Decibel
Growing Forward
Clip | 5m 19sVideo has Closed Captions
A new Pflugerville farmer must contend with agricultural challenges.
At the height of the pandemic, Jane Taylor decided to trade in her nursing scrubs for work gloves and started farming. She expected hard work, but she didn’t plan on a drought, locusts and skyrocketing land prices.
Decibel is a local public television program presented by Austin PBS
Funding for Decibel is provided in part by Texas Mutual and Roxanne Elder & Scott Borders
Decibel
Growing Forward
Clip | 5m 19sVideo has Closed Captions
At the height of the pandemic, Jane Taylor decided to trade in her nursing scrubs for work gloves and started farming. She expected hard work, but she didn’t plan on a drought, locusts and skyrocketing land prices.
How to Watch Decibel
Decibel is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
[soft piano music plays] [Jane] It started as a hobby and it ended up being a business.
But that also has its own challenges.
[Birds singing] [Oil sizzling] [Jane] We are originally from Kenya.
For me, a meal with collard greens just brings back that nostalgia.
So when I grew the collards back here and they flourished, I was like, huh.
Even in Texas.
As long as they can get the water.
[whimsical music plays] My name is Jane Taylor.
I'm a 54-year-old Black woman who is really, really passionate about farming.
Our business name goes by Green Thumb, like the thumb, Farming LLC, and we are based in Pflugerville, Texas.
Okay.
This is a bok choy.
Nowhere in my dreams did I ever think when I grow up, I'm going to be a farmer.
But this one needs to move up because of light.
I was working as a nurse.
Growing the vegetables was just a way of trying to save some money and also to grow good food for my kids.
[Adeline] There are times I go to the garden and I'm like, we did not plant that.
I'm like Mom, she goes, yeah, I find these seeds.
And I just wanted to see if they'll grow.
So I just toss them in the garden.
I'm like, That's going to be a lot of cilantro, but okay.
[Jane] You combine the stress of work and COVID, I was burned out and farming was was something that has always been at the back of my mind.
I decided I'm going to quit my job as a nurse and try farming.
But really, until you do something, you don't realize how difficult it is.
[shoveling dirt] [Jane] There were many surprises waiting for me.
[Adeline] We had not bought the truck.
So we had to put some produce in mom's car so her car would smell like onions the whole time.
[Jane] We had an infestation of grasshoppers.
And then there was the prolonged drought.
By June, literally nothing was growing.
The other challenge really to me, and it's still a challenge even now, was not having our own piece of land.
The cost of land just went through the roof.
Just we just didn't have the finances to be able to do that.
So that's a challenge.
You're like, okay, what am I getting into?
[coffee pot burbling] [Jane] I remember I think I was a little bit upset.
I had put in so much work, like manual work, and my kids looked at me and they were like, Mom, this is life.
I was discouraged, but I did not think about giving up because it's something I really am passionate about.
[water spraying] [birds chirping] [Jane] There are things that motivate me.
This week we we made an African dish.
Half of what we made was actually from our gardens.
That's a good feeling.
We are interested in encouraging a lot of young people to get into this.
People of color.
We would like to collaborate with like school districts.
There are some kids who don't know where the food comes from.
Bring them out.
Let let them see where a carrot comes from.
If we achieve that, we will have done something positive.
[soft piano music] The morning I walked out of my last job, it was scary.
I was making a choice to move into the unknown.
Aah, we go to our first fruit!
Farmers go through a lot.
But yeah, it is that satisfaction of from a seed to this.
It just makes you happy.
Tết, Tradition, & Training: How Lion Dancers Are Keeping North Austin Culture Alive
Video has Closed Captions
One local dance group is helping keep traditions alive and start the year off with a literal bang. (4m 45s)
Touring Rundberg with Jose Carrasco
Video has Closed Captions
Decibel tours Rundberg with Jose Carrasco. (5m 40s)
What Is 'The Program' And Could Austin Need It Again?
Video has Closed Captions
Will a program meant to get people out of flood zones be needed again in Austin? (9m 13s)
How Is This Local Food Bank Fighting Against High Food Costs And Less Donations?
Video has Closed Captions
Families are struggling with food costs. So are the food banks they’re going to for help. (5m 36s)
They’re Getting Offered Thousands Of Dollars For Their Homes. He Says They Deserve More
Video has Closed Captions
One Dove Springs resident is making sure his neighbors know how much their homes are really worth. (5m 13s)
“There Needs To Be Some Changes”: Austinites Split On HOME Phase 2
Video has Closed Captions
The minimum lot size for single family homes drops to 1800 square feet. (5m 33s)
Who's Getting Lower Rents In Austin?
Video has Closed Captions
Rent is falling across the city. But many residents are seeing their rent continue to go up. (7m 37s)
Video has Closed Captions
They took the job to help neighbors find housing resources. They're helping with more. (4m 31s)
‘Where Do They Go?’: Voucher Holders Struggle To Find Housin
Video has Closed Captions
Austin is the second-worst city in the country for housing voucher holders to find a home. (5m 37s)
The Trail that Wrote Texas History
Video has Closed Captions
Learn about El Camino Real de los Tejas and how it impacted Texans on and off the roads. (6m 36s)
Video has Closed Captions
She helps families with any resources they need. Lately they need help leaving. (4m 35s)
‘The Status Quo Is Just Not Sufficient’: Austinites On HOME
Video has Closed Captions
Will a land code update fix Austin's housing affordability, or make it worse? (5m 23s)
Are There Still Doves In Dove Springs?
Video has Closed Captions
Are the birds that gave Dove Springs its name still in the area? (4m 18s)
Why Does It Flood In Southeast Austin?
Video has Closed Captions
Ever wondered why some areas flood more than others? Learn why in the newest Decibel story (6m 57s)
Artist Paints Memories Of Historic Onion Creek Flood
Video has Closed Captions
A local artist collaborates with flood survivors on a new Austin mural. (5m 32s)
One Dove Springs resident struggles with increasing temperatures and electricity bills. (4m 53s)
Video has Closed Captions
Parts of Austin are nearly 8 degrees hotter than others, so who's feeling the heat? (7m 12s)
Video has Closed Captions
Shelly Barber wants to help the local transgender community look fabulous and feel loved. (3m 16s)
Now PlayingVideo has Closed Captions
A new Pflugerville farmer must contend with agricultural challenges. (5m 19s)
Video has Closed Captions
Tuan Nguyen brings his family's recipes to Pflugerville residents. (5m 10s)
‘We’re All In It Together’: Community Fights For School Fund
Video has Closed Captions
Pflugerville community fights for school funding from the state legislature. (4m 27s)
Video has Closed Captions
An LGBTQ+ group aims to help their neighbors even in the face of increasing threats. (5m 29s)
Video has Closed Captions
Fatema Hirani’s faith asks her to keep the Earth clean. But how do you do that locally? (5m 7s)
Pflugerville ISD Won’t Close Dessau Elementary School
Video has Closed Captions
PfISD will not be moving forward with a plan that would close Dessau Elementary School. (1m 41s)
Video has Closed Captions
Rising costs are shutting the gate on land for a local equine nonprofit (4m 37s)
‘There’s Some Exciting Things Coming’: Mayor Discusses The
Video has Closed Captions
Pflugerville residents told us what they wanted city leaders to focus on as the city grow (5m 12s)
Pflugerville Residents Pose Questions To Candidates
Video has Closed Captions
Pflugerville residents share concerns about their growing city. (4m 2s)
Video has Closed Captions
One Pflugerville food bank is trying to break bread and stigmas around food assistance. (5m 21s)
Video has Closed Captions
Local group tries to preserve historic Black cemetery (4m 59s)
Entrepreneurs Set Up Shop In Pflugerville
Video has Closed Captions
Owning a business is difficult anywhere, and Pflugerville is no exception. (4m 8s)
Video has Closed Captions
Decibel celebrates the end of a year-long project in Del Valle. (2m 42s)
Video has Closed Captions
One Del Valle resident is trying to help local kids stay safe while they bike in the area. (4m 38s)
La Plaza De Toros R3 owner Jose Hernandez, has struggled to build a business in Del Valle. (4m 36s)
Video has Closed Captions
Joseph Vega uses culinary skills to make transformative dishes and change lives. (5m 49s)
Video has Closed Captions
A Del Valle family navigating a childhood asthma diagnosis find many health care barriers. (5m 7s)
Video has Closed Captions
Del Valle residents struggle to voice concerns on neighborhood water cost and quality. (4m 54s)
‘They Don’t Show Up’: Del Valle's Relationship With Police
Video has Closed Captions
Del Valle residents describe what law enforcement looks like in their community. (4m 22s)
'Playing The Puzzle Piece Game': DVISD Staff Shortage
Video has Closed Captions
Del Valle ISD is struggling to find subs. Is it a preview of a possible teacher shortage? (3m 4s)
Video has Closed Captions
Changes in Del Valle are raising housing costs and forcing folks to make tough decisions. (4m 59s)
'This Community Is A Blind Spot': Del Valle Residents Fall
Video has Closed Captions
Many Del Valle residents don't have access to the internet and it effects their lives. (4m 33s)
Best Of Decibel 2021: The Calling
Video has Closed Captions
Decibel Visual Journalist Joe Rocha discusses his favorite project of 2021. (6m 52s)
Best Of Decibel 2021: “It’s Kinda Stressful”
Video has Closed Captions
Decibel Visual Journalist KC Cruz shares their favorite story of the year. (5m 44s)
Decibel’s Year In Review: Blair’s Top Story
Video has Closed Captions
Decibel reporter Blair Waltman-Alexin shares her favorite story of the year. (6m 13s)
Video has Closed Captions
To help his family, Max Varela rediscovered his family’s legacy of making tamales. (5m 47s)
Video has Closed Captions
Grace Rivera Curry improves her culinary skills and is creating a healthier community. (5m 28s)
Video has Closed Captions
Rogelio Rayos was surprised to find no running group in Del Valle so he started his own. (4m 41s)
Video has Closed Captions
John Chavez hosts weekly car meets to show off his car and bond with Del Valle locals. (4m 2s)
Video has Closed Captions
Can several planter boxes bring together a Del Valle community? A resident will find out. (5m 24s)
Video has Closed Captions
Kenneth ‘Nino’ Sylvia is hoping Del Valle Soccer Club can be an outlet for kids. (5m 47s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
Decibel is a local public television program presented by Austin PBS
Funding for Decibel is provided in part by Texas Mutual and Roxanne Elder & Scott Borders