Spotlight Series: Rocky Rich

After 30 years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps, Rocky found his next calling not in uniform, but in the soil. Using his GI Bill, he enrolled in Palo Alto College’s Horticulture and Landscape Design program in 2019, just as plans for a new community garden began to take root. As a student intern, Rocky helped build the garden from the ground up, and after graduating in 2022, he was invited to stay on as its steward.

“I came on as an instructor and they told me, ‘The garden’s yours, design it however you want,’” Rocky shared. “Since then, we’ve been running it nonstop. We’ve got 25 garden beds, over 40 fruit trees, and everything we grow is 100% organic.”

Under Rocky’s care, the PAC Community Garden has flourished into a vibrant hub of learning, sustainability, and connection. The garden recently earned the title of Best Community Garden in the City of San Antonio, an honor that came as a surprise to the entire team. “We didn’t even know we were nominated,” he laughed. “Winning validated everything we’ve been doing. It’s a win for everyone who’s ever helped, donated, or planted something here.”

The garden operates year-round, providing free produce to students, employees, and neighbors. Nothing goes to waste. Plants are composted, reused, or donated to local farmers for feed. From herbs to fuzzy melons to lemon cucumbers, there’s always something growing, and everything is given back to the community.

“We let people tell us what they want to see growing,” Rocky said. “Maybe the cosmetology students want loofas, or someone wants basil for tea. It’s all about what the community needs.”

Beyond food, the garden has become a peaceful refuge for mental wellness. Students often stop by to study, relax, or lend a hand in exchange for fresh produce. Work-study students, volunteers, and longtime employees like Larry who has more than two decades at PAC help keep the space thriving.

“It’s my stress-relief place,” Rocky said. “You can come out here, listen to the birds and bees, and just watch things grow. It’s quiet, peaceful, and open to everyone.”

Looking ahead, Rocky hopes to expand accessibility and sustainability efforts, including adding solar lighting and continuing outreach to local schools. His goal is to inspire more students to explore horticulture and learn how to be self-sufficient.

“With grocery prices rising, knowing how to grow your own food is powerful,” he said. “A three-dollar packet of seeds can feed you for months.”

Rocky nurtures and protects the PAC Community Garden mission of growth, giving, and gratitude. 

“When people come out here and say, ‘Thank you for growing this,’ that’s what keeps me going,” he said. “It really is a community garden in every sense of the word.”