Once the Mil Abrazos basecamp is finished, with a dining hall for 30 people, a large camp kitchen and lodging, a series of facilitated gatherings will take place to begin the design of this new agrarian settlement.
We will draw upon the experience of New Mexico’s indigenous population, the richness of the Hispanic Acequia culture, the ingenuity of the global Permaculture community, and the vast array of mentors in our region including elders, educators, farmers, builders, activists, artists and others.
Should you feel qualified to facilitate some of the phases listed below, feel free to contact us.
PHASE 1
Designing in the Face of Climate Change
At the onset of creating a new agrarian settlement, it is necessary to look at climate change to better prepare for its unpredictable effects on agriculture, water supply, ecosystem and human health. In New Mexico, we could very well experience floods, droughts, tornadoes, wildfires and hurricane-force winds as seen in recent storms.
How do we build and strengthen our living structures to brace for the extreme range of temperatures, and intensity of rainfalls and winds?
What kind of food crops do we grow that can withstand such extreme conditions?
How do we organize ourselves to provide food and community security?
How do we prepare and tool ourselves and the children for an uncertain future?
Stepping Back before stepping Forward
In order to design a new agrarian settlement that can be a reproducible, scalable and inspiring model for the reactivation of the Northern NM farmland, we need to understand the factors that have contributed to small agriculture becoming economically ineffectual, young people leaving for the city, less that 25% of the land being irrigated or tended in some areas, and entire communities that once grew most of their their food having fallen into disrepair. With the help of community mentors, we will address the elements of culture, economic drivers, community organizing and communal vision that must be considered to reweave cohesiveness, vitality and resilience in order to activate a vibrant New Mexico agriculture.
Bringing Culture back to Agriculture
An exploration of traditional cultures the world over, where art, music, rituals, rites of passages, celebration of patron saints and deities, dances and special seasonal ceremonies honoring the harvest and the farmers, were all part of agricultural life. Such activities bring joy, reverence and activation to the land from which we derive our food. Bringing these colorful and spirited elements back into agriculture, where the youth and elders are celebrated for providing food for the village-nation, is essential to reinvigorating the dynamic forces that have sustained our civilization from the beginning of time. GPS controlled tractors, artificial intelligence and robots can not replace the magic that once was, and still is in a few places like in the NM Pueblos, integral to harnessing the forces of Nature in joyfully and respectfully asking for their blessings on an abundant harvest.
Scaling down
Drawing on the experience of successful communities like Dancing Rabbit, the Possibility Alliance and organizations like Transition Town, we will take a look at the changes in lifestyle and consciousness that are necessary to transition to a successful and satisfying land-based existence. Downsizing, what is essential, what is enough, having less, needing less but having a better quality of life, sharing vehicles, co-parenting, collaborative cottage industries and more will be explored to educate people on the necessary steps to prepare themselves and their children for the future.
Decision Making
Envisioning, developing and managing a new agrarian settlement involves making a lot of decisions. Intentional communities use various forms of consensus with various degrees of success. It is one of the most sensitive issues in community, and this topic warrants a lot of inquiry, guidance and reflection, as it is key to attracting and retaining quality residents who expect to operate in an environment that is based on democratic principles: integrity, cooperation, honor and respect. We will look into new decision-making models such as Dynamic Governance (Sociocracy) which is gaining momentum in the management of community enterprises. It is a non-authoritarian organizational operating system that empowers people to make policy within their established domains, fostering better and clearer decisions.
Financing strategies to acquire land
Using community-supported funding (crowdfunding), friends or family loans, 0% interest USDA loans, and other creative means, we will explore how land can be purchased for people who have skills, willingness and community support, yet do not have capital or credit to finance land purchase through conventional bank financing.
Legal Structures and Land Trust strategies
Using non-profit structure, land lease and trust, in conjunction with private enterprise, we will explore creative means to secure land and return it to the commons, so it is no longer viewed as a commodity to be speculated on, guaranteeing stability and continuity for the caring and regeneration of farmland, and the anchoring of resilient agrarian settlements.
Community Governance
Successful communities rely on time-tested, and constantly evolving community agreements to ensure a fair and equitable sharing of community tasks and obligations. Drawing on the experience of the most successful communities around the world, we will explore how their decisions are made, resident members chosen, resources shared, conflict resolution handled, community and private cottage industries established and run, and stewardship of the land organized.
Creating the initial community infrastructure
Once land has been acquired, building basic infrastructure to begin living and working on a property is key to the well being of the first land stewards and the retention of community involvement. We will explore zoning and building codes, waste water requirements and the utilization of resources to create a functional and comfortable base for the incubation and growth of a communal farmstead.
PHASE 2
Land restoration
Most affordable farmland has been seriously eroded, overgrazed or compacted by mechanized and non-regenerative agriculture. Using Mil Abrazos’ 32 acres property, degraded by years of neglect, grazing and poor irrigation practice, we will explore strategies and techniques to regenerate the soil. Looking at a variety of means to allow maximum penetration and retention of water, and the establishment of beneficial microorganism and grasses, the use of biochar, fungi and algae, we will develop a long-term strategy to establish a mix of pasture, perennial crops, food forest, windbreaks and hedgerows, in order to provide food, fodder, firewood, fencing, pollinator support, as well as to shelter and feed beneficial wildlife.
Farming Practices
New Mexico is one of the toughest area for agriculture, yet the indigenous population and Hispanic settlers have survived on the land through a strategic utilization of rain and distribution of irrigation waters, and a mix of farming and ranching. Ancient and modern farming and ranching practices will be explored including but not limited to native corn, squash, beans, hemp, ancient grains (quinoa, amaranth, shorgum), medicinal herbs (to address the needs of the local health and opioid crisis), as well as rotational grazing with cows, goats, sheep, chicken, turkeys, etc.
Animal husbandry
Our surrounding area (3,000 irrigated acres plus 130,000 acres of free range grazing for Land Grant heirs) is primarily under hay with each family raising a few head of cattle. Original settlers depended on goats for their subsistence as they are well adapted to the New Mexico climate. Native people relied on hunting as well as agriculture and wildcrafting. In order to create food resilience and serve the local population, we will explore climate-adapted animal species that could be considered by the settlement residents, should they choose to raise animals.
Greenhouse production
Given New Mexico short growing season and harsh climate, we will explore various greenhouse technologies for year-round food production, season extension, and the sale of locally-adapted medicinal plant starts for other farms and local home gardens.
Ponds for irrigation, as well as food and algae production
Our area is dotted with man-made ponds used primarily for the drinking needs of cattle (and by resident and migratory birds). We will explore how to develop, restore and use ponds, as well as cisterns, for the irrigation of home gardens to provide fresh food, in particular during droughts. The cultivation of algae such as spirulina for food as well as fertilizer for crops, as well as the growing of grass carp and tilapia, will be explored in collaboration with the School of Trades, Advanced Technologies and Sustainability at the Santa Fe Community College.
Wildlife Habitat
A watershed like the Pecos is a wildlife corridor and flyway for migratory birds. Supporting the resident and migratory wildlife enhances the fertilization of farmland, pest control and the enjoyment of visitors. Partnering with conservation organizations, we will develop strategies to support wildlife, including mixed agriculture with flowers and berries to improve the health of the ecosystem, and in turns benefit the settlement from revenue generating eco-activities such as bird watching, wildlife photography, fishing and wildlife education for children.
River restoration
The Pecos River borders the Mil Abrazos property and is the source of our irrigation water. Partnering with local organizations like RiverSource, we will explore restorative educational activities for the local and urban youth to invigorate our portion of the watershed and support aquatic life, beneficial insects, trees and the resident population of mammals, snakes and birds.
PHASE 3
Human Habitat
The design of affordable, ecologically-sound and clustered living structures will be envisioned to comfortably accommodate a small community (15-30 residents) of single individuals, families with children, and elders, as well as small cottage industries. We will look at time-tested conventional earthen techniques mixed with modern design technologies and material, to guarantee the energy efficiency and longevity of buildings, and their resilience to climate change hardships. We will explore the use of energy alternatives to the grid, biodigestors, biofuels, and waste water treatments as they are essential to establishing resilient and ecologically-sound agrarian settlements.
Cottage Industries
It is well known that the current price of irrigated farm land is such that it makes it quasi impossible to pay off a mortgage from farming alone. In order to attract, retain and successfully anchor the new agrarians, we will explore a vast array of value-added and non-agricultural cottage industries that could economically support a settlement. Having chosen a property with easy paved access to a main highway (0.8 mi from Hwy 84), small manufacturing industries can easily use UPS/Fedex for shipping and receiving. In addition, we have installed 100Mbps fiber optic Internet at the property which make it possible for any tech business to operate from our rural location. Given that there is no recycling of glass, paper or metal in Guadalupe County, we will look at creating practical objects, tools and art with recycled and repurposed material as a means to generate additional revenues.
Eco-tourism
We will be exploring how to generate revenues through popular sites like AirBnB and Hipcamp, while an agrarian settlement is in development and land has been acquired, as well as a long-term economic strategy, to attract visitors to the settlement through “lunches at the farm” and selling locally-grown produce, locally-adapted plant starts and seeds, value-added products, crafts and art to visitors via a farm stand and boutique.
PHASE 4
Interface with the Local Population
A new agrarian village must first and foremost provide for its residents’ food needs, with the surplus being sold, traded or donated to the local population and school, since in most of rural New Mexico, local access to healthy food is nearly inexistent. An emphasis will be given to creating educational programs that inspire the neighboring population to grow food crops and develop non-agricultural cottage industries to rebirth a local economy and support the stewarding of family land and the care of elders. Anton Chico has an economic development center (formerly the Middle School) with a large meeting and dance hall, and a health department-approved commercial kitchen that can be used for value-added products.
Interface with the Urban population
Las Vegas (30 mi), Santa Rosa (40mi), Santa Fe (90 mi) and Albuquerque (118 mi). We will explore how individuals and families could benefit from the rustic comfort and activities of a successful working farm, enjoying food, people, animal, nature and life skills sharing activities. Homeschooling groups will be encouraged to use our facility for their educational weekends and summer camps.
Interface with nonprofits
The setting of a farm equipped with a large kitchen, dining room and bathroom facilities is ideal for organizations to host working or celebratory retreats. Good food, bonfire, gardens and river walks can help rejuvenate the spirit of all those in service of good causes around New Mexico. Non-profits focused on agriculture, food and climate justice, affordable housing, veterans and drug rehab, rural economic development and such will be invited to explore how to utilize the setting of our farmstead to conduct their staff retreats and programs.
Local children
A new agrarian settlement must make its educational and artistic offerings available to local children to reunite them with their traditions, and interest them in preserving and regenerating their ancestral land. In the Anton Chico Land Grant (120,000 acre), next to Mil Abrazos property, land gets passed down to the heirs and cannot be sold. We will look at partnering with organizations that inspire imagination, build community, and promote social justice through performances and hands-on experiences in the arts of circus, music and theatre to offer programs to the local children.
Co-parenting, homeschooling and teenagers
People desiring to live a land-based existence also want to homeschool their children. Unless a community is designed to accommodate children through their teenage years and into adulthood, rural communities are deprived of the essential labor and transmission of knowledge necessary to maintain food production alive. The setting of an agricultural settlement mixed with varied cottage industries is an ideal environment for the rearing and mentoring of children. Many parents and grandparents find that homeschooling enriches and enhances family bonds. Having elders on a settlement can also provide supervision and childcare, and the transmission of wisdom through story telling, while parents are working. We will draw on the experience of successful communities like Twin Oaks and Dancing Rabbit (US), Findhorn and Drumduan (Scotland), Earth University (Costa Rica) and and many others, to design a settlement, its governance and philosophy to give parents a variety of home schooling options, such as preschool, a homeschool cooperative and one-on-one tutoring with community members in their expertise.
Aging and Eldercare
In all traditional cultures, elders are revered, useful and essential to the care and education of children and young adults. One of the key tenets of a successful and long-lasting rural community is its ability to care for its aging population. This element will be central to the planning and design of the settlement. In conjunctions with eldercare organizations such as Coming Home Connection, we will explore how to support an agrarian settlement resident population through sickness, old age and the end-of-life. A small eldercare cottage industry will be considered as a source of revenues for the community.
PHASE 5
Permaculture Master Plan
Enhancing the program will be the initial creation of the Permaculture Master Plan for the property, taking in consideration all the elements of observation, analysis, exploration and input from participants through Phase 1-4. Experienced Permaculture designers will lead that process which will generate a blue print for the physical design of the property, including earthworks, structures, human facilities, water capture and storage, swales, ponds, roads, trails, and zones for food production, composting, trees, animals and wildlife.