley
10+ years farming experience around the USA and Canada. Experience as a minister and in finance.

Owner - Heather Lundy