“The U.S. will continue to lead culinary innovation by embracing international flavors and preparations, converting these into contemporary dishes that elevate the dining experience,” said Mr. Di Lemis.  “Today, there are many culinary trails being blazed by extremely creative chefs, farmers and mixologists.  Those that lead the way through the next year and beyond will do so with a profound understanding and integration of the dynamic, global marketplace.”

Trend #1        Rebirth of the Gentleman Farmer

Read on . . . . 

In what you might call a burgeoning table-to-farm movement, a small but growing number of companies are being launched around the country to answer that question, to help restaurants deal with the ecologically and economically expensive problem of food waste by composting it. Read on . . . .

Open to the Public for Participation

Have you ever wondered if Santa Fe has public vegetable, fruit, and flower gardens where you can get your hands dirty, learn how to tend a garden, help grow food, and even take some produce home for yourself? Fortunately, there are ten beautiful community gardens and farms accessible to the public in various locations throughout the the Santa Fe area. These gardens were created to offer a place for community members to plant and harvest their own fruits and vegetables. Some gardens are private but offer educational and volunteer opportunities. For instance, the Community Farm located on Agua Fria allows you to participate by offering some volunteer time to help grow and harvest food which is donated to local food banks and shelters in the Santa Fe area. Those who volunteer their time, as a reward, can take home some veggies and fruits for themselves. All of our great gardens and farms are contributing to the local food system of the City and County of Santa Fe. Whether buying directly from farms, or purchasing local food from grocery stores and farmer’s markets we have choices on how and where we get food. As we hear more about national food recalls there is an increasing desire to grow food right here in our communities and in our backyards.

Some of the work of the Santa Fe Food Policy Council involves assessing the food needs of our community and our access to food. Another priority is to promote the resources and organizations that are working to bring all of our residents fresh, healthy and nutritious food. Organizations such as Earth Care, the Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute, Farm to Table, the Santa Fe Alliance, Home Grown NM, among others, have done much to inform our community about food security issues. Many of them are involved in programs to help Santa Fe and surrounding communities grow more food and gain access to fresh healthy food for their families – including school and community garden programs.

Our community gardens and farms provide one of the are great resources for learning about our local food.. By participating in a community garden you not only get access to fresh foods that are delicious, nutritious and safe, you are helping to preserve our rich local heritage that is rooted in agriculture and farming..

If you’re interested in getting involved and learning more about the community gardens and farms in the Santa Fe area, or if you want to learn how to start your own garden, you can start by contacting or visiting one of the gardens or farms listed here.

CITY OF SANTA FE GARDENS

The following community gardens get assistance from the City.

How to Get Involved: Contact Jessie Esparza in the City Parks Division at 955-2106. A $15 fee is required at the beginning of the season, with the cost of any additional water being assessed to parciantes at the end of the season.

Sunny Slope Garden in Casa Solana Neighborhood
Location: Aliso Street off Sicomorro

Frenchy’s Garden
Location: In Frenchy’s Park at Agua Fria and Osage

Maclovia Park Garden
Location: Maclovia St. and Gallegos Dr.

Alto Park Community Garden
Location: in Alto Park for the La Madera and Barrio La Canada neighborhoods

A new community garden is being proposed in Alto Park.

How to get involved: Contact Consuelo Luz at luz@rt66.com

OTHER COMMUNITY GARDENS/FARMS

Agua Fria Community Farm

Location: Agua Fria Village, 1829 San Ysidro Crossing

www.santafecommunityfarm.org

Contact: Carolyn Stephenson at 505-983-3033 or communityfarmdesf@gmail.com

Railyard Park Gardens
Location: City of Santa Fe – Railyard Park at Alarid and Cerrillos

http://www.railyardpark.org/programs/

Contact: Railyard Stewards at 505-982-6975 or email info@railyardpark.org

Hopewell Community Garden

Location: On the Corner of Hopewell and Third Street in Santa Fe 87505
Contact: Earth Care at 983-6896 or info@earthcare.org

El Dorado School Community Garden
Location: Eldorado, NM: Behind the El Dorado Community School; 2 Avenida Torreon, Santa Fe 87508
www.eldoradoschoolcommunitygarden.com

Milagro Community Garden
Location: City of Santa Fe: 2481 Legacy Court (behind the Lutheran Church of the Servant)

Contact by email: Milagro_Garden@att.net

Tessa’s Garden
Location: Tesuque, NM
www.tessahoran.com

Contact by email: gardengeishas@gmail.com

Tesuque Village Community Garden Project

Currently seeking land for a community garden in Tesuque Village.

How to get involved: Contact Rebekah at 424-9475

Please fill out the survey to let us know which qualities are important to you in the Santa Fe-area restaurants you frequent with your family.

Completed surveys will be entered into a drawing for a gift card from a participating Farm to Restaurant eatery or other Santa Fe business.

Take the Survey!

In our current global food system, where food is mass-produced, sprayed with chemicals and transported hundreds of miles to get to your plate, I am proud to be involved in a project that counteracts this unhealthy system and takes us back to a more community-based way of acquiring our food thatrespects the earth, the food and the people who grow and prepare it.

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