The Mil Abrazos Community Land Trust (Mil Abrazos) is an offshoot of the now closed Gaia Gardens (2012-2015), a one-acre organic urban farm in Santa Fe. Mil Abrazos was created in August 2014 with a mission of acquiring and holding land in trust in order to provide for permanently affordable housing, sustainable agriculture, cottage industries and co-operatives, by forever removing the land from the speculative market.
In Oct. 2014, Mil Abrazos raised $38,000 through an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign, and grants from two anonymous donors.
In 2015, Mil Abrazos attempted to purchase the Gaia Gardens’ property, but that effort was unsuccessful.
In July 2015, after another round of opposition (from a neighbor and the City of Santa Fe) to the opening of a farm stand, Gaia Gardens closed its operation (see press coverage).
In November 2017, after looking for land for two years, Mil Abrazos acquired 32 acres of irrigated farmland in Dilia, New Mexico, 30 minutes south of Las Vegas along the Pecos River.
Mil Abrazos is now planning the creation of a new agrarian settlement.
The Mil Abrazos Community Land Trust founder
Poki Piottin is a seasoned entrepreneur, activist and organic farmer. He created Gaia Gardens, a one-acre urban farm in Santa Fe that operated from 2012-2015. He served on the Evergreen Land Trust Board of Directors in WA State from 2000-2003, and was instrumental in the restoration of Pragtri Farm, an Evergreen Land Trust property in Arlington, WA. He also served on the Santa Fe Farmers' Market Institute Board of Directors from 2013-2015. He derives great joy in nurturing creative land-based environments for the emergence of multi-generational and regenerative community. See Bio here
Bringing Food Home is a documentary on Gaia Gardens' journey from its inception to its closure 4 years later.
Bringing Food Home is a documentary on Gaia Gardens' journey from its inception to its closure 4 years later.
Mil Abrazos Community Land Trust is a 501(c)3
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