Gray Gardens is a sustainable urban vegetable farm located on Main Street in Buda. Owned by the Gray family for about 20 years, the farm began selling produce six years ago at the Buda Farmers’ Market, which Gray Gardens also curates, Farm Manager Jonas Jones said.
At the Buda Farmers’ Market, Gray Gardens sells the vegetables it grows, such as okra, peppers, eggplant, kale, onions and broccoli. Its most popular vegetables are tomatoes, Jones said.
“[At the market] we can tell people directly what everything is and where their food comes from,” he said. “I think it’s an awesome, empowering thing.”
The Buda Farmers’ Market operates on Tuesdays and Saturdays, Jones said. The Saturday markets often have more vendors, he said, but the Tuesday market prices are sometimes cheaper. Saturday markets also have live music performances.
“The people here want to provide good food,” Jones said. “They’re not out here to rob you. They’re growing great food, and they do it because they love it.”
Besides farmers markets, Gray Gardens also supports itself through a community-supported agriculture, or CSA, program.
CSA’s were started in Japan during the 1970s by mothers who wanted more direct access to naturally grown food and to pay farmers directly, Jones said. The concept has only recently taken off in Texas.
Through the CSA, members buy a share into the farm and pick up a weekly portion of vegetables. It helps the farmer with upfront capital to prepare for the upcoming season, he said. Last season, Gray Gardens provided food to 40 families through its CSA program.
“It helps relieve stress for the farmer, because there’s no security in farming, whether it’s the market, or it’s nature,” Jones said. “At the end of the day, even if everything works out 100 percent, you’re still working with Mother Nature.”
The farmers at Gray Gardens will often work 14-hour days, he said.
“We’re all a little quirky, I guess, to do that,” Jones said. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.”
Jones said Gray Gardens has considered relocating to another part of Buda in the future, one surrounded by more “trendy” businesses.
“Buda’s growing, and we want to grow with it,” he said. “We’re fortunate to have a community and be here and do this. Where’s the farm on Main Street in San Marcos [or] Kyle?”
Every farm is fighting to “stay above the red,” Jones said.
“No matter who you vote for, whether you do or you don’t, the most important thing you can do, especially in your local economy, is voting every time you spend your dollar,” he said. “If you don’t support these systems, then you’re going to lose them.”
Gray Gardens
767 Main St., Buda • 512-395-5775 Saturday Buda Farmers’ Market; Main Street, Buda, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday Buda Farmers’ Market; corner of Sequoyah and Main streets, Buda, 3-6 p.m.
