This is not a Desert

The term “food desert” conjures up images of lifeless, barren land, but Spanish Lake is anything but. The land isn’t the problem—it’s the neglect and lack of investment that keep fresh, nutritious food out of reach. The real issue lies in broken systems that fail to support communities in accessing the resources they need to thrive.

Like many areas labeled as “food deserts,” Spanish Lake has fertile, arable land capable of growing healthy, sustainable food. The potential is right there, waiting to be tapped. What’s lacking is the infrastructure, investment, and support to turn that potential into reality. Communities like Spanish Lake have deep cultural and social roots, and with the right tools, they can turn that energy into local food systems that sustain them.

Urban farming, community gardens, and agricultural initiatives could easily transform these so-called deserts into thriving food oases. These initiatives don’t just provide fresh food—they reconnect people to the land, teaching them that food doesn’t have to come from a can or a convenience store. It grows right from the earth, just waiting to be cultivated.

The narrative around “food deserts” needs to change. The land isn’t barren—it’s full of life and possibility. The solution lies in empowering people to reclaim and cultivate that land, creating resilient, food-secure futures where communities like Spanish Lake are seen for what they truly are: places of growth, abundance, and untapped potential.