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Roots in the Community: Tucson's Barrio Restoration
Spotlight on Local Soil Heroes
Gabriella Coughlin
June 30, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes
David Garcia & Barrio Restoration — Sowing Pride in South Tucson, One Alley at a Time
The Legacy Unfolds:
When David Garcia founded Barrio Restoration six years ago, his mission was clear: revive pride in South Tucson’s barrios. Last weekend, we joined him on 6th Avenue—not just for a cleanup, but to witness a legacy in action. As KOLD News 13 highlighted in their 2021 Arizona’s Heart and Sol feature, David’s work has always been about more than aesthetics:
“It’s not about our street, or our house, but how can we contribute to this whole area and make it better.”
Three years later, that vision has taken root—literally.
Weekend Impact: Seeds of Change
Under David’s leadership, volunteers and Barrio Keepers:
🗑️ Installed trash cans along 6th Ave.,
🌿 Planted vibrant macetas (recycled-tire planters blooming with native flora donated by a local watershed group),
♻️ Cleared yards of trash from sidewalks and businesses—prepping them for transformation.
The crescendo? Launching the Neighborhood Alley Garden Project—a dream David first tested in 2021:
“Three years ago, I sought a community garden but realized: our entire barrio is the garden. We cleaned one alley… harvested corn, squash, watermelons. Now, we’re expanding it 400 feet.”
—David Garcia, Instagram, 2024
Why This Matters: From "Bad Side" to Blooming Hub
South Tucson faces systemic hurdles: high poverty rates, sparse shade, and unjust stereotypes. David—a landscaper who once beautified wealthy neighborhoods—redirected his skills homeward:
“I’d come back to dirty streets that needed my care. South Tucson isn’t the ‘bad side’—it’s our home.”
—KOLD News 13, 2021
His solution? Barrios as engines of empowerment:
→ Food Sovereignty: Growing free melons/squash for neighbors.
→ Jobs: "Curb Appeal" memberships employ local youth for maintenance.
→ Climate Resilience: Gardens combat urban heat/flooding.
→ Art as Protest: Murals shout #RespectDontNeglectTheHood.
Science in the Soil: The Chonies Experiment
In a playful nod to the barrio’s regeneration, we buried our signature cotton chonies (undies) in the new garden—a low-cost #SoilYourChonies test. By harvest season (60+ days!), their decay level will reveal the microbial health of the soil… right as David’s watermelons and squash feed the block.
From that chonie drop, David and his neighbors now have access to Chonie Tracker data, a custom soil map, and local resources to help support the barrio access technical and financial assistance putting conservation on the ground.
The Ripple Effect
What began as one man’s mission now unites blocks. As David posted:
“We’re not just growing food—we’re growing a stronger barrio. Neighbors gather in alleys they’ve reclaimed. This is ownership.”
His 2021 Heart and Sol Award was only the beginning. Today, Barrio Restoration proves community investment is the solution.
Grow With Them
Join Barrio Restoration’s revolution:
Volunteer: Email [email protected] for upcoming workdays.
Invest: $19.99/month "Curb Appeal" funds youth jobs.
Amplify: Follow @barrio_restoration_ & #RespectDontNeglectTheHood.
Nominate a Soil Hero: [email protected]
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