880: Rachel Opio on Farming, Healing Soil and Growing Communities

Little Lighthouse Farm's Big ImpactIn This Podcast: In this heartfelt interview, Rachel Opio shares her journey from a career in HR tech to becoming the founder of Little Lighthouse Farm, an urban farm in Phoenix. She discusses her background in data analytics, her mother's inspiring legacy as an educator and gardener, and how her mother's battle with cancer spurred her shift to farming. Rachel details the challenges of urban farming, the benefits of regenerative agriculture, and her commitment to providing nutrient-dense food to her community. She talks about the importance of accessibility, community engagement, and her future plans for expanding her farming efforts across Phoenix. Rachel also opens up about her recent struggles and successes with beekeeping and shares her love for educating children about gardening. Her story highlights the transformative power of connecting with the land and nurturing a sense of community..Our Guest: Rachel Opio is a regenerative urban farmer, educator, and advocate based in Phoenix, Arizona. As the founder of Little Lighthouse Farm, she grows nutrient-dense, accessible food for her community, including pasture-raised eggs, produce, and specialty goods like tea blends and cookies. Born and raised in Phoenix, she lives and farms on the same property where she grew up. She is a Master Gardener, Master Beekeeper, and passionate community teacher, helping others connect with the land through sustainable practices. Her work is rooted in food equity, soil health, and empowering others to grow real food in urban spaces..Visit UrbanFarm.org/LittleLighthouseFarm for the show notes and links on this episode! Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 850 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. Click HERE to learn more.*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.