News

The Rio Grande Community Farm’s (RGCF) 15^th Annual Maize Mazeis now accepting reservations for school field trips and other groups of 15 or more, through the month of October.   In keeping with our mission to provide educational outreach to the community, RGCF offers reduced maze admission as well as standards based farm tours for groups with a reservation, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

In recent years, RGCF has partnered with different organizations in designing the maze. This year’s maze is shaped like a frog, as part of a partnership with the ABQ BioPark, which features several amphibian-themed educational games at the farm. This theme matches the BioPark’s exhibit on the importance of amphibians in our ecosystem.

In 2011, over 2,000 people came to the Maze as part of an educational visit, including over 30 schools in the Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) system, active living groups, and day care centers. This fall, reservations are filling quickly, so groups are encouraged to schedule their visits soon. Payment methods include cash, credit cards, checks, and in the case of APS schools, purchase orders.

The farm is located at 1701 Montaño Road NW, 1.1 miles west of 4^th Street. Off of Montaño, turn north onto Tierra Viva, and event parking will be in the gravel lot immediately on the left.

To schedule group visits and for further information, visit RGCF’s group page or call 505-345-4580.

Free event on April 28, 2012

Schedule of Activities

8 am – Bird watching group meets in the Montano parking lot – Join Tish Morris and John Arnold for a guided bird walk

9:30 am – Hayride starts at Montano parking lot — Travels around the farm and stops at Los Poblanos Gazebo for kids activities

10 – 12 – Kids activities at Los Poblanos Gazebo. Access from Montano parking lot.

10 am – Composting workshop at the RGCF Community Garden – Join Tam Saimons to learn the basics of composting (access to garden from Solar Rd. see directions below)

11 am – Geocaching group meets in Montano parking lot – Join Maere McNamara as she guides the group in seeking out hidden treasures. Note: Download a geocaching app on your smart phone or bring a GPS unit. If not, you can still tag along.

11:30 am – Farm tour meets in Montano parking lot – Join Dan Schuster, RGCF Chief Farmer, to learn about sustainable agriculture.

12 – 2 pm – Plant wildflower seeds at the Community Garden (access to garden from Solar Rd. see directions below)

3 more ways to make the most of Wildlife Day

1. Support our wildlife program. Download a Wildlife Donation Form or make a general donation online.

• Adopt an Acre
• Adopt an Animal
• Challenge your family to Run, Walk or Ride for Wildlife

2. Participate in the National Wildlife Federation’s Wildlife Watch Program. Visit their website for more information: https://www.nwf.org/wildlifewatch/

3. Download the Project Noah app and record your wildlife viewings.

Please bring the schedule and directions with you to the event as the activities are scattered throughout Los Poblanos Open Space property.

Directions to Montano Parking Lot: Rio Grande Community Farm is located at Los Poblanos Open Space. The main parking lot is at 1701 Montano Rd. NW, 1 mile west of 4th Street. Turn north onto Tierra Viva and park in the gravel lot on your left. Bird watching, geocaching, and the farm tour will all start here, at the Montano parking lot. See on Map

Kids activities will begin at the Los Poblanos Gazebo which is located northeast of the Montano parking lot. Follow the trail towards the mountains and you’ll see it near a giant cottonwood tree. You can walk to the Community Garden from here in about 15 minutes.

Please note: Composting workshop and seed planting will be held at the Community Garden. You can walk there from the Montano parking lot or Gazebo in about 15 minutes. It is located in the northwest corner of Los Poblanos Open Space. For closer parking see directions below.

Directions to Community Garden (via Solar Rd.):To park near the Community Garden, you’ll want to access the farm from the north. From 4th Street, go west on Solar Rd. past Alvarado Elementary School. Park on the gravel road just west of the the school near the ditch. From Rio Grande Blvd., go east on Chavez Rd. and turn south on Nabor Rd. Just after the road jogs to the left, turn south onto the gravel road just before Alvarado Elementary School. Park along the ditch or fence and walk south across the ditch to the Community Garden. See on Map

What to bring: Water, sunscreen, hats, and snacks. Optional: Bikes, GPS units or geocaching apps, binoculars, dogs on leash, friends and family, and your curiosity about sustainable agriculture and how it improves wildlife habitat here and downstream.

Please note: Do not leave valuables in your car.

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. riograndefarm.org

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 on the 2nd Monday of each month from 6-8 pm. 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.

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)

 To learn more, contact Stephanie Dobbie at stephanie@riograndefarm.org.

In collaboration with the Agri-Nature Center of the Village of Los Ranchos

 

Download Registration Packet

The Rio Grande Community Farm is proud to announce that we have partnered with the Village of Los Ranchos to provide the 2012 Children’s Summer Farm Camp! Based out of the Los Ranchos Agri-Nature Center on Rio Grande Blvd. NW, our five-day farm camps offer environmental literacy experiences through the exploration of a variety of habitats; by growing, harvesting, preparing and eating organic fruits and vegetables, and through nature based art, using child-centered, fun activities. Our caring and qualified camp director and counselors have passed an FBI Background Check, are Red Cross CPR and First Aid certified, and are eager to ensure that your child has a fun and fulfilling experience at Farm Camp!

Camps are open to children ages 6-11. You may register for one, all, or a combination of sessions.  Cost is $250/session.  Camps run Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm (before & after care is not available).  Please call the Education Director, Julie Hirshfield, during business hours at 453-9031 or email education@riograndefarm.org for additional information.

The 2012 Children’s Summer Farm Camp offers four choices of camp themes:

June 4 — June 8: Pizza Camp
Campers will spend the week learning how every part of the pizza is made; they will grind wheat for the crust, harvest tomatoes to make sauce, make homemade mozzarella cheese, and choose their own veggie toppings and herbs while working in the fields. Campers will assemble their own mini-pizzas on the final day of camp and enjoy them at lunch!

June 11 — June 15: Lotions & Potions
Campers will spend the week learning how natural materials, such as lavender and honey, can be used to make sweet-smelling lotions, potions, and candles! Campers will take home a basket full of homemade goodies on the final day of camp!

June 18 — June 22: Birds, Bees & Other Creepy Crawlies
Campers will spend the week learning about birds, honey bees, and other interesting insects. Special guests and speakers will bring their giant birds and creepy crawlies for the campers to observe and touch!

June 25 — June 29: Farm Stand Camp
Campers will spend the week learning what it takes to run a farm stand business. Each day, campers will work on planting, cultivating, and harvesting vegetables. Fun and informative speakers will teach the campers how to effectively market and advertise their farm stand and how to use a cash box and balance sheet. On the final day of camp, campers will run their own farm stand from the Rio Grande Community Farm. Proceeds will benefit the charity of their choice!

We are reflecting on a wonderful year at Rio Grande Community Farm and adding up our impacts on the community.  Check out our 2011 Annual Report to see what we’ve accomplished.  Full of beautiful photos, an updated mission statement, and quick summaries, you’ll be amazed that this non-profit farm exists right in the middle of Albuquerque.  Please make a year-end donation to support our programs including:

• Share the Harvest (food donations)
• Farm to School
• Gardening education
• Community Garden
• Young farmer training
• Wildlife habitat enhancement

We encourage you to stay involved with us.  Volunteer opportunites will become abundant in the spring as we get busy growing food for people and wildlife.  Rows are available in the Community Garden.  Join us for special events such as community service days, seasonal hayrides, the 15th annual Maize Maze, and Dinner in the Field.  Or, just come walk the trails and enjoy the view of the Sandia Mountains.

Happy New Year to you and your family!

Special Event:  Cranes & Cocoa Hayride

When:  Saturday, December 10 at 11 am (full) and 12 (Taking reservations)

Where:  Rio Grande Community Farm at Los Poblanos Fields.  One mile west of 4th St. on Montano.  Turn north onto Tierra Viva.  Park in gravel lot on your left.

Why:  To view the migrating Sandhill Cranes and Canada Geese and get a feel for winter at the Farm

How much:  $7/person, includes a hot drink of your choice and a spectacular view of the Sandia Mountains

How:  Seating is limited, so you must buy your tickets in advance to reserve your seat.  Purchase tickets online.  Or, call 345-4580 with your credit card information.  Or, send a check to 6804 4th St. NW, Village of Los Ranchos, NM 87107.  Please include your phone number and email address for confirmation and cancellation purposes.

The RGCF Dino Maize is excited to announce that the weekend of Oct. 1 will have 3 exciting special Events:

1. 10:00 a.m. on sat. Oct 1 is the Grand Unveiling of the “Dino World” Art Mural painted by well known NM artist Ann Marie Eastburn. This 12′ wide panel is designed for your children: full of surprises and hidden artwork, the panel also has cutout holes for your child’s photo picture.

2. Photo Sessions by Butterfly Photography. Come see the specially prepared fall themed photo backdrop. Get dressed up and have a professional photographer take that Holiday Photo at a very reasonable price.

3. Pumpkin Patch! Come select your fall pumpkin from hundreds of pumpkins in our pumpkin patch.

We will of course have all the dinosaur related games, the maze itself with 3 different routes, vendors, t-shirts, patting zoo and all the other fun things at the… DINO MAZE!

 

We hope to see you on August 10 at 7 pm for some world beat drumming by Mala Mana.  $10 adults and $3 kids (3-12). Please pay at the event.

The Rio Grande Community Farm seeks volunteers to deliver authentic agricultural experiences that nurture the connections between children, food, and the environment.

Farm tour docents/guides are responsible for guiding and supporting children ages 5-18 through farm and garden activities and transitions during each 2-hour farm tour.

Farm tour docents/guides must either desire or have experience working with children. They must also have a genuine love for children, a creative spirit, the ability to be flexible when needed, and lots of patience. We expect your first priority at the farm to be identifying and meeting the diverse and evolving needs of our farm tour guests. The main focus of the position is to support, engage, challenge, and enjoy the children.

Duties include assisting with all farm tour activities as needed; including daily set-up, inventory, and clean-up.

Farm tours occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 am and 12 pm. Farm tour docents/guides will be required to work a minimum of one 5-hour shift per month. Farm tour docents/guides will not work in December and January. Ideal RGCF farm tour docents/guides will commit to a one year term to allow for continuity in our education program.  Completion of the RGCF Volunteer Docent Training Program is required ““ cost of training program is $35.

Contact Julie Hirshfield at julieandgreg@comcast.net

 

Rio Grande Community Farm is seeking a farming intern. Please see the following Americorps Farming Intern position for more details.