A property has been purchased in New Mexico
Dear Community,
It
is with great joy and gratitude that I am announcing that the Mil Abrazos
Community Land Trust (birthed out of the Gaia Gardens project in Santa Fe) just
acquired a 32 acres property in Dilia, NM, along the Pecos River, 30 minutes
south of Las Vegas off Hwy 84 and 1.5 hr. from Santa Fe.
The
property is located in a Land Grant dating back from 1822 with a rich tradition
of agriculture and ranching. The land is a typical
strip of irrigated rural New Mexico farmland with 32-acre feet of Acequia
water rights. The property has been heavily hayed and grazed over the
years and land restoration will need to be practiced to help fuel a dynamic
soil regeneration process.
After
looking for land for two years and traveling thousands of miles, New Mexico
called me back and my return has been a real love fest.
I
knew we touched a lot of people’s hearts and imagination when we were running
Gaia Gardens, but I never grasped the depth of hopes and dreams that were
shattered when we closed the farm.
I
can tell you now that it was all perfect.
That it was time for me and Dominique to get out of the line of fire
from our angry neighbor and a sluggish-to-evolve City administration.
We
have now affirmed that we are removing this little slice of Paradise out of the
speculative real estate market in
perpetuity (the purpose of a land trust), in order to develop a resilient and regenerative agriculture,
along with permanently affordable housing and other cottage industries, and a Permaculture education center.
I
am proud to say that this is the boldest act of civil disobedience I have ever committed
besides growing food inside the City of Santa Fe!
Our
first step is to meet the local culture and integrate respectfully in the
community.
Elders in rural New Mexico speak of a
need for healing. How do we design this project to help re-weave the
fabric of rural community, acknowledging a painful past of land grabs, poor
land management and other violations that often created fractured communities,
economic decline and social issues resulting in a progressive abandonment of
ancient subsistence agriculture traditions? How do we design our project
to help bring back younger people to care for elders and land? How do we
weave ancient agriculture practices with Permaculture technologies and
strategies to withstand the challenges of climate change?
New Mexico has rich agricultural traditions that have sustained its population for hundreds of years. The irrigated areas along our major New Mexico watersheds could and should be revitalized to provide a large portion of the fresh produce, vegetables, grains, meats, eggs and medicinal herbs for our region.
As a nonprofit, we will be partnering
with other organizations that work with regenerative
farming, watershed restoration, rural poverty, food justice, summer camps, hospice
care and more, and will be designing the farm to offer an inspiring and pristine
place for their retreats and activities.
This
winter will be spent observing the land and its patterns, remodeling the
existing structure to create lodging for interns and visitors, and repairing
the neglected irrigation system.
By the fall of 2018, we will begin a series of gatherings to start the process of
creating a master plan for the property.
I
will be at the property part-time and am happy to welcome visitors. The watershed is stunning, the birdlife
abundant and the night skies a treat. Feel free to reach me by email if you wish to
visit. Limited overnight accommodations are
available.
Thank
you for all your donations and support that have contributed to acquiring this
beautiful piece of land.
We
look forward to sharing our unfolding story with you.
Poki
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Mil Abrazos Community Land Trust is a 501(c)3
Donations of cash, stocks, vehicles or material goods are tax-deductible
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