About the Farm
Rattlebox Farm is a 4.5 acre urban sanctuary for farming, native plants, wild animals, and humans. We are located on traditional unceeded Tohono O’odham land in southeast Tucson, Arizona along the Pantano Wash. The farm was established by Dana Helfer and Paul Buseck in 2013.
After many years working in food systems and agriculture education, we started farming fulltime in 2009, in our neighborhood, and on urban plots along the west side of the Santa Cruz River. We called ourselves Menlo Farms and had plots in Menlo Park, Barrio Kroger Lane & El Rio Acres. We sold our produce to neighbors and at the Santa Cruz River Farmer’s Market. After 3 years, and a wide search for land on which to consolidate the farming and raise our family, we found this lovely little piece of land and gave it a new name – Rattlebox Farm.
Just a few miles west of Saguaro National Park East, the farm is Sonoran Desert urban riparian habitat. In the 1970’s the majority of the property was planted in pecan trees which were removed sometime in the 1990s, so the land was significantly disturbed. The farm now consists of 1.5 acres of fenced and drip irrigated field and 3 acres of native plant and animal sanctuary surrounding the field. In the sanctuary, our aim is to support growth of the existing native trees and shrubs and revegetate with native trees, shrubs, grasses, annuals and perennials. The seed for this endeavor is ethically wild harvested from around our watershed, mostly during extensive walks with our dog. Learn more about the history of the land, the plants, and animals of the farm here.
Then and Now
For 10 years Rattlebox Farm intensively grew over 40 different varieties of organic vegetables for sale through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), the Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market, and wholesale to restaurants and institutions through Pivot Produce. Although what we grow looks a little different now, we feel lucky to continue to feed and nurture our diverse community, and learn with and from others how to be good land stewards of this amazing desert.
In 2022, Rattlebox Farm evolved to become a cooperative home to several local farming and creative adventures. In addition to vegetables and wild plant seed, we cooperatively grow traditional Tohono O’odham seed with a group of O’odham farmers. Click here to learn what we are up to now.
The People of the Farm
The success of this farm is due to the love of many people over the years. We call it our “Farmily”. As stewards of the land we are grateful to everyone that has joined us on this adventure. Friends, family, community members and customers all have brought their unique magic.
Currently, the land and farm are cooperatively managed by Dana and Paul (Rattlebox Farm), Sarah (Westover Farm), Tohono O’odham farmers, annual apprentices and volunteers. We continue to have the pleasure of working with new and young farmers, that generously share their skill, knowledge, labor, care and laughter. We love the community collaboration and shared learning that comes from these friendships.
As Dana and Paul, we each have more than 25 years experience in the fields of farming, food systems and community development. Both hold Master’s Degrees from University California Davis in Agriculture and Community Development. Raised in Colorado and Arizona respectively, we feel lucky to have called Tucson and this amazing desert home for over 21 years. When we aren’t farming we enjoy our kids and family, camping, travel, painting, making music with our rock cover band. We also host land centered Jewish gatherings and holidays on the farm.
Sarah, originally from Texas has also lived in Tucson for over 15 years and has been farming in the desert, in different forms, for much of that time. The name of her farm, “Westover”, is a homage to her “Opa” (grandfather) Don Andrews who owned an operated a retail nursery business, called Westover Greenhouses, in St. Louis Missouri. When Sarah isn’t growing food she is running. She enjoys spending time with her husband, family, and Great Dane as well as ultra trail races, long distance running in beautiful places, and traveling.
Where Does the Name Come From?
“Rattlebox” is a common name for a native yellow wildflower called Desert Senna (Senna covesii). The Senna is a leguminous plant (like peas, beans and lentils) and – like other plants in its family – it has a seed pod that “rattles” when the seeds are dry.
Our logo artwork features the Desert Senna and the Catalina Mountain Range, which is the panoramic view North of the farm. It is a paper cut made by the ever talented Kimi Eisele. Stickers available when you visit!
