July 30, 2025

Planting it Forward in Houston

24 minutes

While immigration is at the forefront of today’s news cycle,

it’s hardly a new issue in Southeast Texas. Since the 1800s, Galveston has been a major port of entry for foreign newcomers. That pattern continues today up Highway 45 in Houston, which ranks among America’s largest destinations for refugee resettlement.

While Harris County has many resources for assistance, transitioning into the workplace in a new country and culture is rarely easy for even the most skilled, educated, and adaptable English-speaking arrivals. But for those arriving from rural and agrarian backgrounds, it is even more difficult. There are few options for finding dignified work.

One charity that is working to fill this void is Plant It Forward. They empower refugees to build income through sustainable urban farming businesses. Plant It Forward secures land access, provides mentorship, and facilitates sales opportunities at area markets.

In this episode, we’ll take a trip to America’s fourth-largest

city with Gravy reporter Evan Stern to hear about how Plant It Forward’s efforts have impacted the lives of its participants and the area’s foodscape. Teresa O’Donnell, who traces her unlikely journey from tech executive to nonprofit founder, will share Plant It Forward’s history. And CEO Nirjhor Rahman will argue that beyond helping members, Plant it Forward is introducing “a new type of farmer” to Texas’s fast-aging agricultural sector.

One of these new farmers is Constant Ngouala. A native of

Congo-Brazzaville, he joined Plant it Forward shortly after arriving in Houston. He now mentors new arrivals as a Master Gardener while farming his own rented plot. In addition to sharing his experiences as a refugee, he discusses the difficulties he faces as an area market farmer.

What is the sustainable food movement’s viability in Houston? Gravy explores how, by working the land, Plant It Forward’s farmers may represent a continuum in keeping with the region’s culture and history.

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