1995

Anderson Fields purchased by the City of Albuquerque and renamed Los Poblanos Fields Open Space

1997

Rio Grande Community Farm established to manage 50 acres of the 138-acre Los Poblanos Fields Open Space.

First Annual Maize Maze

What is now the Los Poblanos Fields Open Space was purchased by the City of Albuquerque after a two-year campaign to preserve this last remaining parcel of farmland in the North Valley. Recognizing the value to the community of maintaining this agricultural space, the City passed a two-year ¼ cent sales tax to provide funds for its acquisition.

The Farm holds a special place in the history of Albuquerque. It occupies the original site of Los Poblanos, one of the earliest Spanish Colonial settlements in the Rio Grande Valley. It is, in fact, a living link in an agricultural heritage that extends over 1700 years, making it among the oldest parcels of continually farmed land in the United States. Years of hard work have transformed the neglected land into community gardens, wildlife habitat, and sustainably farmed croplands. These provide educational experiences, community service projects, recreation and entertainment to a broad segment of our population while honoring our history and protecting the environment. Recent studies have shown that agricultural lands contribute significantly to recharging Albuquerque’s aquifer. As our population grows and as water becomes more scarce, it becomes increasingly important to preserve agricultural lands in order to safeguard our quality of life.