2 Farm Incubator Programs
Including the Refugee Agriculture Partnership Program (Lutheran Family Services Tres Hermanas Farms) and the Neurodiverse Agriculture Program (Mountain Dojo Celestial Farm).
HELP RIO GRANDE COMMUNITY FARM GROW YEAR-ROUND!
This November-December, Rio Grande Community Farm is launching a campaign to raise $15,000 or more to build and install three new hoop houses and cover an existing hoop house that will transform our ability to grow healthy, local food and flowers through every season.
Rio Grande Community Farm serves a total of 43 micro farmers and 100+ community gardeners. These protected growing structures will support our community by providing the shelter needed to extend the growing season, start seedlings early, and protect crops from wind, frost, and heat extremes. Moreover, each hoop house is a step toward building a more resilient food system in Albuquerque by expanding our potential for regenerative practices, education, and community connection.
Your support will directly fund materials and staff time to construct and install these hoop houses at Los Poblanos Fields Open Space. Every contribution—large or small—helps strengthen local food security and agriculture by creating more opportunities for farmers & gardeners here at the farm.
Thank you for supporting our mission to cultivate sustainability, biodiversity, and belonging on our 50-acre working farm. We’d love your help to keep this work growing!
YOUR TAX DEDUCTIBLE GIFT HELPS TO PROVIDE:
- Programs that educate growers of all ages in sustainable agriculture, land stewardship, climate resilience, heavy equipment operation, composting, and farm-to-market strategies
- Access to urban farmland and irrigation for diverse and underserved community members
- Enhancing habitat and forage for native and migrating species
- Iconic local events that celebrate our unique agricultural heritage
- Research in sustainable methods including solar energy, aquaponics, and fungal dominant compost
- Interdisciplinary college internships
- Neighborhood Composting Program that processes 6,600 gallons of food waste annually
- A living wage for our farm workers and educators
OUR 2024 IMPACT
100 Community Gardeners
From Master Gardeners to a residential recovery program — community gardeners grow on shared plots, many of them for the first time.
38 Micro Farmers
Including four veterans, six neurodiverse farmers, a seed saver, a natural dye plant grower, and four producers for the Downtown Growers Market—are growing crops that feed Albuquerque.
4 Flagship Events
Four flagship events welcomed ~11,000 visitors—Spring Festival & Plant Sale, Lavender Festival, Maize Maze, and Pick-Your-Own Basil—all for under $15/person.
60 Water-Wise Participants
60 participants in Open Space-sponsored classes on water-wise gardening and microclimate design.
7,000+ Gallons of Food Waste Composted
Returned over 7,000 gallons of neighborhood food waste to the soil in the form of compost, improving soil fertility, diverting contents from landfills, and preventing 0.48 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
4,000 Bales Harvested
Provided 4,000 bales of hay and alfalfa harvested for internal and local use. 2,044 bales were purchased by 8 area farmers for livestock.
4 UNM Students Supported
Collaborated with 4 UNM mechanical engineering students for solar lab projects.
466 Children Engaged
Served 466 children in Farm Camps and educational programs.
5 Acres of Protected Habitat
Provided 5 acres of wildlife protected habitat.
Planted 152 Fruit Trees
In partnership with the Sikh Gurdwara and Interfaith Coalition, we planted 152 fruit trees—116 of which have survived and are now contributing to the farm’s long-term canopy.
45 Solar Panels
45 solar panels powering the Solar Club Car electric farm cart, a mobile solar trailer, and soil and weather sensors.
