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New Mexico’s rural communities were self-sufficient well into the 20th century. But after recent decades of rapid economic development and technological advances, we’ve found ourselves living in a society that largely supports a very flawed food system, one that concentrates food power in very few corporate hands resulting in decreased food security. The Census Bureau recently revealed that New Mexico is the poorest state in the nation; yet we have the means and knowledge to feed ourselves healthy, locally-grown food. Fortunately, we’re seeing our acequia farmers and ranchers throughout northern New Mexico stepping up to empower their communities by reclaiming control over the local food supply. READ MORE |
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The New Mexico Acequia Association has spent the past two decades working to strengthen acequia governance. We have worked with over 350 acequias in recent years on matters ranging from bylaws to infrastructure and in the process we have learned about the strengths in the broader acequia community as well as the challenges. In the course of working on bylaws, easement issues, infrastructure planning, and a variety of other acequia issues, we have gained an appreciation for the knowledge of local acequia leaders. READ MORE |
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Pedro Nolasco Romero’s roots are embedded deep within his homeland of Nambé, New Mexico where he grew up on the Acequia del Caño and served as the Mayordomo for over 30 years. He invited me over to tell me about an acequia and river restoration project that he spearheaded in response to an effort that inadvertently left the acequia virtually inoperable. The point of Pedro’s story isn’t to name names or point the finger. He holds his acequia in high regard and he just wanted the opportunity to educate others about the community process that took place to restore the acequia; and through his story, reaffirm the traditional knowledge that’s engulfed by those who grew up living, breathing, and coveting their acequia traditions. READ MORE |
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The year 2012 will mean a lot of different things to different people. One of the things 2012 means to me as an agriculturalist is to think of global changes and what they may mean to the continuation of traditional/sustainable agriculture. Traditional and sustainable agriculture can only continue if the seeds of our collective ancestry survive. Last year our acequia went dry in the last week of June. Despite this challenge, some of our crops thrived and provided hope and insight into reconnecting with seeds and agriculture regardless of the challenges. The experience in 2011 reinforced the following ideas when it comes to seed-saving agriculture. These ideas are expressed as dichos (sayings) or sentiments that have been shared by elder agriculturalists of our acequia culture. READ MORE |
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"It was a choice I made when I was old enough to make the choice," mused Virgil Trujillo as we drove up to the Abiquiu Land Grant. He was referring to his reason for working the land. Virgil Trujillo is a bona fide northern New Mexico rancher. I attribute his calm presence to spending many years in solitude at his ranch, finding companionship only in those within reach: his Blue Heeler named Scooter, his waders, his pala, and the vastness of the uninhabited land that surrounds him. "They do worry about me being out here by myself," he says referring to his wife and children, "…but I enjoy it." READ MORE |
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Margaret Campos recently joined the NMAA team as a Farm Advisor where she'll be working in the field on various objectives including providing farm and business advice to producers, outreach for USDA, and demonstration workshops for producers. Margaret's grandfather was originally from Ojo Sarco but he was captivated by the Embudo landscape and eventually transplanted himself in Embudo. She grew up between Santa Fe and Embudo and as a child she enjoyed spending much of her summers with her grandparents in Embudo, the area which was referred to as El Bosquecito de los Cordovas. READ MORE |
