News

The Rio Grande Community Farm is now accepting new members to join its 2-acre community garden. After a challenging 2013 season marked by water curtailments, the community garden will bounce back in 2014 with the addition of newly acquired water rights that ensure sufficient irrigation on the property.

Membership at the community garden includes access to a variety of seeds, hand tools and other gardening materials, irrigation water, and use of your own 80′ long, 2′ wide plot of land. Workshops and a demonstration garden are also offered on site to members as well as the general public.

Groups such as school classes, church groups, and other non-profit organizations are also welcome and encouraged to sign up for a plot. Rio Grande Community Farm invites interested organizations to become garden members and utilize the space for gardening and much more.

The community garden sits in the northwest corner of the Los Poblanos Fields Open Space in the North Valley. Many different vegetables, flowers, shrubs and trees are grown at the garden, including a variety of perennials at the Alvarado School Garden’s pollinator habitat area.

On Saturday and Sunday this weekend, the garden will have its 2014 kick-off with orientation for members, an open house for visitors and potential gardeners, and a workday for volunteers. All are welcome between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

For more information on community garden membership, or to sign up for a row, visit riograndefarm.org/programs/community-garden.

Rio Grande Community Farm (RGCF) is a non-profit, educational farm in the North Valley. Our mission is to improve the health of our community through sustainable agriculture, education, and fresh food.

Our programs include demonstration of sustainable agriculture, 2-acre community garden, gardening education, Farm to School, food donations, young farmer training, annual Maize Maze, and urban wildlife habitat enhancement.

RGCF is seeking board members. The Board of Directors meets once a month for two hours. In addition to preparing for and attending board meetings, board members are asked to serve on at least one committee. Committee schedules vary depending on focus and time of year.

Please see the board job description.

We are looking for individuals with the following expertise:

• Banking

• Law (general, water or natural resource)

• Farming

• Small business

• Accounting

• Advertising

• Public relations and marketing

• Fundraising

• Event planning

• Advocacy with elected officials

• Public speaking

• Writing skills (website, newsletters, grant proposals, fundraising letters)

Edible Santa Fe covers RGCF in new article: PARAGUAY TO FARM CAMP: RED BEET CUPCAKES AND HIBISCUS TEA by Gail Guengerich

Rio Grande Community Farm was the focus of this NCRS Article on unlocking the secrets in the soil.

Download the SDI Final Report for the Subsurface Drip Irrigation Project.

Rio Grande Community Farm is seeking to find a Development Director. Please download the announcement.

This summer and fall, Rio Grande Community Farm has had its work highlighted across the country, from a review of the 2012 Maize Maze in Local Flavor (photos here), to video spotlights by America’s Heartland and the USDA.

In partnership with the USDA, RGCF has installed and maintained a sub-surface drip irrigation system, improving water efficiency as a model of low-impact irrigation for farms across the country. See the video below for more information on our irrigation methods.

America’s Heartland highlights other aspects of our vision of sustainability, including urban accessibility and our farmer training program. Follow their programs online for more coverage of national agriculture news and trends.

We here at Rio Grande Community Farm believe strongly in the principles and values of public and sustainable farming, and want to thank our partners for documenting our approach to today’s issues. A large component of our mission is to show how through community programs and advanced agricultural practices, all scales of agriculture– from self-production and small-scale farming, all the way up to conventional and large-scale production– can thrive in our increasingly challenging economic and environmental circumstances.

For the final weekend of the 2012 Maize Maze, part of the maze will be converted into a Haunted Maze, in a partnership with the Public Academy for Performing Arts and local area filmmakers. The Haunted Maze leads participants along a walk-through story, with amphibian-themed characters and storyline. For folks interested in the regular maze, half of the corn maze will be open for self-guided visitors.

The Haunted Maze will be open for its grand finale on Halloween night, from 7 to 10 p.m. Security personnel will be on-site to ensure the safety of the event.

The farm is open for an extended hour all weekend, going from 3-10 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Groups are still welcome to schedule daytime visits on weekdays, including Halloween. For more information or to set up a group visit, visit riograndefarm.org/events/maize-maze.

This weekend brings more excitement to the farm, with the arrival of pumpkins for sale at the Maze and a visit from the Las Arañas Spinners and Weavers Guild, on Saturday, October 13th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Back in season are our pumpkins – both Jack-o-Lanterns and pie pumpkins – and they’re here for the whole Maze season. Pumpkins are available at the Maze tent, as well as at the brand new Pumpkin Patch, located behind the parking lot. The Pumpkin Patch is part of a package deal which adds excitement to the “pumpkin patch” experience, with three levels of difficulty — Easy Peasy, Rough ‘n Tumble, and Enter If You Dare — making picking your pumpkin an even more fun family activity.

School kids enjoying the Patch after a Maze visit

In addition to the Spinning Guild, the farm will have sheep, angora goat and mini horses visiting on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also the Maze will have a Hay Bale City with jumping areas, a crawling tunnel, and farm animals. In partnership with the BioPark, there are interactive educational games, such as a River Dig Box and “guess the animal” demonstrations focused on amphibians and their role in our environment.

Ticket prices for the maze & pumpkin package run $12 for adults, and $10 for kids. Pumpkins will be available for sale during Maze hours, selling for $3 (pie pumpkins) and $5 (Jack-o-Lanterns). Pumpkins will be available at both the Maze and the Pumpkin Patch for customers’ convenience. Pumpkins can also be purchased as part of the maze/farm tour for groups.

Learn More about the Maize Maze.

On October 27th and 28th, visitors from 7 to 10 pm are invited to walk the maze under the full moon. Small flashlights will be available for purchase at the tent.

In addition to the maze, the farm features family-friendly activities and games all season, including a Hay Bale City with jumping areas, a crawling tunnel, and farm animals. In partnership with the BioPark, there are interactive educational games, such as a River Dig Box and “guess the animal” demonstrations focused on amphibians and their role in our environment.

Learn More about the Maize Maze.