News & Views from the Sustainable Southwest

New Mexico’s Acequias: Ancient Systems Still Viable in the 21st Century Water: Community Resource or Commodity?

¿Pala o pluma? ¡Los dos!

January 2014 New Mexico’s Third Largest Circulation Newspaper Vol. 6 No. 1 2 Green Fire Times • January 2014 www.GreenFireTimes.com www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • January 2014 3 SEVENTH RAY SKIN CARE Renew and Refresh 2019 Galisteo St. N8, SF, NM for the New Year • Microdermabrasion • MicroCurrent Lifting • Signature Triple Firming Facial Now that the Holidays are over, take time for yourself, relax and enjoy one of our many facials.

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Publisher Green Fire Publishing, LLC News & Views from the Sustainable Southwest Skip Whitson Winner of the Sustainable Santa Fe Award for Outstanding Educational Project Associate Publisher Barbara E. Brown Contents Managing Editor Seth Roffman A Bird’s-Eye View of Northern New Mexico’s Acequias...... 7 Art Director Anna C. Hansen, Dakini Design A Brief Acequia History ...... 9 Copy Editor Anatomy of an Acequia...... 10 Stephen Klinger The New Mexico Acequia Association: 25 Years and Counting ...... 13 Webmaster: Karen Shepherd The Acequia Movement in New Mexico ...... 14 Contributing Writers Juan Estevan Arelllano, Paula García, Jon Congreso de las Acequias ...... 16 Goldstein, Serafina Lombardi, Alejandro López, David Martínez, Sayrah Namaste, Quita Ortiz, Acequia Waters: Community Resource or Commodity? ...... 19 Najem Raheem, José A. Rivera, Sylvia Rodríguez, ¿Pala o pluma? ¡Los dos! ...... 20 Seth Roffman, Camilla Trujillo, Patricia Trujillo, Pilar Trujillo, Ted Trujillo How Do You Put a Dollar Value on Acequia Culture?...... 22 Contributing Acequias as a Sustainable Model for Hydro–Ecology ...... 23 Photographers Donatella Davanzo, Anna C. Hansen, Alejandro Ancient Systems Still Viable in the 21st Century ...... 25 López, Yasmeen Najmi, Seth Roffman, The Mayordomo Project Aims to Train a New Generation ...... 27 Sharon Stewart, Patricia Trujillo Escuelita de las Acequias ...... 29 PUBLISHER’S ASSISTANTs Lisa Allocco, Cisco Whitson-Brown, Somos Gente de la Tierra: The Sembrando Semillas Program ...... 29 Susan Clair Food Hubs in New Mexico / Book Profile ...... 31 Office Assistants Camille Franchette, Claire Ayraud La Cosecha del Norte: A Growing Co-op /San Ysidro Prayer, and Poetry . . . 32 Advertising Sales Farmer-to-Farmer Training in Mora...... 35 Skip Whitson 505.471.5177 [email protected] Newsbites...... 28, 35, 37 Anna C. Hansen 505.982.0155 hat s oing n [email protected] W ’ G O ...... 38 Lloyd Santiage Covens 505.236.8348 [email protected] Jenny Gallucci 505.620.5318 [email protected] Distribution Acequias Provide Insight into Sustainability Lisa Allocco, Barbara Brown, Susan Clair, Co-op cequias are the age-old, hand-dug, gravity-fed irrigation ditches in Dist. Services, Joe Fatton, Nick García, Andy Otterstrom (Creative Couriers), Tony Rapatz, northern New Mexico that make possible the cultivation of locally grown Wuilmer Rivera, Andrew Tafoya, Skip Whitson, Afood. But they represent much more than that. As a social system implanted John Woodie into the hydrological cycle for community subsistence, acequias constitute Circulation a place-based knowledge of watershed, intertwined with food traditions, 26,000 copies Printed locally with 100% soy ink on community and culture. They are an instructive example of democratic self- 100% recycled, chlorine-free paper governance, stewardship and sharing of resources. They are also the defining Green Fire Times structure of their ecosystem. The unlined ditches allow water to seep into c/o The Sun Companies and recharge local aquifers, providing a rich riparian zone for wildlife, shade PO Box 5588 Santa Fe, NM 87502-5588 trees and native plants. 505.471.5177 • [email protected] © 2013 Green Fire Publishing, LLC Acequia leaders have maintained that El agua es la vida: water is a life-giving common resource intertwined with the economic viability of local agriculture Green Fire Times provides useful information for anyone—community members, business people, for families in rural communities. During periods of drought, for generations students, visitors—interested in discovering the parciantes (water-rights holders) have collectively withstood water shortages. wealth of opportunities and resources available in Today, in response to climate change, they are sensitively integrating new our region. Knowledgeable writers provide articles on subjects ranging from green businesses, products, technologies. Will the acequias of New Mexico survive into the remaining services, entrepreneurship, jobs, design, building, decades of the 21st century and retain local water rights for community energy and investing—to sustainable agriculture, arts & culture, ecotourism, education, regional needs? Not if water rights are reallocated to the highest bidder for urban food, water, the healing arts, local heroes, native development. Fortunately in New Mexico, acequias, as an association of users, do have a say in water transfers perspectives, natural resources, recycling and more. because they are legally defined as local institutions of government. They are currently on the front lines, confronting Sun Companies publications seek to provide our readers with informative articles that support a powerful interests whose impacts would sever deeply cherished ties to water and land, our region’s unique legacy. more sustainable planet. To our publisher this means maximizing personal as well as environmental health by minimizing consumption of meat and alcohol. COVER: nmaa acequia photo contest winner “nieve en la presa” by irene córdova la placita northside ditch vadito taos county new mexico GFT is widely distributed throughout north- , , , central NM. Feedback, announcements, event Green Fire Times is not to be confused with the Green Fire Report, an in-house quarterly publication of the New listings, advertising and article submissions to be considered for publication are welcome. Mexico Environmental Law Center. The NMELC can be accessed online at: www.nmelc.org www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • January 2014 5 6 Green Fire Times • January 2014 www.GreenFireTimes.com A Bird’s-Eye View of Northern NM’s Acequias Alejandro López

ew Mexico is fortunate to have On yet another level, the village any number of cultural and acequia governance system made physicalN phenomena such as sovereign for a highly democratic form of Indian communities, historic Mexicano interaction between the people, as villages and adobe buildings. These well as for a democratic parceling- unique legacies set our state apart out of this precious resource in the from other regions of the country, lure context of a mostly cooperative tourists and make life interesting. They agrarian society in which everyone also challenge the state and its people to tended to watch out for everyone ponder new levels of their integration else’s good. As might be expected, into, coexistence with, or possibly even the mayordomo (ditch-master) was resistance toward mainstream culture’s accorded the respect enjoyed today reigning paradigm of endless growth by judges and other arbitrators. and “progress.” One can only imagine the The case of New Mexico’s intricate time and energy it took for the

system of acequias, numbering villagers of several centuries © Seth R offman approximately 800, is a classic example ago to dig out these channels, A canoa, hollowed-out logs over an intermittent stream, supported by a sawn timber of such a cultural artifact that has at times with wooden implements, frame, is a once-common structure that is still part of the acequia system that brings met with contradictory attitudes by as their predecessors had done in water to fields and pastures of the village of Las Trampas. nearly everyone involved in their use, other parts of the Southwest, México, subsistence agriculture, the incoming 20th century the Pueblo and Mexicano maintenance, administration and even Spain, Morocco and the Middle Americans had, by and large, other uses people were socialized and schooled appreciation, since American culture East, beginning with the dawn of the in mind for this same water. They were in institutions that undervalued the began to interact with the indigenous agricultural revolution at least 8,000 mainly concerned with its application regional labor-intensive agriculture cultures. At present, it is not known years ago. Indeed, so arduous was in the development of stock raising, as well as the traditional diet of the whether this historic, holistic system the task of building earthen dams industry (sawmills and mines), and people, in favor of large-scale, out-of- of water technology and distribution to hold back the water during times ultimately for urban growth, which, state agriculture and the importation will survive, thrive or all but disappear. of snowmelt and while digging the over time, has increased exponentially of foodstuffs such as sugar, coffee and acequia channels, that out of this and at present threatens to overtake white flour from other parts of the Urban growth enormous labor there arose a nearly any other use. world. New Mexicans were steered fanatical love of homeland (querencia) away from agriculture toward wage- threatens to overtake and a willingness to sacrifice oneself Throughout the second half of the earning jobs. Many people loyal to for the defense of one’s agricultural 19th century and first half of the 20th, any other use of water. the land attempted to do both but in community. This is a trait that one still both the Pueblo Indian and Mexicano At one time, these gravity-fed irrigation time discovered that such a regimen finds among many New Mexicans who people of the state continued to raise channels intersected most of the was deeply exhausting and mostly are tied to the land and to its hard-won, crops and feed themselves using their bottomlands of northern New Mexico unsustainable. Much of the water hand-wrought waterways. age-old systems of irrigation, although and made these lands into a virtual from the acequias was then diverted their populations were burgeoning and paradise, yielding copious amounts Among the first Americans to enter to producing cash crops requiring beginning to outstrip the land’s ability of fruit, vegetables and grains. Not New Mexico, there were many who little manual labor, such as alfalfa, or to sustain them. When the people of surprisingly, they also recharged the compared its landscape to that of was allowed to find its way back to northern New Mexico were deemed aquifers of each of the valleys that Egypt, not only because of its general the river, leaving the fields some lands to be poor by the government and they meandered through. According aridness, but also because of the life- uncultivated. In time the two peoples enrolled in state welfare programs, to our elders, the water in the acequias giving presence of the Río Grande, its who had acted as both the creators and commodity foods such as bulk cheese, in the early part of the last century many tributaries and the myriad oases stewards of these age-old waterways powdered milk and canned meat was so pristine that most people, that thrived as a result of the acequias. were forced by the prevailing conditions further undermined people’s sense of unhesitantly, drank from them. For Even though the majority of Pueblo to ignore, or relegate to a secondary self-sufficiency and connection to the some communities, such as Las Truchas Indian and Mexicano New Mexicans level of importance, their agricultural land and water. in Río Arriba County, there were no valued and made use of the water traditions, and with them, the acequias. other sources of drinking water. that flowed through their acequias for Coincidentally, other pressures were Concurrently, in 1907 the State Water beginning to be Code redefined the use of the acequias’ felt that would water resources in terms of water rights radically alter measured in acre-feet of water, as the landscape opposed to the duration of water use of people’s in irrigation as had been customary relationship during the Spanish and Mexican to acequias. periods. Furthermore, the state decreed During the a separation of water use from land use course of the and made it possible for people to lose © Alejandro López continued on page 10

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8 Green Fire Times • January 2014 www.GreenFireTimes.com A Brief Acequia History José A. Rivera

he acequias of southern Colorado forest timbers, brush and rocks at the more than four centuries, acequias have REFERENCES Glick, Thomas F. (1970). Irrigation and Society and New Mexico are the oldest diversion point, and the acequia madre maintained and preserved the irrigation in Medieval Valencia. Harvard University Press: Twater-management institutions in defined the landscape and demarked customs and mutual help traditions of Cambridge. the United States of European origin. the boundaries for irrigation for several earlier times. For the annual limpia, a Meyer, Michael C. and Michael M. Brescia These irrigated agrosystems date to miles downstream, extending the ritual held every spring to clean out the (1998). “The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo as a Living Document: Water and Land Use the time of Spanish settlement in riparian zone beyond the narrow ditch, parciantes everywhere renew their Issues in Northern New Mexico.” New Mexico the northern borderlands of Nueva confines of the natural channels. These strong attachment to their locality for yet Historical Review, Vol. 73, No. 4 (October, España during the late 16th century technologies of construction and another cycle of irrigation and community 1998). with the Juan de Oñate colony in 1598 irrigation methods were replicated by antiquity. On the feast day of San Isidro, Rodríguez, Sylvia (2006). Acequia: Water Sharing, Sanctity, and Place. School of Advanced and expanded after the De Vargas the successive waves of settlers into the one of the Taos acequias celebrates the Research Press: Santa Fe, New Mexico. resettlement of 1692. Due to the upper watersheds of the Río Grande patron saint of farming by holding a arid region, it was essential to settle Basin, fostering the growth of agrarian novena and evening mass at their chapel communities followed by a procession along the parish along the Camino roads and into the irrigated fields to bless Real de Tierra the sacred landscape of springs, ditches, Adentro from El corrals, homes, the chapel and other Paso del Norte religious shrines (Rodríguez, 2006). to Santa Fe and To build capacity and mobilize support, later to the Taos the acequia associations organize Basin and parts educational programs, technical of southern assistance workshops, and an annual Colorado, and meeting of the Congreso de las Acequias eventually the convened by the New Mexico Acequia San Juan Basin Association. Will the acequias survive to the west and into the remaining decades of the other tributaries 21st century? To the parciantes, water of the Canadian is inextricably linked to the survival Dr. José A. Rivera is a research scholar River to the east. of community and is vital to the at UNM’s Center for Regional Studies During the 1598- building of local food systems, healthy and professor of planning at the School of © Seth R offman Architecture and Planning, UNM. He is 1821 Spanish ecosystems, and a sustainable future author of Acequia Culture: Land, Water, El Rancho de las Golandrinas in La Cienega near Santa Fe colonial period, not only for themselves but for other and Community. [email protected] water resources rural and urban water stakeholders in were owned and managed by a the upper Río Grande. i near water. The irrigation technology community of landowners, “los dueños employed by the waves of pobladores de propiedad regable,” all irrigating from Acequia Culture: (settlers) was gravity flow of surface a single main canal similar to what was Water, Land, and Community in the Southwest water from rivers diverted to headgates found in medieval Valencia in southern By José A. Rivera, University of New Mexico Press, 1998 through a system of earthen canals. Spain (Glick, 1970). In New Mexico, La Cultura de la Acequia, Spanish translation of Acequia Culture Without the aid of survey instruments or each acequia system was built as a Universidad de Valencia, Spain, 2009 modern tools, early settlers engineered commons where the irrigators formed This book delineates an acequia culture based on a reciprocal earthen canals on the desert landscape agreements as a joint labor force. Their relationship between irrigation and community. The acequia by the use of collective human labor. path to self-government was aided experience grows out of a conservation ethic and a tradition of sharing that should be recognized and preserved in by the lack of municipal structures in an age of increasing demand for scarce water resources. These technologies the immediate vicinity to prescribe Rivera lays out the legal and administrative status of these their rules, appoint their officials, or to communal institutions, from their Old World roots to fostered the growth of manage their irrigation system. Arreglos, the contemporary period, and recommends a number of agrarian communities or local agreements, prescribed how public policy actions to sustain the acequia communities to govern their affairs and allocate into the future. along the Camino Real water resources in a fair and equitable The Historical Role of Acequias manner and, also, to resolve conflicts and Agriculture in New Mexico de Tierra Adentro. and disputes. By José A. Rivera, in Water Policy in New Mexico: The first step, as instructed by the Loose and informal, this cohesion of Addressing the challenges of an uncertain future, David S. ordenanzas de descubrimiento (Laws of Brookshire, Hoskin V. Gupta and Olen Paul Matthews, community members laid the foundation the Indies, 1573), was to locate a bend editors, Resources for the Future Press, 2012 for the evolution of the acequia associations, in the river or another suitable feature recognized and empowered later in the This book by a group of academics from multiple to build a diversion structure from territorial laws of New Mexico during disciplines addresses water policy and management which to capture water and turn it into issues in New Mexico, including specific topics such as the 1890s. Today there are about 800 local ditches. The presas, dams constructed water quality, endangered species, and the evolution of acequias in New Mexico and about 70 in of locally available materials such as new water-management institutions. the San Luís Valley of Colorado. After

www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • January 2014 9 A Bird’s-Eye View continued from page 7 their water rights even though they first is the progressive desertification Anatomy of an Acequia retained their land. of New Mexico, the rapid growth of its urban centers and the extreme Given the interplay of these many commodification of and competition complex forces, it is no surprise that for water resources. The second is a by the late 1960s the subsistence growing movement among Native agriculture for which New Mexico American and Chicano people to was known had shifted away from

asmeen Najmi recover the healthy traditions around self-sufficiency to a combination of

© Y land, food, water and work that they wage labor and part time agriculture. once had, which may be the only Symptomatic of this development La Sierra: The upper watershed and source of the snowmelt that creates the flow salvation for redeeming a generation is the fact that, at present, of the for rivers and streams that are diverted into the acequias through a diversion of youth mired in drug and alcohol approximately 9 to 12 original acequias structure known as a presa. The sierra, often under the management of the US abuse—the symptoms of physical and that once crisscrossed Santa Fe, all but Forest Service, is also the location of livestock grazing permits. spiritual dislocation from land, water three have ceased to flow. and the traditional cultures that had La Acequia: The acequia has both a physical and a social definition. The word once nourished them. acequia refers to the water canal that carries irrigation water from the stream to The decisions and fields and refers to the irrigation infrastructure along the way. The word acequia also refers to the community of families who use the acequia for irrigation. For actions of two example, one would say, “I belong to the Acequia del Monte.” opposing movements Presa: The presa is a small impoundment, historically made of rock, brush and logs, will determine the to divert water from the river to the acequia madre, or the mother ditch. Modern presas are usually constructed of concrete. ultimate destiny of New Mexico’s acequias. Compuerta: Individual farm headgates divert water from the acequia to the fields that are owned by individual parciantes, or irrigators, who own water rights along However, the late ‘60s was also the the acequia. period during which the American Indian and Chicano movements stirred the memories and aspirations of both peoples and inspired a new wave of activism in defense of their traditions and homelands. This resulted in a movement to protect New Mexico’s land and water resources. It emerged simultaneously from communities © Alejandro López such as Tierrra Amarilla, Las Vegas, Echoing the latter local movement Santa Fe, Mora and Taos in the form is a mainstream movement known of local, regional and even statewide through such terms as bioregionalism, acequia associations. These associations sustainability, permaculture and farm-

D rawing by Arnie Valdez have championed the plight of local to-table. The sometimes parallel values acequia communities and of the of these “isms” at times coincide with parciantes (water-rights holders and Parciante: Individual irrigators who own water rights are called parciantes. Each those of native farmers, while other users) over those who would separate parciante owns a derecho or a water right that is attached to his or her land. times they compete with and displace the land and water of a community for the local historically tied belief systems Comisión: The three-member elected commission of each acequia is responsible more industrial and urban purposes. around land and water. Be that as for certain decisions concerning the maintenance and operation of the acequia. They have also advocated for the it may, it is certain that northern maintenance and repair of the acequia Mayordomo: The mayordomo is the day-to-day caretaker of the acequia and the New Mexico has become one of the infrastructures and recently launched person who manages the irrigation system. Acequias differ in their local customs country’s hot spots for organic farming, mayordomo trainee programs and sharing water within the acequia and between neighboring acequias. heirloom seed banking, and now, the programs that stimulate the interest veneration of acequias, together with Derecho: Each parciante on the acequia has a derecho or water right attached to his of youth in the region’s agricultural the waters that flow through them. or her land. The derecho may be measured both in terms of approximate acreage and traditions. Both the New Mexico State also in terms of time or flow rate for purposes of water allocation by the mayordomo. Legislature and national and regional More and more, local restaurants and foundations have been responsive to stores, once the purveyors of almost Sacar la acequia: Each spring, the mayordomo organizes a work crew of peones requests for assistance in furthering exclusively out-of-state foodstuffs, are (or workers) to clean the acequia. Each parciante is required to participate in the these goals, and indeed, some progress purchasing locally grown fruits and spring cleaning by contributing peones in proportion to the amount of derechos has been made. vegetables to meet their customers’ owned by each parciante. demand. Another aspect of this Today we witness two opposing Regadío: Land that is irrigated along the acequia is often referred to as regadío. multifaceted movement to reclaim movements whose decisions and Irrigated lands of the acequias support pasture, orchards, crops and livestock. New Mexico’s potential to grow its actions will determine the ultimate During the summer, many parciantes take their livestock to grazing allotments in own food and use its water wisely is the destiny of New Mexico’s acequias. The continued on page 32 the sierra while allowing hay and pasture to grow on their regadío. i

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12 Green Fire Times • January 2014 www.GreenFireTimes.com NM Acequia Association: 25 Years and Counting Paula García

n 2014, the New Mexico Acequia water rights away from Association is celebrating its 25th agriculture to purposes anniversary.I It is humbling to mention such as subdivisions, such a milestone when acequias have resorts and industrial endured in New Mexico for centuries. uses. NMAA leaders Through their long history, acequias countered the adage have been keepers of tradition, the “water flows uphill to caretakers of water for growing food, money” and reframed and communities bound together for the water issue with Concilio of the NMAA (l-r): Jackie Powell, Don Bustos, Alfredo Montoya, Harold Trujillo, the common purpose of sharing water. the statement, “Water Antonio Médina, Gilbert Sandoval For many generations, acequias have is Life.” retained a great degree of autonomy the NMAA has worked to ensure that We measure our work in centuries and By the late 1990s, acequia leaders in local water governance and have acequias have a voice in state water in decades. It is important to honor recognized the importance of structural made possible the cultivation of locally policy. The Acequia Governance Project, the generations who came before us, change in New Mexico water law to grown food. This legacy of place- dedicated to strengthening acequia to keep our acequias flowing, our lands enact some protections for acequias. based knowledge of our watersheds, governance and implementing new under cultivation, and our waters They needed a stronger collective voice intertwined with food traditions, statutory powers of the acequias, was under the care of local elected officials in state water policy to have more community and culture is very much established during this same time frame. who have been doing this for the past st of a decision-making role in water alive in the 21 century. 400 years. Likewise, in this rapidly transfers. The NMAA reinvented A strong collective voice changing world, we seek to honor the The efforts of working toward the organization in 2000, so that it leaders of recent acequia history of the a common purpose began before could serve to collectively advocate for in state water policy past 50 years who have devoted most NMAA was founded, when acequias acequias, and created the Congreso de las of their lives to the continuation of the in various regions banded together Acequias, a statewide governing body. While water was a driving force in tradition. And we intend to encourage for a united legal defense in water- uniting acequias for a common purpose, and support the current and next After a two-year statewide organizing rights adjudication in the 1960s. the NMAA also embraced work generation of acequia leaders. NMAA effort, the NMAA led the passage of The first version of NMAA was focused on youth in agriculture through is working so that the intergenerational new laws to regulate water transfers established in 1990 by acequia leaders Sembrando Semillas (Cultivating Seeds) leadership of New Mexico’s acequias and protect water rights from loss for concerned primarily about the transfer and to encourage more people to serve can look back with respect and look non-use through water banking (both of water rights out of acequias and their acequias through the Mayordomo forward with hope that our vision of carried by the late Speaker Ben Luján attempts to change the use of those Project. Both of these projects build acequias can become more vibrant. i and Sen. Carlos Cisneros). Since then, upon the idea that acequias are not only about water; they are Paula García, about families, youth, food executive director of the NMAA, has and people entrusted with worked for many responsibilities to care years in areas of for the acequia. NMAA’s land, water and Escuelita de las Acequias community. She (Little School of the serves on the Acequias) is an approach to board of her local regional acequia association, La Asociacion experiential learning where de las Acequias del Valle de Mora. She is also youth and adult leaders find president of La Merced de Santa Gertrudis offman (2) R offman support, inspiration and de lo de Mora (Mora Land Grant), a Mora encouragement to fulfill County Commissioner, and president-elect © Seth © their devotion to their of the NM Association of Counties. Paula is NMAA staff at the November 2013 Congreso communities and acequias. raising a garden and her son Joaquin along an acequia in the Mora Valley.

NMAA’s Vision for the Future Ways to Support Acequias Acequias flow with clean water, people work together to grow food, and communities and Locally Grown Food celebrate cultural and spiritual traditions. People honor acequias as part of Reduce your water footprint by conserving water and lessening the demand to their heritage and express querencia through a strong connection to land and transfer agricultural water rights. A good resource for water conservation is the community. Our communities have an abundance of healthy, locally grown food New Mexico Water Collaborative (nmwatercollaborative.org). because we recognize agriculture as a respected and dignified livelihood and way of life. Buy locally grown food at your local farmers’ market or, increasingly, at local restaurants or grocery stores that purchase from local growers. For a listing of Guided by our core values, the NMAA grows a movement of people of all farmers’ markets in New Mexico, visit the website of the New Mexico Farmers’ ages and walks of life to defend and protect our precious water by resisting its Marketing Association: www.farmersmarketsnm.org commodification and contamination. Through involvement in NMAA, families and youth are inspired to cultivate the land, care for our acequias and heal Join the New Mexico Acequia Association and support programs to protect injustices. Knowledge and experience about growing food, sharing water and saving rural, agricultural water rights, support local acequia leaders, and mentor the next seed are passed on from generation to generation. generation of acequia farmers and ranchers. www.lasacequias.org

www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • January 2014 13 the Acequia Movement in New Mexico

10 9 20 19 13 1 5. Río de las Gallinas Acequia Association: 8 7 Established for collective defense in water-rights 18 6 adjudication, RGAA represents about 16 acequias. Best 3 4 known for fighting a 50-year legal battle against the City of 2 11 Las Vegas over the concept of an “expanding water-right.” 5 6. Río de Chama Acequias Association: One of the oldest regional associations, the RCAA (about 27 acequias) 21 has been very engaged in adjudication, water management 12 along the Río Chama, and education and outreach to its 23 members. Recently was involved in a basin-wide, water- sharing agreement with upstream La Asociación de las Acequias Nortenas del Río Arriba.

14 7. Las Nueve Acequias del Río Grande: Comprising nine acequias along the Río Grande near Alcalde and Velarde, Las Nueve was first established to resist a plan to build a large dam, which would have flooded acres of farmland. In recent years, Las Nueve has focused on acequia governance and infrastructure improvements. Local 17 15 acequia leader Alfredo Montoya, chair of the Río Arriba County Commission, led the effort to pass an agricultural 22 land protection ordinance and worked to enact one of the most strict oil and gas county ordinances in New Mexico. 16 Alcalde is also one of the three sites for a NMSU acequia multidisciplinary research project funded by the National Science Foundation.

8. Embudo Valley Acequia Association: Organized mainly around the activities related to water sharing, the acequias of the Embudo Valley are renowned for their produce. The valley is the site of the annual Celebración de las Acequias in June of each year.

9. La Asociación de las Acequias Norteñas del Río Arriba: Comprising nearly two dozen acequias on the upper tributaries to the Río Chama, Acequias Norteñas was 1. Taos Valley Acequia Association: Established in the 1980s when leaders also established for united defense in water-rights adjudication. Acequia leaders fought gentrification and land subdivisions in acequia villages such as Valdez. of the area were vocal in opposing oil and gas drilling in the upper watersheds Organized for united defense of acequias in the Abeyta adjudication for 55 where their acequia waters originate and advocated for strict controls. The Acequias community acequias. Reached a negotiated settlement with Taos Pueblo and other Norteñas leadership negotiated a historic water sharing agreement with the Río parties in 2012. The Taos Valley is also one of the three sites for a NMSU acequia Chama Acequias Association during the dry summer of 2013. multidisciplinary research project funded by the National Science Foundation. 10. Questa/Cerro/Costilla: Although very distinct communities, this area Acequias are prevalent in other areas of Taos County along the Río Pueblo, Ojo completed the adjudication on the Red River and succeeded in restoring water Sarco, Chamisal, and others. rights to hundreds of acres that had been omitted in the first survey of water rights. 2. Río Pojoaque Acequia and Water Well Association: Also one of the Recently, Questa acequias and the Village of Questa have protested a water transfer oldest regional acequia associations, the Río Pojoaque acequias have been involved to the Taos Valley. Acequias along the Río Costilla share a border with Colorado in adjudication for several decades, most recently culminating in the Aamodt and are carefully administered to meet an interstate water compact. settlement with the Pueblos of San Ildefonso, Nambé, Pojoaque, and Tesuque. 11. Jémez River Basin Coalition of Acequias: About 16 acequias in the area Elsewhere in Santa Fe County, acequias are active in the City of Santa Fe, La have developed a water-sharing agreement with the Pueblos of Zía and Jémez. The Ciénega, La Bajada. coalition was the first in the state to work together to prioritize infrastructure needs 3. Río Quemado, Río en Medio, Río Frijoes, Río Santa Cruz Acequia for Capital Outlay, and they united behind one package each year highlighting the Association: Established in the 1980s for collective defense of about 40 acequias in needs of one or two key projects. Additionally, Sandoval County has numerous water-rights adjudication proceedings. About 30 of those acequias are part of the Santa acequias in the Nacimiento Basin in the communities of Cuba, Ponderosa, and Cruz Irrigation District created in the 1920s to improve water supply for irrigation. others.

4. La Asociación de las Acequias del Valle de Mora: Representing over 12. South Valley Regional Association of Acequias: Although the Middle 30 acequias in the Mora Valley, AAVM was created about ten years ago to protect Río Grande Conservancy District absorbed much of the operation of irrigation acequias from upstream illegal diversions of water. Since then, they have established in the Middle Valley, historic acequias persist. Making a comeback to maintain a Family and Community Gardening Project. historic farmlands in irrigation, seven acequias have reorganized in recent years.

14 Green Fire Times • January 2014 www.GreenFireTimes.com Acequia leaders are currently protesting a water transfer from the South Valley to Santa Fe. In addition to the South Valley acequias, Bernalillo County, east of Albuquerque, historic acequias in Carnuel and San Antonio continue to be active.

13. El Rito Acequia Association: About fourteen acequias in El Rito and surrounding areas organized themselves for common defense in adjudication. The association has been active in outreach and community education in the area and is one of the three sites for a NMSU acequia multidisciplinary research project funded by the National Science Foundation

14. La Joya: A single acequia in the Middle Río Grande excluded from the Middle Río Grande Conservancy District has been instrumental in high-profile water transfers including a protest against Intel Corporation and another against the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Authority.

15. Upper Hondo Water Users Association: A network of acequias in Lincoln County has vigilantly worked to protect local water rights from diversions and transfers by the City of Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs. Local acequia leader, Jackie Powell, chair of the Lincoln County Commission, worked to enact a moratorium on subdivisions because of the scarcity of water.

16. Mimbres Valley: Water rights in the Mimbres Valley were adjudicated several years ago and are one area where the State Engineer has sought to administer water rights using meters. Local leaders scrutinized metering agreements and are working to retain autonomy over their own diversions while complementing administration of water rights by the State Engineer.

17. Monticello, La Cuchilla, Reserve: Acequias in this area protested a water transfer to Los Lunas and are involved in the protest of an application to appropriate water from St. Augustín Plains to the Middle Río Grande.

18 and 19. Acequia organizations have also organized in Gallina/ Capulín, Ojo Caliente/Río Las Tusas, Truchas areas to provide for a unified defense of water-rights in their respective water rights adjudication suits.

20. Community ditches in the northwest part of the state, the San Juan Water Users Association, are also organized and advocate for the community ditch water rights of the area.

21. Acequias in the western part of the state, in the Grants and San Fidel area have been involved in that adjudication for several years.

22. Tularosa Community Ditch: A unique community ditch in the town of Tularosa runs through the residential streets and on the outskirts, irrigating farms and gardens.

23. Guadalupe County is home to acequias in the villages of Tecolitito, La Loma, Anton Chico, Dilia, and Puerto de Luna. i

www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • January 2014 15 14th Annual Congreso de las Acequias Strengthening Communities in Times of Water Scarcity he Congreso de las Acequias, the governing body of the New Mexico Acequia Once a year, the Congreso de las Acequias meets to Association, was created to strengthen the collective voice of acequias in New approve resolutions that define the policy platform TMexico and for the acequias to have a vehicle from which to work toward a common and agenda of the NMAA and to elect leaders to vision. The Congreso is a federation of regions defined mainly by watersheds and govern the organization. The Congreso is the only a common stream system. Most of these regions have established associations of statewide gathering of acequias, and it is often attended by various dignitaries and acequias that work for their interests at the local level, such as adjudication defense elected officials to show support for New Mexico’s acequias. The annual Congreso or water-sharing agreements. Other regional acequia associations have expanded usually takes place in November. It keeps NMAA members and supporters their role to also include youth mentoring, leadership development and rebuilding informed about current issues affecting acequias, celebrates acequia culture with local and regional food systems. Some regions have not yet established watershed- music, and provides an opportunity for people to greet old and new friends. i based regional associations but may do so in the future.

Senators Peter Wirth and Carlos Cisneros gave an update on water policy issues Acequia supporters from around New Mexico, including US Congressman Ben Ray and a preview of the 2014 legislative session. Luján (2nd from left in front), attended the Congreso in November 2013.

Photos © Seth R offman Ignacio Gonzales contributes to the offering of water from acequias around the state. NMAA recognized outstanding farmers of the year Jasper and Orlina Tucker, who operate a winery in the Embudo Valley, and Lorenzo Candelaria and Dora Pacías, who operate a farm in Atrisco, where they are also involved in the Agricultura Network.

L-R: Fred Vigil, Río de Chama Acequias Association; Medardo Sánchez, Asociación L-R: Acequia leaders Harold Trujillo and Don Bustos shared insights about ways that de las Acequias Norteñas del Río Arriba; and Scott Verhines, New Mexico State farmers and ranchers are adapting to drought including crop selection, seed saving, Engineer, share their experience in creating a water-sharing agreement along the irrigation technologies and year-round production. Río Chama during the severe drought of 2013.

16 Green Fire Times • January 2014 www.GreenFireTimes.com Acequia Lifetime Achievement Awards Facundo Valdez (2013) is best known for his pioneering work in community health as the founder of the Social Work Program at New Mexico Highlands University and as the executive director of Sangre de Cristo Community Mental Health Services. His leadership has been appreciated locally and nationally in his service to the Con Alma Foundation and as a founding member of the National Council de la Raza. Valdez has served on the NMAA Concilio for over 15 years and commissioner for Acequia de San José along the Pecos River. Although he is retiring from the Concilio, he has been appointed as the founding member of the Consejo de las Acequias to advise on matters relating to acequia governance.

John Carangelo (2012) is a parciante of the Acequia de la Joya in Socorro County. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his efforts to protect acequias in his region. One of his many accomplishments includes a protest of a water transfer by the Intel Corporation from the Socorro area to Río Rancho. He was also the lead protestant in Carangelo v. City of Albuquerque. Along with a coalition of others, Carangelo challenged State Engineer approval of a permit for Albuquerque to divert 96,000 AFY from the Río Grande, which would impair downstream water users.

Palemón Martínez (2010) is well known as a leader in the Northern New Mexico Stockmens’ Association and the Taos Valley Acequia Association. Prior to that he had a long, distinguished career with the Cooperative Extension Service. Martínez was one of several early founders of the TVAA and has served as president for over 30 years. He was instrumental in achieving legal recognition of historic water-sharing customs in the water- rights adjudication process. He also served as the lead acequia representative in negotiations that resulted in the Abeyta settlement with Taos Pueblo. Understanding that no party achieved all they wanted in the settlement, Palemón and his TVAA colleagues persisted by attending over a hundred meetings per year relating to water-rights adjudication.

Río Chama Water-Sharing Agreement: Mutual Benefit by Cooperating Rising to the challenges of historic drought and water scarcity, in 2013 the leaders of the Río Chama Acequia Association and the Asociación de Acequias Norteñas averted crisis and a priority call by coming together with the Office of the State Engineer to negotiate a water-sharing agreement. The agreement followed the tradition of repartimiento (or sharing), which guides communities in distributing water during a shortage. Thus, while the Río Chama acequias have senior water rights, the shortfalls did not leave the junior Acequias Norteñas without water. All experienced reduced flows and received less than a full allotment. During a panel at the 2013 Congreso de las Acequias, Fred Vigil, president of the Río Chama Acequia Association, reminded attendees, “In a drought period pretty much nothing produces water; what a drought period does produce is cooperation, and that’s what we intend to do.” State Engineer Scott Verhines said, “We really did have a great collaborative effort between all of the parties—not only the acequias, but our agencies, to sit down and figure out how to do this.” Medardo Sánchez, president of the Acequias Norteñas, explained the process of working out legal options, bringing it back to his constituents and moving the group to consensus, and then meeting again with other stakeholders. All parties showed a deep respect for one another, as well the water—they have a model for the state of New Mexico that shows how acequia traditions can guide us through challenging times. www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • January 2014 17 “KICK ASS” GLUTEN FREE CRUST DELIVERY UPPERCRUSTPIZZA.COM

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18 Green Fire Times • January 2014 www.GreenFireTimes.com Acequia Waters: Community Resource or Commodity? Paula García

water transfer is the change of is fully appropriated, any new use based water rights are also vital to a water right from an existing comes at the expense of an existing use long-term water security for possible useA to a different use. For the past through the transfer of a water right uses other than agriculture, such as two generations, acequia leaders through a process regulated by New mutual domestic water systems. have been at the forefront of raising Mexico water law. concerns about the impacts of water Water transfers raise As the population of New Mexico transfers on agricultural communities. grows, especially in the urban areas, questions about the the demand increases to move water from irrigation to urban or other value of water. uses, and pressures are mounting on Beginning in the 1980s and 1990s, acequias and other agricultural uses. acequia leaders expressed concern network to resist the growing trend A common assumption is that water about water transfers, arguing that if toward the commodification of water in for expanding residential, commercial water transfers tend to go toward the the 1990s. After a multi-year organizing or industrial uses will be transferred entities with the most money, rural effort, by 2003, NMAA led the passage from agriculture. A typical example of communities could be dispossessed of new laws that authorized the role of a water transfer is moving a water right of the essential water that keeps them local acequias to determine whether to from an agricultural field irrigated with alive. During this time, there were approve water transfers out of acequias. surface water to a groundwater well some important protests to water Prior to having this authority, only that provides water for a municipality transfers in Ensenada (near Tierra the State Engineer could make such or industry. Amarilla), Mora and Anton Chico. A decisions. protest is a legal term used to describe Since the 1907 water code was enacted the objection to a water transfer in the The rationale for this new governance and codified into state law, water rights administrative proceedings of the State power for acequias was that it would have been defined as transferable result in decisions that could better offman (2) R offman Engineer. These early protests also property rights. Water transfers raise included a high-profile protest of water account for the needs of the acequia at

© Seth © questions about the value of water. rights from San Acacia (near Soccoro) the local level. Now that acequias have Acequia leaders have maintained that Miguel Santistévan and his students clean to Intel Corporation in Río Rancho. a say about water transfers, they also water is a life-giving common resource an acequia in Taos. The results were mixed, but it was clear play a vital role in shaping the future intertwined with community well- that acequias wanted a place at the table of their communities in the hope that In New Mexico, practically all water being, culture, food traditions and the with regard to water-transfer decisions. irrigated agriculture will thrive and in the state is appropriated through economic viability of local agriculture that communities can retain local water a system of water rights administered for families in rural communities. NMAA was formed in the late 1980s rights for local community needs. i by the State Engineer. Because water Broadly speaking, historic acequia- and served as a vital communications

Acequias: Ancient Water Governance Other than the indigenous nations and peoples of the Americas, acequias are the oldest form of government in present-day New Mexico and southern Colorado. Given the importance of water to survive in a high desert, it comes as no surprise that this region would be the center of water governance or could even be considered the cradle of water civilization. Acequias are rooted in North African and Iberian water-governance traditions brought by settlers during the Spanish and Mexican eras of colonization, but they are also grounded in the ancient water traditions and foodways of the Americas.

Water governance by acequias is rooted in the fundamental principle that water is so essential to all life that it has to be shared for the common good. Often referred to as the repartimiento or reparto, customary water-sharing practices made survival in a water-scarce landscape possible for many generations. Acequia customs of water sharing endure in a way that is unique to each acequia and collectives of neighboring acequias. Much of the day-to-day and season-to-season work of the acequia is concerned with the sharing of scarce water.

Acequias are also defined as local institutions of government in New Mexico. As such,acequias have two articles of state law dedicated to their governance. As public institutions, acequias also are eligible for state funding for their irrigation infrastructure. As local governments, acequias make important decisions about water management and public funds.

The New Mexico Acequia Association established the Acequia Governance Project in 2003 to strengthen acequias in local water governance by working to update their rules of operation or bylaws and by assisting with planning to make improvements to their irrigation infrastructure. To date, the NMAA has worked with over 400 acequias throughout the state and continues to attend numerous acequia meetings to serve as an information resource to acequia parciantes and © Alejandro López their elected officials, mayordomos and commissioners. Any acequia or community ditch can contact NMAA for more Somos el Maíz farm, Santa Cruz, NM information about the Acequia Governance Project. www.lasacequias.org

www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • January 2014 19 ¿Pala o pluma? ¡Los dos! (Shovel or pen? Both!)

Patricia Trujillo ike many kids who have homework, as I approached my tareaL de la Escuelita de las Acequias (School of the Acequias homework), all I could think about was playing. I’d rather be outside with the sun shining on me, digging my fingers The starting point to “Treasures of the Acequia: An Interactive into the dirt and concocting new Game Designed by HUM 100.” senses of joy for my spirit. For many of us who grew up on an acequia, the work associated with preparing the fields, planting and taking care of the rows, meant that little ones got to play alongside their family. As the youngest in my family, while others © Sharon Stewart were working, I familiarized myself with the acequia, literally from the Acequia de los Vigiles is one of two acequias that run through the Northern New Mexico College campus. This ground level. I’d jump down from the bridge straight into the acequia to see what is the acequia we studied. Mr. Roberto Valdez, a cultural wonders I’d find: magical spiders with deity-like powers to walk on water, fuzzy geographer, mapped the acequia using Google Earth to fairy cottonwood seeds floating down from the trees lining the ditch, and if I was give us a virtual tour. lucky, I’d catch a toad that my dad would let me play with until the end of the day. Despite my relentless entreaties, he would always say, “Deja aquí (leave it here), Close-up of one of the riddles they are good for the garden.” We learned about hard work through the joy of play.

Reading and writing are important and necessary, but we also have great and necessary land-based literacies.

Eventually, small tasks like picking and bundling cilantro were entrusted to me. Then, I was given rows to weed by hand. Finally, gloves and a pala (shovel) of my own, the short pala that dad especially brought for me, Patricia-sized. Playing prepared me for understanding the tools and the practice of work. This is the approach I took while enacting my NMAA tarea for the Escuelitas Project.

At first, my grandiose idea was that I was going to organize a campus- and Instructor Myrriah Gómez brought her class out and played alongside her students. community-wide limpia (cleanup) at Northern New Mexico College—to my Student taking notes as he plays the game. He said, “I need knowledge, the only college in the United States with acequias running through to look this up!” it. In my mind, hundreds—no, thousands—of people would show up to clean the acequias, so many people cleaning that the rocks would shine! Organizations would line the campus celebration with kioskos, where inspired students would instantaneously come to consciousness and dedicate themselves to their current studies and then dedicate themselves to become water- and land-rights attorneys, farmers, conscientious surveyors and community-minded planners. Yes, that was my vision. There would be música Nuevomexicana, puppet theater for the little ones based on Juan de Oso, a circle for elders to tell us community stories, and food—rows and rows of delicious food—like tamales, vino de capulín (chokecherry wine), biscochitos, pastelitos and delicately fried flor de calabaza (squash blossoms). Everyone would clean and laugh and learn and celebrate! Oh, and also, there would be the perfect amount of cloud cover and wind as to have my imaginary banners of all colors gently sway in unison with the leaves on the cottonwoods.

Needless to say, this is hard to plan. For two years, I’d mention my idea in meetings and classes, ask for volunteers on campus, and for two years, it didn’t happen.

Many people who played the game said that it was the first time that Students work together to solve the riddles they had walked the entire length of the acequia on campus. to move through the game.

20 Green Fire Times • January 2014 www.GreenFireTimes.com Education

My idea was always to create a community celebration of acequias through the critical educational concept of “multiple literacies.” We are trained to think of literacy just in the realm of reading and writing (formal education, book learnin’). For instance, if we say someone is illiterate, we often think “¡Ay, pobrecito, no puede leer! They can’t read!” This supports the erroneous concept of “pa’ la acequia or pa’ la escuela,” as if the two spaces were mutually exclusive. When we engage with multiple literacies, we can address the plurality of literacies. So, when we hear that someone doesn’t know how to irrigate, we can also say, “¡Ay, pobrecita, no puede regar!” Reading and writing are important and necessary, but we also have great and necessary land-based literacies. Having multiple literacies opens up dominant educational paradigms to connecting our cultural basis of knowledge to formal The starting point to “Treasures of the Acequia: An Interactive classroom spaces. It also insists that formal classroom teachers and students learn Game Designed by HUM 100.” Tesoros de las Acequias was previewed as part of the NNMC to “read” and “write” the land with us. We cannot be traditional land-based people Research and Creativity Symposium on May 2, 2013. In and be expected to learn solely in rooms that only give us windows to our culture, regards to sharing research, the game got people out of their seats inside to learning outside. our language and our practices. I want more than a view of these things; I want a full sensory perspective—mind, body and spirit.

So what came of my tarea, you ask? Back to the drawing table! In spring 2013, instead of imagining a project so large and overwhelming that it exists only in my mind, I reframed my own classroom. As part of a grant to support culturally relevant learning at a Hispanic-serving institution, I teach a college skills course called “HUM 100: Northern New Mexico History and Culture.” In this class, students transitioning to college are taught basic study skills and tips for student success by engaging in New Mexico history and culture as the content for the course. Paradoxically, I started the course by keeping my students in the classroom and reading from two textbooks: Nuevomexico: A New Mexico History Anthology and Academic Transformations. As the class took shape, I found myself Close-up of one of the riddles “wah-wah-wah-ing” in front of the room like the teacher from Charlie Brown cartoons. I’d lament, “Why aren’t these students reading? Don’t they care about their history?!” To engage them in culture, I used PowerPoint, Prezi, YouTube… you name it. Technology a la fregada. But, the enthusiasm in class was as flat as a rolled-out tortilla.

I tossed out my original class schedule and revised it after midterms. This time I practiced what I preach and combined literacies: books and acequias, palas y plumas. We read Acequias by Dr. Eric Romero, The Acequia Metaphor: Educating Hispano/ Latino Students by Levi Romero. We watched videos from the Acequia Youth Student Alejandra Duran setting up the game along the Project on YouTube, as well as Land, Water, People, Time, directed by Cynthia acequia. Gómez and David Lindblom. We went outside and read by the acequia. We spent time observing the water flow. Then students were asked to interview an elder about water usage in New Mexico. These water interviews were written up as essays that were shared with one another. Throughout it all, we were talking and connecting to Instructor Myrriah Gómez brought her class out these traditional practices. Students with firsthand knowledge shared with others and played alongside her students. who may have never worked on an acequia. We discussed why we should even care about acequias and how it connects to our identity formation as students at Northern, and people living in the Norte. As the students’ final project, they were charged with working as a community to organize a life-size educational game on the Acequia de los Vigiles. With about five weeks left of class, after discussing the concept of community organizing, I turned the class over to the students and let them run with it as community organizers. The accompanying photos illustrate parts of the process and how the game turned out. i Patricia Trujillo, Ph.D., is assistant professor of English and Chicana/o Studies and director of equity and diversity at Northern New Mexico College in Española, NM. [email protected]

Members of NNMc’s Humanities 100 New Mexico History and Culture Course • Tesoros de las Acequias Heather Apodaca • Debra Cata • Kenny Chávez • Daniel Denipah • Alejandra Durán Claire García • Rebecca Gutiérrez • Emma Hardison • Amanda Martínez • Denisa Nastacio • Ana Nava • Jasmine Quintana • Gabriela Rodríguez • Edgar Ronquillo Students work together to solve the riddles NNMC President Nancy “Rusty” Barceló and student Nathana Sierra Trujillo • Amber Tso • Manny Vargas • Mario Valerio • Jessica Valdez to move through the game. Bird at the end of the game with their prizes

www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • January 2014 21 How Do You Put a Dollar Value on Acequia Culture? Jon Goldstein, Juan Estévan Arellano, Najem Raheem

ow much is something worth? By distributing water from the high Academies of Science If you are looking at an ounce of slopes of the Sangre de Cristos, acequias has recommended in the gold,H a pound of rice or a barrel of oil, the literally provide the lifeblood of these wake of BP’s Deepwater answer is easy. Markets exist to set prices communities. They are also the defining Horizon spill. between buyers and sellers. But what if structure in the ecosystem. Their banks Climate change has you are trying to establish the value of are typically green ribbons in the desert, already been diminishing clean air and water, the cohesiveness of grown up with willows and grasses that winter snowpack in the your community or your health? What provide habitat for a number of species, region, and projections if you wanted to understand how much while the unlined ditches also allow water show this could get much each of these things was worth in order to seep into and recharge local aquifers. worse. As the Los Angeles to knit them together and establish the Understanding the value of the ecosystem Times noted last year, in value of an entire ecosystem? services these acequias provide will help the drought gripping the Economists call this establishing the us to protect this unique ecosystem as entire western US, New value of “ecosystem services” and believe pressures mount. Ecosystem service values Mexico was the driest it is no less important than setting the let us compare between different uses of of the dry, with reservoir right price for a barrel of West Texas water by using a common measurement: storage dipping to a mere crude. By working together, economists, money. The dollar value of acequia 17 percent of normal. ecologists, local residents and others can water rights or property development Even after the summer © Alejandro López help begin to set the values for the pieces is fairly straightforward to figure out; and fall rains and snow, that make up the ecosystem. Through by understanding the dollar values of three-quarters of the state continues to ecosystem services occur in which areas, study, interviews with locals and research, the ecosystem services these landscapes experience moderate or extreme drought. from the upper slopes of the sierras all values of clean water to irrigate crops, provide, communities can make better the way down through the solares and How will the acequia systems and or well-functioning wetland habitat for decisions in the face of these pressures. towns, the acequias and ciénegas to el río. landscapes cope with these pressures? Will aquatic species begin to come into sharper This is part of several papers they hope to What’s Clean Water an altered climate and less runoff mean focus. Understanding these values can publish in the scientific literature. What Really Worth? the end of these ancient systems and the help protect these natural landscapes in the team needs most now is participation For example, once values are established traditional villages that depend on them? the face of development pressures and a from local communities. The work to date for what economists term “non-market Or is the acequia half full? Is it possible changing climate. This understanding also needs to be discussed with community resource”—things like clean water or that this community-built and maintained helps scientists bolster what is working members to ensure that it is widely held wildlife habitat—these values can be infrastructure can actually provide greater and transfer lessons learned to other to be correct and understood. From there, included in policy considerations or resiliency and adaptability in the face of a landscapes that may not be functioning the team needs to start talking about cost-benefit analyses. For an acequia, drier climate? as well. what values people might hold for these establishing these values could help a It will take a few years for researchers to services, whether they are cultural or not. Putting a Dollar Value community seek full and just payment start developing answers to these and other This will involve surveys, interviews, and on Ecosystems from a developer seeking to alter the questions. But their effort will help protect a variety of other research methods. In July 2013, a team of scientists, policy landscape. Or, these values can be used these communities and the landscapes they experts and local citizens, led by Dr. to compensate a community when an Ultimately, the dollar values of these inhabit, as well as, potentially, provide us Steven Archambault of New Mexico ecosystem becomes degraded through an services are what you think they are. We all a lesson in how to better cope with a State University and Dr. Najem Raheem environmental accident. This approach, need your help to find out what our water changed world. of Emerson College in Boston, began to more fully and holistically value the systems—our ecology—are worth and such an effort to examine ecosystem worth of an ecosystem after a manmade Next Steps how we can compare those values to the service values in acequia communities in disaster, is exactly what the National To date, the team has assembled a economic values of alternatives. i northern New Mexico. Research Council of the National framework for understanding what Jon Goldstein, M.A., former secretary of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department and deputy secretary at NM Environment Department, is senior energy policy manager at the Environmental Defense Fund.

Author and community leader Juan Estévan Arellano has devoted most of his life to documenting the traditional knowledge of the Indo-Hispano in northern New Mexico, especially as it relates to land and water.

Nejem Raheem, assistant professor of economics at © Seth R offman Emerson College in Boston, received his Ph.D. in economics from UNM, writing his dissertation In the spring, parishioners and farmers gather in Albuquerque’s South Valley to bless an acequia and pray for rain. The San Ysidro on the acequias of El Río de las Gallinas. y Santa María de la Cabeza celebration honors the patron saint of farming and the Virgin Mary.

22 Green Fire Times • January 2014 www.GreenFireTimes.com Acequias as a Sustainable Model for Hydro–Ecology Quita Ortiz

ultural landscapes illustrate the links between people and the physical environment in which Cthey live. Throughout the world humans have developed a relationship with their surrounding natural environment, and the acequia system is a great example of a multifaceted social and physical structure that integrates nature, people and place, together achieving a sustainable model that clearly demonstrates resilience.

In recent years we’ve established a greater understanding of this resilience, from a research perspective, about how and why acequias have remained resilient while challenged with changing economic structures, climate change, a flawed food system and other factors. For the past several years, the New Mexico Acequia Association H amid R . Mansouri ad, R esources esearch Institute, New Mexico State U niversity Water has partnered with researchers at NMSU and UNM for a multidisciplinary project. In November 2013, Dr. Sam Fernald, who has been engaged in acequia hydrology research since 2001, spoke at NMAA’s annual Congreso de las Acequias membership meeting, where he presented years of collected data consumptively depleted and sent back to the atmosphere. About 33 percent seeps that essentially supports the claim made by advocates who have long proclaimed into the groundwater and flows back to the river, while the remaining portion the multidimensional benefits of acequias. moves through the ditch and goes back to the river as surface water. Additionally, the researchers looked down past the rooting zone of crops and found a response The hydrological cycle is a term that most of us are familiar with. But what about to irrigation seepage—acequia flood irrigation actually recharges the aquifer, as the concept of a “hydro-social cycle?” Acequias are at the outlets the irrigated valley acts as a sponge, retaining the excess water of snowmelt basins, and as irrigation ditches, they divert water Years of data support that’s not utilized by crops. What does this mean? One thing from a river and use gravity-flow to deliver water to agricultural it means is that flood irrigation is not the water-hogging villain fields. When acequias were being established, the variations in the multidimensional that many water-conservation advocates proclaim. Rather, it local topography dictated each acequia’s uniqueness. Acequias also actually conserves water because it acts as an underground make up a social structure in which the irrigation water is locally benefits of acequias. reservoir that holds water upstream for longer periods of time. managed by the community according to its bylaws. When we combine the physical attributes of a ditch with its related social arrangement, we Since the Acequia de Alcalde diverts water from the Río Grande, the ongoing have what researchers are referring to as a hydro-social cycle. It’s a social system that research expanded studies into different sites including El Rito, which is a very dry implanted itself into the hydrological cycle for community subsistence. An acequia’s system, and acequias along the Río Hondo near Taos, with conditions somewhere link to its bounding watershed inherently tasks the system to be sustainable. For in between. In addition to hydrologic contributions, acequias are also beneficial example, less snowpack results in less runoff, which means there will be less water to the ecology. Species biodiversity is maintained when acequias distribute water for irrigation. During drought periods, for generations acequia irrigators have through the valley landscape, supporting the riparian vegetation that provides collectively withstood water shortages, which has helped to shape the sustainable wildlife habitat. nature of acequias. This repartimiento concept of water sharing developed into a Drought can have a major impact on acequias. Other than the obvious reduced collection of customary practices rooted in the knowledge of the land, watershed, water for crops, it also results in reduced herds, which negatively impacts acequia and a varying water supply. systems because of the close connection between the valley and the upland. Dr. In Dr. Fernald’s summary of the research Fernald’s research argues that the core of acequia resiliency is in the ability to adapt highlights, he asserted that “acequias to change, even when hit with stresses from land use, economics and climate. actually create the conditions for their From a sociocultural view, the study also found that if you retain ownership of own self-perpetuation,” referring to their land, you inherently possess certain family values, local knowledge and strong ties ability to adapt to changes in climate, to cultural traditions that help mitigate some of the impacts. economic structures and other influences. Looking ahead, the current research tells us that we’ll face a reduced water supply. Additionally, acequias provide many Tree ring data show that in the past acequias faced very dry periods that lasted hydrologic and ecologic benefits. Acequia between 75 and 150 years. It’s probably part wisdom and part geographic luck that leaders and advocates throughout the state acequias were established in their particular physical landscape, have long known about these benefits, but, regardless, the end result is still the same: acequias are a but now they have objective research to sustainable water management system that is well-suited to support their claims. In his early studies, adapt to external and internal changes. i Dr. Fernald focused mainly on acequia hydrology using Alcalde as a study site, Quita Ortiz is the communication and project specialist for the NMAA, © Seth R offman where he found that only between 7.4 and where she works on the Mayordomo Project, the NSF-funded Acequia Dr. Sam Fernald 15 percent of diverted water is actually Research Project, and acequia resiliency and restoration planning projects.

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24 Green Fire Times • January 2014 www.GreenFireTimes.com del are llano / From the Arid Land

Ancient Systems Still Viable in the 21st Century Juan Estévan Arellano

he acequias of the 21st century are going to be very different from Tthose of the past. As new technologies are introduced, a lot of the traditional knowledge that goes back centuries will slowly erode until it is known only to scholars of ancient systems.

This past summer, probably due to the drought (which will only be exacerbated by climate change), a lot of problems that nobody thought about suddenly showed up as a prelude to what is ahead in the near future. In the Embudo Valley,

the repartimiento, the traditional way © Seth R offman of sharing water in times of shortage, In July 2013, acequia leaders met in La Ciénega with foreign dignitaries from a number of Middle Eastern and North African simply didn’t work. But that was only countries. The dignitaries—government officials, academics, educators, industry representatives and technical experts – were there one factor. In the past few years, the as part of a water resource management project funded by the US Department of State’s International Visitors Leadership Program. introduction of new technologies has written in Spanish, all of a sudden had to many people, due to new technology, the old irrigation systems and compare thrown a monkey wrench into how be translated into English. Most of the are pumping water above the acequia, them with their own. Events such as water was used in the past. old terminology, such as surcos, melgas, something that wasn’t allowed in Celebrando las Acequias have brought a Scholars from all over the linderos, eras, regaderas, cabeceras, has the past. The ones to blame are the lot of scholars from different disciplines disappeared, as have the old concepts of commissioners and mayordomos who together to discuss the role of acequias as world are starting to notice the landscape: altitos, jollas, vegas, ciénegas, don’t know their duties. part of the landscape. esteros, ancones. New Mexico’s acequias. As there are now more and easier ways Finally, the acequias and those who The workers, or peones, have also changed. to communicate, there is less face-to- work the land are getting noticed and Another coming clash is the competition Before, the acequias were worker-owned face communicating, as parciantes use recognized for what they are doing for water between commercial growers cooperatives where the parciantes were the phone, Internet, texting and other to provide local, organic produce at and what orchardist Fred Martínez calls also the workers. Families were big, types of social media. In the past, the affordable prices to those who don’t plant. “hobby farmers.” I saw this inching up so there was always a younger sibling mayordomo would take the water directly Farming is being looked at with more since the drought of 2001, when there coming along to work in the acequia. to whoever was going to irrigate, and respect by the youth, as many of them was a major disagreement between the Today most of the owners, whether once his time was up, he would come and want to get back to the land. The only bigger farmers versus those who plant newcomers or from the established old remind the irrigator that the time was up obstacle is the price of farmland, which only for family use. families, are getting older and older. In and then deliver it to the next parciante. is way too high. Then there’s the lack of involvement or our acequia, many of the parciantes are Today the NMAA serves as an advocate But if the ancient acequias continue to apathy on the part of most parciantes in their 80s, 70s, or 60s, with very few for acequias in getting legislation passed show that their parciantes are willing to (water-rights owners) that is rampant in between 40 and 50. And those that are in Santa Fe. The Acequia Association’s embrace some aspects of new technologies all acequias, as well as absentee landowners. still working no longer live here; it has Governance Project is helping hundreds without abandoning their traditional In one particular acequia, over 50 percent become a “bedroom community.” of acequias update their bylaws, and knowledge, they will survive. i of the landowners are absentee owners. Today’s acequia workers all are salaried it offers many other services. Groups This has created problems when it’s time employees, and as far as they’re concerned, such as the Arid Lands Institute of to elect commissioners and mayordomos. the more days they work, the better for Woodbury University in Burbank, Calif., Several acequias last year couldn’t find them. And to top it off, many of them are the University of New Mexico and New mayordomos. When this happens, it not very good workers. They have no idea Mexico State University are also offering puts a lot of pressure on the elected of how to handle a shovel, or worse, how their expertise. The state of New Mexico, commissioners. to clean the acequia. It used to be called “la through the Environment Department, Then, added to the mix of problems saca de la acequia” (digging). Then, in the is helping develop watershed plans and is the clash between newcomers and past 20 years they were mostly “limpiando is monitoring the Embudo River for traditional acequia users who are mostly la acequia” (cleaning), and lately many turbidity, which helps the acequias deliver © Anna C. H ansen Indo-Hispanos. This started to happen have told me all they do is “barrer la clean water to farmers. And farmers’ Elena and Juan Estévan Arellano in the late ‘60s with the coming of the acequia” (sweep the canal). markets help make it possible for farmers to sell their produce locally. Juan Estévan Arellano and his wife hippies. As a result, the acequia meetings, We now also have people without water Elena raise heirloom fruit and vegetables instead of being run in Spanish as rights who have been allowed to irrigate Scholars from all over the world are in the Embudo area of northern New before—out of respect, the elders told because they volunteer to be ditch- starting to notice New Mexico’s acequias. Mexico. Arellano, a 2013 NM Community Foundation Luminaria Award recipient, me—started to be conducted in English. riders. Since they don’t own water rights, They have come from México, Spain, The old bylaws, which were simple and is the translator-editor of the book Ancient they can’t serve as mayordomos. Also, Argentina, Chile and Morocco to study Agriculture. [email protected] www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • January 2014 25 26 Green Fire Times • January 2014 www.GreenFireTimes.com THE MAYORDOMO PROJECT AIMS TO TRAIN A NEW GENERATION Sylvia Rodríguez

ayordomos historically have been the keepers of tradition and knowledge about their stream source and their community. Through respect, diplomacy andM a careful measure of authority, skilled mayordomos have kept acequias flowing and fields irrigated for generations.

The Mayordomo Project began in late 2008 as collaboration between the New Mexico Acequia Association and the UNM Ortiz Center for Intercultural Studies. The purpose of the project is to affirm the important role of mayordomos in acequia irrigation, agricultural traditions and water-sharing customs. The project supports

the continuation of this tradition by honoring existing mayordomos, documenting © Seth R offman their practical local knowledge and developing ways to share this knowledge with Mayordomo Project Team: At NMAA’s 2013 Congreso, founders of the Mayordomo people who want to learn the art and skill of mayordomía. Project were honored for their work on a pilot mentorship project between Gilbert Sandoval (2nd from right) and his daughter Juanita Revak (woman in red) in the Jémez Valley. Other team members were Kenny Salazar (center), Elise Trott, David García and Sylvia Rodríguez (3rd from right).

The final and most critical phase of the Mayordomo Project will involve year-long (or more) internships, during which an experienced mayordomo guides and instructs a promising and committed recruit to take over the job on his or her acequia. For generations, people have learned how to be mayordomos by watching and doing. The Mayordomo Tool Kit is meant to supplement but not replace this all-important, face-to-face process. The NMAA is looking for teams of individuals willing to undertake internships. These internships will be supported and monitored by the NMAA in order to learn from them and continually improve the process. Mayordomía should be fostered as an economically viable “green job” for young men and women in the 21st century. © D onatella avanzo Public policy is needed that fosters the development of mayordomía as an The annual limpia in the spring (shown here near Dixon) is a time when people from economically viable vocational choice or “green job” for young men and women in the area get together to prepare the acequia for the first flow of irrigation water. the 21st century. In order to survive and adapt to modern conditions, mayordomía de la acequia must ultimately become a socially valued, salaried job with benefits. It The methodology of the project is community-based participatory action research must be recognized as a vocation essential to acequia irrigation as a resilient social- (PAR), whereby a community of interest defines a problem it faces and seeks to solve ecological system and as a successful model for managing water as a commons. i it through a collaborative group process of investigation and action. A team comprised Dr. Sylvia Rodríguez was raised in Taos. She is the author of Acequia: Water-sharing, Sanctity, of Kenny Salazar, Gilbert Sandoval, Sylvia Rodríguez, Juanita Revak, Quita Ortiz and Place. A professor emerita of anthropology at UNM, she has worked with NMAA on the and Elise Trott has carried out the project. The work evolved through several stages, Mayordomo Project since 2008. [email protected] beginning with planning and design, followed by the recording and transcription of pláticas or interviews with mayordomos in a variety Mayordomía Educational of communities, field trips to observe and record video of la limpia Toolkit Available (ditch cleaning) and other acequia work, and review an analysis of the materials collected. Over 40 pláticas were conducted, a number The NMAA has produced an educational toolkit that includes: • The Art of Mayordomía 30-minute film of them by Estévan Arellano. A pilot internship was also carried • Mayordomo Handbook & Field Guide — A practical guide to out, whereby Gilbert Sandoval, mayordomo of the Sandoval ditch seasonal mayordomo duties in Jémez for over 35 years, began to prepare his daughter, Juanita • Movie poster template (to announce a screening) Revak, to become a mayordoma. • Guiding questions for community dialogue

Two project goals include the production of a 30-minute The $25 kit provides tools to engage acequia parciantes and video about the mayordomo crisis and the urgent need to community members in a conversation about the challenges facing recruit new mayordomos; and a practical handbook or field acequias in continuing the mayordomo tradition. The materials are guide that describes in detail the duties and responsibilities also appropriate for educators and researchers who want to explore issues of water, acequias, food, agriculture and community as part of a mayordomo. David García narrated and composed an of their curriculum. original theme song for the video, which is titled, The Art of Mayordomía. The video and handbook have now been compiled Host a film screening—The NMAA encourages communities to into a Mayordomo Tool Kit. The handbook is considered a host screenings of The Art of Mayordomía, community dialogues living document that will be revised periodically, according to and other cultural or educational events inspired by the toolkit. feedback provided by those who use and test its practical value. For more information, contact Quita Ortiz at the NMAA: 505.995.9644 or [email protected]

www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • January 2014 27 NM Recycling Coalition Launches Food Waste Program TheN ew Mexico Recycling Coalition’s “Reducing Food Waste in NM: Feeding the Hungry, Building Our Soils and Diverting Waste with Food Management Best Practices” program will provide trainings, resources and market development support to implement food-waste reduction, donation and diversion programs. The campaign, which has received a $50,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation, launches this month, targeting food-handling operations in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Río Rancho and Santa Fe. “Food waste is currently the single largest type of material entering our landfills. Americans throw away up to 40 percent of their food, while nearly 15 percent of US households don’t know where their next meals will come from. It’s time to feed people, not landfills, by working with businesses to properly divert food waste to become food for the hungry or to be composted into soil,” said NMRC’s director, English Bird. To learn more, visit www.recyclenewmexico.com. reunity resources: Moving Mountains with Commercial Compost If you care about the environment and where your dollars go to help keep our air clean, our landfills less filled, and think composting is a key way to reduce our use, Reunity Resources has a solution for you. The Santa Fe nonprofit has been awarded a contract with the city for a pilot food-waste collection program that will allow local restaurants, hotels, community centers and nonprofit groups to have their separated food waste collected and composted into valuable nutrient-rich garden dirt, which will be available for purchase. “Our program is designed to divert up to two million pounds of food scraps from the landfill in its first year of operation. That is enough organic material to create a pile as high as Mount Everest,” says Reunity Resources founder Tejinder Ciano. That amount of waste requires additional funds to purchase the equipment necessary to launch the program, and so Reunity has launched a fundraising campaign to help meet its operational goal of $143,000. For more information and to vote with your dollars for a sustainable food-waste reduction plan, call 505.629.0836 or visit http:// www.indiegogo.com/projects/moving-mountains-with-commercial-composting

28 Green Fire Times • January 2014 www.GreenFireTimes.com Escuelita de las Acequias: Mutual Support for Intergenerational Acequia Leadership

n creating the Escuelita (little school) de las Acequias, the New Mexico Acequia rights and don’t let Association (NMAA) envisioned acequieros and acequieras of all ages learning anybody take your fromI one another and cooperating to manifest the vision of acequias flowing with water rights. My clean water, people working together to grow food, and celebrations of culture and favorite activity has acequia tradition. Embracing the principle that everyone is a teacher and everyone been the singing is a student, the Escuelita is a space for learning through dialogue and shared work. and the songs. It’s Each year, the NMAA works with some 30 adults and 10 youth leaders through a fun.” Ignacio is one series of encuentros (gatherings). Each participant commits to a tarea or community of several youth project and shares experiences with the whole group. involved with NMAA’s Sembrando Joseluís Ortiz, originally of Peñasco and now living in Albuquerque, has long had an Semillas program in

interest in supporting his community and in social justice. Ortiz was a participant © Alejandro López Chamisal. in the Escuelita and has been embraced as an upcoming NMAA young leader. Asked about his Escuelita experience, he said, “By honoring the elements of life Martha Trujillo has served as a commissioner for her acequia for several years in and love, La Escuelita opens a space that strengthens deep understandings… It has the Pojoaque area and has recently taken on a new level of leadership as a result fueled my need to fight for our water, land and ways of life. One of my favorite of her participation in the Escuelita. “Escuelita gave me a level of awareness on parts of La Escuelita is the ongoing intergenerational exchange of knowledge and how big the acequia community really is. My focus has been my local acequia, the transfer of energy and wisdom.” Ortiz also has an important leadership role but the community is statewide! Without the Escuelita I had kind of forgotten with Los Jardines Institute in Atrisco. the love, that water is life. Without it you won’t exist—without love you won’t exist—without investing something it won’t grow.” Trujillo was recently elected to Ignacio Gonzales of Chamisal tagged along to his first Esceulita at age 9, accompanying the NMAA Concilio or board of directors and also serves on the Santa Fe County his parents and two older siblings, and became one of the most enthusiastic Water Committee as the acequia representative. i participants. “Escuelita got me to plant more,” he says. “It has taught me about our acequias, and how we’re supposed to keep our water clean. Don’t sell your water

Somos Gente de la Tierra The Sembrando Semillas Program Pilar Trujillo

hen we started the Sembrando unique platform from which to become and Community Gardening Semillas Program (“Planting community leaders on issues that affect project, and there are a few Seeds”)W in 2006, the purpose was to land-based people. We believe that the other sites that are in the create an inter-generational agriculture key to creating positive social change in planning stages. Each site is program to inspire the next generation our communities comes from a deep love unique and creates its own

of parciantes (acequia irrigators) and and respect for our land, water, air, seeds projects. © Seth R offman increase the cultivation of foods that are and community. For that reason, we strive The preservation of native, culturally and spiritually meaningful to to foster a sense of querencia, or love of landrace seeds is another focus of the numerous presentations on their learning our communities. place, within our local youth by affirming program. Some of the traditional crops and work. We also include trainings and their identity as land-based people, or Many of the youth in the program have grown from seeds that have been passed workshops for the youth on leadership gente de la tierra. an innate knowledge of food traditions down for many generations include: development, policy advocacy and acequia and acequia culture by way of being raised alverjón (peas), habas (fava beans), maíz issues in general. in agricultural communities. What we’ve Positive social change concho (white corn), papas (potatoes), The youth are our future. It is our hope come to experience is that the youth who based on a deep love calabaza (squash), chile, pinto beans, as that the Sembrando Semillas Program can participate in Sembrando Semillas are well as various fruits. and respect for our help support our local youth to become often unaware of how much wisdom they While planting activities are the the generation that maintains a part of already have about food traditions, natural land, water, air, seeds fundamental basis of the program, a sense our culture that is essential: that we are resources and the challenge of growing and community of querencia comes from more than just inextricably tied to the land and water. food in the high desert. planting; it comes from pride in one’s Somos gente de la tierra. i In the Sembrando Semillas Program, We believe that having a background in heritage and sense of place. To cultivate youth learn about seasonal agriculture Pilar Trujillo is a project acequia agriculture gives these youth a this querencia, the youth participate in many activities from mentors in their specialist for the NMAA. other activities. In the past several years they respective communities through hands- She works in the areas Over the years, some of the youth have built an horno (outdoor oven), learned of food, agriculture and on experiential learning. The main have created digital storytelling how to make capulín (chokecherry) jam, leadership development demonstration site is in Chamisal, pieces about their food traditions or made chicos (traditional roasted corn) from through projects including led by mentors Juliet and Edward the Escuelita de las experiences in the program. You can the corn they grew, learned about traditional Gonzales. Other sites include a project Acequias, the Food and see some of these stories by visiting uses of herbs, orchard maintenance and in Alcalde through La Tierra Charter Seed Sovereignty Alliance, www.youtube.com/acequiayouth beekeeping. Subsequently they have given School, in Mora through the Family and Sembrando Semillas. www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • January 2014 29 Ask us about Zirconium Implants for people with metal allergies!

30 Green Fire Times • January 2014 www.GreenFireTimes.com Business Movement continued from page 9

Food Hubs in New Mexico Sayrah Namaste

ood hubs are not new in New agribusinesses and federal subsidies, we’ve Yet with the recent rebuilding of food quality control and consistency of product, Mexico; there have always seen a shift to a more aggressive and hubs in New Mexico, the communal especially when farmers work together to been“F sustainable food systems,” says competitive model of agriculture.” values of land-based people are evident. fill large orders for institutional buyers Patrick Jaramillo, of the American Last summer AFSC brought 30 farmers such as public schools. The AFSC- Friends Service Committee (AFSC). Small-scale agriculture from across the state together to build affiliated farmers are selling to grocery “But way back, it was just called ‘the appropriate for our relationships and collaborate on ways to stores and co-ops in Española, Los community.’ Traditional agricultural feed New Mexico communities. Ranging Alamos, Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Las communities throughout New Mexico environment, as a in age from 18 to 70 years old, the farmers Cruces; three public school districts; the have produced the food they needed to matter of policy, has been shared stories of why they farm and their Mora senior citizen center, and a daycare sustain themselves for more generations actively discouraged. connections to the land. At the conclusion in El Paso, as well as numerous restaurants than can be remembered,” Jaramillo says. of the meetings, they agreed to work and farmers’ markets throughout the state. Over the years, many of the components “Now food hubs are being rebuilt by collaboratively to increase the capacity of New Mexico’s food system have been AFSC provides logistical support to farmers and land-based advocacy groups for NM growers to meet market demand. dismantled and destroyed by a long series of the co-ops and networks by helping like the AFSC and the New Mexico policies that, whether by design or because Due to the range of climates in New with sales, invoicing and delivery, as well Acequia Association.” of unintentional consequences, made it Mexico, farmers can support each other’s as technical assistance to incubate the AFSC has been helping develop food very difficult for the state’s long tradition markets. For example, when heavy rains farmer networks in their infancy. AFSC’s hubs in New Mexico through three of sustaining its people to continue. flooded farms in Anthony last fall, setting farmer-to-farmer training program is farmer networks: Agri-Cultura Network back production, Española farmers sent community-based, hands-on education “New Mexican farmers have to operate in Albuquerque; La Cosecha del Norte: A their produce to help fill existing orders that honors the ancestral knowledge of within a system that operates on a set Growing Co-op in the Española Valley; for customers in Las Cruces. Since New Mexican farmers like Don Bustos of policies designed to remove people and Sol y Tierra Growers in southern Anthony has a longer growing season to mentor beginning farmers and connect from the land and push them into a New Mexico. The nonprofit AFSC has than northern New Mexico, those them to farmer networks for marketing wage economy in the name of progress,” linked the farmers they’ve trained and farmers are able to send produce north in their produce collaboratively. i says Bustos. “The practice of small- the networks they’ve developed to move the winter to help Española farmers fulfill scale agriculture appropriate for our To learn more about this initiative, visit: food throughout the state, collaborating demand for local produce as production environment, as a matter of policy, has www.afsc.org/newmexico to meet the demand for local food and to slows in the coldest months. AFSC has been actively discouraged, while large- support local farmers. also built 19 cold frames in New Mexico, Sayrah Namaste scale factory farming has been promoted so that farmers can grow in the winter. is co-director of the “Traditionally, all land-based people and subsidized.” This has created a American Friends grew food and used a bartering economy situation where New Mexican farmers Farmers trained by AFSC have been Service Committee- in New Mexico, sharing communal must compete with wealthy industry, taught the same methods for crop NM. She raises her lands and acequias,” explained AFSC- developers and municipalities for the selection, planting, harvesting and post- daughter and a family garden year-round in NM Co-director Don Bustos, who precious little land and water available in harvest handling, which has helped with Albuquerque. farms his ancestral land. “In the rise of this high-desert oasis.

Acequia: Water Sharing, Sanctity, and Place Native American FooD Hub Being Developed By Sylvia Rodríguez, Last month at the Southern Pueblos Council monthly meeting, US Department School for Advanced Research Press, 2006 of Agriculture Rural Development State Director Terry Brunner presented a certificate of obligation to the Acoma Business Enterprise, LLC, to develop a This book, winner of the 2007 Association of business plan and marketing study to expand the marketing of produce grown Latino and Latina Anthropologists Book Award, by Native American farmers through a food hub. Brunner said, “This strategic investment will help Native farmers find new markets for their products and offers is a fascinating account of the interaction of water, st faith and landscape in northern New Mexico, a path to sustainable farming in the 21 century.” The $75,000 grant, made through detailing the historic management of water and the Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) program, promotes development its impact on daily life in the Taos Valley. of small and emerging businesses in rural areas.

Every society must have a system for capturing, storing and distributing water, a system encompassing both technology and a rationale for the division of this finite resource.T oday, people around the world face severe and growing water scarcity, and everywhere this vital resource is ceasing to be a right and becoming a commodity. Rodríguez places her acequia study in this global arena. Many northern New Mexicans still gather to clean the ditches each spring and irrigate fields and gardens with the water that runs through them. Increasingly, acequia associations go to court to defend their water rights against the competing claims brought by The Native Food Hub will be the first of its kind in the nation. Some pueblo population growth, urbanization, and industrial or resort development. Their farmers, at the end of the growing season, have found that they usually have an insistence on the traditional “sharing of waters” offers a solution to the current abundance of produce not being sold or utilized. A food hub will offer a location worldwide water crisis. where producers can deliver their goods for processing and distribution to market.

www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • January 2014 31 La Cosecha del Norte: San Ysidro Labrador A Growing Co-op Prayer by Ted Trujillo A Mi Glorioso Padre Eterno, humildemente amilla rujillo C T te doy gracias por la vida de tu servidor, San Ysidro Labrador, Patrón de los labradores. osecha del Norte (harvest of the north) is a co-op comprising 10 Española El cual que por los siglos nos ha mantenido, vuestro sembrado libre de langostas y Valley area farmers seeking to make chemical-free, healthy local fruits temblores. Pidemos a tu servidor, San Ysidro Cand vegetables available to community members. The co-op sells to schools and Labrador, que por tu sudor y trabajo con que businesses. Cosecha del Norte stands apart from the other two growing co-ops in fuites fatigado, liberta vuestro sembrado New Mexico sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) del ladrón acostumbrado de no tener temor in that most of our members come from an historically long line of farmers and al Criador de esta Tierra. Liberta vuestro ranchers. As descendants of the first European colonists who came to north-central sembrado de la tempestad, de la sequía y del granizo que daña vuestro labor, le pedimos por New Mexico, we have been guided, desde chiquitos (since we were children), to el amor del Gran Señor. San Ysidro Labrador, manage seeds and acequia water wisely. Cortesano del Señor, Hasta el año venidero, nos despedimos de ti. Adíos mi querido Extending the paradigm from the village Santo, San Ysidro Labrador, te dejamos en la Artwork by R on García, santero from E l Carmen, NM compañía del Gran Señor. into the greater community

When we were invited to get together and form a grower’s co-op, the tricky part was not necessarily the actual growing of food, but more about creating time to Yo Soy part IV by David Martínez meet regularly and invest ourselves as farmers in becoming better producers. What did that mean to a bunch of busy people whose families were, for the most part, I am Tlaloc, He who makes things sprout. Carrier of water and words already producing enough corn, beans, squash, fruit and meat to satisfy the needs to mythical lands of green and acequia. of their families? Mostly it meant extending that paradigm from the village into I wear belts of clouds and fists of rattle thunder the greater community. It also meant being willing to share farm plans, seed and walking on foam, like equinox aguas y retoño know-how to increase yields and I carry you on my back, brown como soquete fill orders. y sangre, en sacos de guangoche and cleaned out Clorox jugs. Our approach to meeting our goals I submerge these palabritas de mata was to get to know each other better en tierra y sudor and familiarize ourselves with each letting them come to fruition in this time and space of chorritos and calloused markers. other’s farms and families. So, for the Escribo en arboles que dan vida y fruta first year our monthly meeting was to ancient children, that learn cosecha y regar. held at members’ homes. From Santa Cruz to Velarde to Chamisal and Chimayó, I am you, before las venas del Español we would break bread and discuss the logistics of successfully filling an order to, came and harnessed you, your mind and force for example, Cid’s Food Market in Taos. That was something most of us had never both powers to be tamed and reckoned with, taking Christian name even considered doing, but something a few of our members had accomplished. and pila de bautismo as your own. I am Río Grande and acequia Madre, We began to discuss the possibility of supplying our produce to the public schools. queer and fluid, damning and sustaining With the assistance of AFSC, our members found themselves becoming more in the entrance to birthright and homeland mi terreno sin frontera o puente. mis hijos tune with the concept of growing together to supply a larger amount of greens I drink of myself, mis antepasados mis ojos for sale. At the end of our first year, we received our letter of incorporation from Madre Tonantzín y tierra. mis palabras. the state of New Mexico. We were now one body represented by several farming De estas aguas viven mi gente Yo soy agua. families. At that time, AFSC began showing us how to broker our produce: Mondays, all available produce is taken into account and calls are made to interested buyers. By Wednesday, the washed and prepped produce is picked up and delivered ird s ye iew continued from page 10 to the stores. Within a couple of weeks, invoices and payments are recorded and A B ’ E V checks sent out to the member/producers of La Cosecha del Norte. A percentage presence of large numbers of immigrants who are willing to roll up their sleeves of each sale is invested back into the co-op. The last quarter of 2013 has been and throw themselves wholeheartedly into the work required to make northern encouraging, with sales approaching $4,000. We even got the first contract with New Mexican plots productive again. They deserve respect for keeping many a Española Valley Schools: 150 pounds of local red chile for the children’s Frito pies! small farm alive.

As we take a small breather for the holidays, Cosecha del Norte is thankful. We Will New Mexico’s youth, in spite of the rigor involved, join in to truly make have hung in there and are beginning to savor the fruits of our mutual labor. In this a sustainable movement, and in the process, create for themselves a life 2014 we hope to continue our relationship with Sostenga, the farming program vibrant with all that the Earth and its water resources has to offer? Certainly in at Northern New Mexico College, where our monthly meetings are now held. We 50 years’ time we will know which of the two opposing paradigms will prevail: hope to increase our production and get even more local food into our schools that of nearly indiscriminate water consumption in the service of maintaining and grocery stores, thus strengthening our ancestral food a Midwestern-like urban and suburban lifestyle, or one traditions and water rights. Our first meeting of the new year oriented toward the affirmation of indigenous cultures and has been scheduled for farm planning and seed ordering. Our local food production. i grandparents would be pleased. i Alejandro López is a photographer and writer in Spanish and English. He lives on an acequia and uses its water to raise crops. In 2012-2013, Camilla Trujillo is a grower/member and treasurer of La Cosecha del he served as coordinator of La Escuelita de las Acequias program of Norte. She teaches pottery at La Tierra Charter School in Española. the New Mexico Acequia Association.

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34 Green Fire Times • January 2014 www.GreenFireTimes.com Farmer-to-Farmer Acequias Get Support in Farm Bill Training in Mora Serafina Lombardi eniva “Peggy” Boney has been produce. As part of AFSC’s work to farming in the Mora Valley for 31 build more farm infrastructure, the years.G She now teaches beginning farmers Boneys were given a 30x70-ft. passive her successful farm model through a solar cold frame for season extension. AFSC farm trainers Don Bustos and Patrick Jaramillo helped the Boneys build it, and the NMAA recruited interested community members who also learned how to do it. Students from Highlands University, NMAA’s The farm bill is under consideration by a conference committee of members of the US House and Senate. The New Mexico Acequia Association joined with several Sembrando Semillas youth program other state and national organizations in calling for a full and fair farm bill that and the Mora Family Garden Project, will support local and regional food systems, beginning farmers and historically as well as local residents, have attended underserved farmers and ranchers. One of the provisions included in the House farming workshops at the Boneys’ version of the bill was a measure introduced by Congressman Ben Ray Luján, which farm. would make acequias and community ditches eligible for a conservation program Peggy Boney of the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service called the Environmental The Boneys, along with their trainee, Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). This would streamline the application Mabel Medina, participated in the process for acequias in the hope that acequias will have greater access to federal cost- farmer-to-farmer training program AFSC statewide farmer meeting with share funds for water efficiency and conservation projects. The measure received created with the American Friends bipartisan support from the New Mexico congressional delegation. The provision 30 other AFSC-affiliated farmers. Service Committee (AFSC), the New would benefit acequias in New Mexico and southern Colorado. They shared tips on how to prevent Mexico Acequia Association (NMAA) wind damage to cold frames and ideas and La Asociación de las Acequias del Valle on sustainable farming. Boney’s farm The NM Food and Seed Sovereignty Alliance de Mora. “I’ve never had the opportunity accepts farmers’ market WIC (Women to train anyone besides my The future of New Mexico’s rural communities is connected to the agricultural children, so this has been an traditions that have sustained them for countless generations. An integral part of adventure. It’s great to have this is the practice of saving and sharing native seeds. Each seed contains a wealth trainees by my side that are of information carried forward by the farmer who plants it, unique knowledge of the landscape and the growing conditions. The seeds also bring communities together as passionate about farming through the practice of sharing seed with neighbors, friends and colleagues, then as I am,” she says. ultimately through the bounty of sharing meals. Boney’s farm is well known The New Mexico Food and Seed Sovereignty Alliance was established to play a in the area, and her farm role in helping rural communities continue this tradition, to promote the cultural stand at the local growers’ practices of seed saving and sharing, and to protect heirloom seeds from genetic contamination. Founding members include the New Mexico Acequia Association, market sells out quickly. Native American Farmers’ Association, Honor Our Pueblo Existence, and Tewa People drop by her farm Women United. regularly to purchase from Some of the Alliance’s accomplishments: her directly, and every AFSC trainer Patrick Jaramillo teaches cold-frame • Declaration for Seed Sovereignty (2006) spring she has a waiting list construction. • Women’s Declaration for New Mexico (2007) of people who want to buy • NM Senate Joint Memorial recognizing the significance of indigenous agricultural her sweet peas. Boney is one of the only Infant Children) checks, which enable practice and native seeds to NM’s cultural heritage and food security local farmers in the state who sells to a low-income mothers to buy her organic • Memorial for Protection of Native Chile senior citizen center, providing freshly food. In just four months, she collected The Alliance also hosts an annual heirloom seed exchange in which native and harvested salad, tomatoes and green 1,100 WIC checks. traditional farmers from acequia and pueblo/tribal communities come together to beans in the summer and fall. share seeds and stories. This event has attracted as many as 300 attendees and over By irrigating with acequia water and 100 heirloom seed-savers. Inspiration for experimenting with drip irrigation, the Boneys’ farm provides inspiration For more information, contact Pilar Trujillo: [email protected] or visit the realization of for the realization of community food http://www.lasacequias.org/food-and-agriculture/seed-alliance/ community food sovereignty: creating access to nutrient- The Native American Seeds rich produce for the most vulnerable Protection Act of 2013 sovereignty and demonstrating collaboration Boney and her husband agreed to across organizations Tribes are increasingly concerned with the threats of environmental and genetically use their family farm as an AFSC and generations. i engineered contamination of Native seed. Two members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation, Reps. Michelle Luján Grisham and Ben Ray Luján, demonstration site for the training Serafina Lombardi is a have recently introduced legislation that supports the preservation of Native seeds; program, which runs from May through farmer/rancher specialist seeds that are used for cultural, religious, medicinal, ceremonial and agricultural November. Trainees learn to plant, for the NMAA. She also purposes. Under the legislation, which has been referred to the House Agriculture harvest and irrigate with both the serves on the board of the Committee, tribes could get grants from the US Department of Agriculture for acequia and the drip system; and they Santa Fe Farmers’ Market. research, education and training programs that protect the purity of Native seed, clean, package, can, dry and sell the and for construction of seed-storage facilities. www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • January 2014 35 G.L. Runer Electric Inc. 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36 Green Fire Times • January 2014 www.GreenFireTimes.com NEWSBITEs PRC Reverses Decision on Renewable Energy New Mexico Environmental Law Center Awards After a backlash from renewable-energy advocates, last month the NM Public The New Mexico Environmental Law Center has Regulation Commission reversed its November 2013 decision, advocated by the awarded its Karl Souder Award for Water Protection NM Industrial Energy Consumers Group (NMIEC), on how to value solar energy to William C. Olson. Olson, former chief of the in the renewable portfolios of the state’s power companies. Critics charged that the groundwater quality bureau of the NM Environment decision had been made without public input and without any discussion about what Department, retired in 2011 after holding that position the overall impact and tradeoffs would have on the state’s economy at a time when for seven years. Previously, he worked for the Oil the solar industry has been booming. Conservation Commission’s environmental bureau for nearly 13 years. After his retirement, he continued The commission’s abrupt about-face makes the value of solar energy equal to wind to work to protect groundwater resources, working energy. The commission also lowered from three to two the number of credits for the department as a consultant and, most recently, utilities earn for other types of renewables, such as geothermal and biomass. Prior testifying as a private individual against the adoption to November, the credits were one-to-one. Investor-owned utilities are mandated of the current copper rule. Marcy Leavitt, who received William C. Olson to provide 15 percent of customer electricity from renewable sources by 2015, and the award in 2012, presented the award to Olson at 20 percent by 2020, and must acquire 30 percent of renewable generation from wind, an event in Santa Fe last month. “Bill was seen as a knowledgeable scientist and a 20 percent from solar and 5 percent from other sources. regulator who was fair to those with whom he worked,” said Leavitt. “He remains one of the strongest advocates for clean water.” NMIEC, which represents some of New Mexico’s largest electricity consumers, includes the University of New Mexico, the City of Albuquerque and Intel Corp. The Law Center gave its Toxic Turkey Award to Ryan Flynn, secretary-designate of among its members. The industry group has also been pushing the PRC to reject a the NM Environment Department . The Law Center gives that award to “a person PNM plan to add 23 megawatts of solar to its electricity system. Despite this, the or group that has shown extraordinary disregard for New Mexico’s environment.” PRC approved the plan, which calls for three new solar generating plants in Valencia According to the Law Center, Flynn “has made every effort to offer up New Mexico’s and Sandoval counties. Under a 20-year contract, the utility will also purchase 102 public health and natural resources to irresponsible polluting industries, including megawatts of wind-generated electricity from the Red Mesa Wind Energy Center, 50 copper mining and industrial dairies.” For more information, visit http://nmelc.org miles west of Albuquerque, slated to open in 2015. To cover its additional renewable energy costs, PNM will add about 83 cents per month to the average residential bill. Renewable Energy Day at the Roundhouse Local and national opinion polls confirm that large majorities want, and are willing Saturday, Jan. 25, 10 am-2 pm; Press Conference, 11 am to pay for, cleaner electricity, especially solar. With 300 days of sunshine, New Mexico has the New Mexico’s Energy Profile potential to lead the nation in renewable-energy development, creating jobs, improving the The US Energy Information Administration, in an updated state energy profile, says economy and reducing water use. The economic, that New Mexico is currently the third-largest net energy supplier of petroleum and environmental and social benefits of renewable natural gas to the nation. The agency also highlighted the state’s substantial potential energy and energy efficiency will be celebrated at for solar, wind and geothermal energy. There are nearly a dozen commercial wind the state capitol on Jan. 25. The event will provide farms in operation, with more on the way. The USEIA profile says that with New opportunities for people to learn about the latest Mexico’s statewide electricity demand relatively small, more transmission capacity developments in the RE field and to network is needed to reach markets in Arizona and California. New Mexico is also second to with people who are working to improve New Wyoming when it comes to producing mineral leases on federal lands. Mexico’s energy future. A diverse array of advocates, including community groups, New Mexico’s Green Jobs business associations, public institutions, workforce development associations and homeowners will have information tables at the event. New Mexico’s unemployment rate of 6.9 percent (2012), while comparable to Texas and better than that of neighbors Colorado, Arizona and Nevada, and better than the The press conference will feature mayoral and gubernatorial candidates, legislators, US average, is still considered dismal. The real problem withN ew Mexico’s economy youth, and industry specialists who will share their policies and plans to help grow is that it is not creating jobs fast enough; in fact, the state’s job creation rate is the the RE industry in New Mexico. Free parking will be available in the facility at 420 worst in the nation. Galisteo St. Information: 505.310.4425 or [email protected]

The one area where New Mexico and Colorado have been beating the competition The Clean Economy Conference: ABQ: Feb. 1-2 in job creation in the Southwest is in green jobs. In both states, about 3 percent of all The Carbon Economy Series, a New Mexico jobs are in green jobs industries—higher even than in green-focused California. New nonprofit dedicated to teaching sustainable Mexico has been growing green jobs at a rate of over 6 percent per year, compared principles and practices, is presenting the Clean to an overall job growth rate of .06 percent. Many in the state Legislature recognize Economy Conference, Feb. 1-2 at the Albuquerque that the state’s abundant renewable-energy potential is a viable avenue of statewide Embassy Suites. Can we feed New Mexico (and economic growth. The potential economic development benefits of renewable energy beyond) with locally produced food? The potential are spread across the state and across industries. of backyard gardens and multi-speciation are among the topics keynote speaker Joel Salatin of Polyface New Mexico Environment Dept. Considering Farm will address. Salatin will also be part of two ‘Cradle-to-Grave’ Rules for Products pre-conference events: a Celebrity Chef Gourmet The New Mexico Environment Department is studying “Cradle-to-Grave” programs Farm-to-Table Dinner fundraiser, 7-9 pm on Jan. in states such as Oregon, where there is a product stewardship program that provides 30, and Ballet in the Pasture, a workshop on Jan. a way to avoid having hazardous products end in a landfill or dump site. Under 31 from 9 am-5 pm on the nuts and bolts of how 20 Memorial 56, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Steinborn, D-Doña Ana, the NMED was people generate $2 million by providing over 10,000 charged with forming a group to study product stewardship, looking at a product’s people a month with healthy, organic food while Joel Salatin entire life cycle—how it’s made, used and disposed of—and to find a way to share maintaining a happy and healthy lifestyle. responsibility among those involved in the product’s life cycle. Some of the other conference topics: zero-waste; the triple bottom line Regulations are increasingly being instituted across the country, in which (manufacturing products that are good for people/society and the environment, as manufacturers and retailers pay a fee to institute recycling programs for difficult- well as economically viable); building an agricultural production center; sustainable to-handle or toxic products. Such programs could slightly raise prices consumers education based on natural systems; aquaponics; water harvesting; beekeeping, pay for things such as paint and electronics. The fees may actually be beneficial for and urban permaculture. For more information, call 505.819.3828 or visit www. retailers, however, because this system brings consumers back to the stores to return carboneconomyseries.com things for recycling.

www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • January 2014 37 What's Going On! Events / Announcements

Polyface Farms. 1/30: Gourmet Steward’s tions and Science to promote well-being. Heartbeat – Music of the Dinner; 1/31: Pre-conference full-day work- An opportunity for physicians, midwives, Southwest shop on Local Food Production; 2/1-2 (9 nurses, community providers and others who Museum of Indian Arts and Culture am-5 pm): Conference with plenary sessions work with indigenous women to share, sup- A celebration of sight, sound and activity for on wise water use, regenerative agriculture, port, network, learn and build partnerships visitors of all ages. Over 100 objects relating zero-waste, organic food production, com- to improve the health of indigenous women to Southwestern Native music and dance post tea, strategies to shrink our carbon and their families. 505.272.3942, kbreck are featured. 505.476.1250, http://indianart footprint, seed saving, creating an agricul- [email protected], http://som.unm. sandculture.org/ tural production center, community gardens, edu/cme urban farming, sustainability tradeshow Jan. 4-10, 6 pm and more. $125/day or 3 days/$275. www. April 7-9 IAIA Writers Festival carboneconomyseries.com 10th International Conference on Concentrator Institute of American Indian Arts ALBUQUERQUE Feb. 1 campus, 83 Avan Nu Po Road Jan. 8, 9 am-12 pm Photovoltaic Systems Off-Grid Solar Electricity Graduate students and instructors, includ- Agricultural Collaborative yatt egency lbuquerque Design and Installation H R A ing Santa Fe Poet Laureate Jon Davis, author Meeting An opportunity for suppliers of components Sherman Alexie (RSVP required), screen- CNM Workforce Training Center and services to the PV and CPV industry to Mid-Region Council of writer and poet Ken White, author Sherman 5600 Eagle Rock Avenue NE connect with experts and potential customers Governments, 809 Copper NW Bitsui and novelist Ramona Ausubel read 8-hour class (ID: 25589) for PV profession- from all over the world. 400 people from more Don Bustos, Sayrah Namaste and several from and sign copies of their works. Free. als. Learn core principles of off-grid living, than 25 countries, including many corporate farmers will facilitate a discussion on Farm- [email protected], www.iaia.edu/iaia-news/ differences between grid-tied and off-grid executives from global companies are expect- er-to-Farmer Training and the network of events/iaia-writers-festival/ PV systems, principal components used, re- ed to participate. Host committee: CFV Solar food hubs the American Friends Service sources available, etc. Info: 505.224.5200, Test Laboratory, Fraunhofer USA, Sandia Jan. 8, 6-7:30 pm Committee-NM is developing in Doña Ana, [email protected], www.cnm.edu/depts/ National Laboratories. www.cpv-10.org Artspace Survey Results Bernalillo, Mora and Río Arriba counties wtc/index.html/index.html (See story, pg 31). https://afsc.org/story/ Release and Community May 3 Opening Discussion afsc-new-mexico-creating-food-hubs- Feb. 5-6 Acequia Research Project Exhibit across-state NM History Museum Auditorium, Fossil-Free Film Festival axwell useum of nthropology M M A , 113 Lincoln Avenue he uild inema Jan. 8, 5:30-7:30 pm T G C UNM Public presentation on results of Artspace Green Drinks 3405 Central Ave. NE Based on NSF-funded research by scien- market survey of artists, arts organiza- nd The best new films about climate change tists and scholars across several disciplines Hotel Andaluz, 125 2 St. NW tions and Creative Sector businesses. Free. and what you can do about it. 505.350.3839, Network and mingle with and institutions, including UNM, NMSU, 505.989.9934, [email protected] [email protected] people interested in local NM Tech and the NM Acequia Association, business, clean energy this exhibit will tell the story of how acequias Jan. 8, 7:30 pm Feb. 13, 7 pm operate as part of whole watershed systems, A Wild Solution and other green issues. Thinking Like a Watershed Guest speaker: Lydia how and why they persist, as well as the chal- for Climate Change Kimo Theater, 423 Central NW lenges they face today. 505.995.9644, quita@ Ashanin, NM Health James A. Little Theater The first of five monthly panel discussions lasacequias.org Connections. Free. errillos oad featuring 3 different humanities scholars, 1060 C R 505.244.3700, Lindsay@ SF Institute Community Lecture by Tom who will be introduced by Jack Loeffler. The May 4, 1-4 pm Opening nmgreenchamber.com, Lovejoy, senior fellow, United Nations intent is to contribute to a new Land Ethic SW Herbalism & Curanderismo: http://nmgreenchamber.com/events/ Foundation and University professor of for the preservation of our endangered eco- Healing and Ritual Exhibition environmental science and policy, George Jan. 11 systems in the Southwest. Panelists William Maxwell Museum of Anthropology Mason University. Free. www.santafe.edu Winter Bird and Bat Festival deBuys, Patty Limerick and John Nichols UNM will provide an historic overview of human Río Grande Nature Center State Park Traditional and contemporary Southwest habitation and water use. Funded by the th Jan. 8-9, 9 am-5 pm Explore wildlife habitats and migration pat- herbalism will be explored at the 5 annual NM Humanities Council. Free admission. Advanced Green Building: terns, enjoy nature walks and view birds and Food and Life series, featuring herbalist Dr. 505.768.3522 Building Science Class bats. 505.344.7240, www.rgnc.org/ Tomás Enos, permaculturalist/chef Trish Cyman, Sophia Rose of La Abeja Herbs and rea ome uilders ssociation Feb. 14-15 SF A H B A Jan. 24-25: First Course curandera Tonita Gonzales. 505.277.1400, uisa treet New Mexico Organic 1409 L S 4 Photovoltaics Courses [email protected] Advanced green building is available to any- Farming Conference one who is ready to take the next steps in green CNM Workforce Training Center Daily PV courses offered toward North American Marriott Albuquerque Pyramid building education. The course is not limited North, 5151 San Francisco Road NE Degrees of Change: to Certified Green Professionals. The instruc- Board of CertifiedE nergy Practitioners NM’s Climate Forecast exam through CNM’s Advanced PV Acade- The Southwest’s premier conference for or- tor is green building scientist Armando Cobo. my, a follow-up to courses offered in 2012-13 ganic agriculture. Producers and researchers NM Museum of Natural History & Science, Presented by the SFAHBA. $375/$295. Info: through a Solar Center of Excellence grant. share their experience and expertise to help 1801 Mountain Rd. NW 505.982.1774, [email protected], www.sfahba. All four modules: $699. Info: cnm.augusoft. agri-producers make decisions in running With a focus on NM and the SW, this exhibit com/index.php/green/events/ net/index.cfm?method=CourseSeries.Cour their farm and ranch operations or in start- reveals current and predicted impacts on hu- ing a new one. Workshops and exhibitors. mans, landscapes and ecosystems. Tickets: Jan. 9-Feb. 13, Thursdays 6-8 pm seSeriesRegistration&CourseSeriesGroup Craig Barnes Lecture Series Id=61 Presented by Farm to Table, NM Depart- $7, $6, $4. Info: 505.841.2800, ment of Agriculture, NMSU Cooperative www.nmnaturalhistory.org Collected Works Bookstore Jan. 27-Feb. 1 Extension Service. Registration: $100/$60. 202 Galisteo St. Holistic Management in Discounts for student groups if approved Author, poet, playwright and ahead of time. Info: 505.473.1004, ext. 10 SANTA FE Practice Course Through Jan. 5, 2014 host of the weekly KSFR ra- (Santa Fe) or 505.889.9921 (ABQ). dio program Our Times, on Location TBA New World Cuisine: Histories Understand and manage stressed ecosys- Feb. 25 “An Enquiry into Empire, of Chocolate, Mate y Más Capitalism and the Engines tems, learn about financial, land, agricul- Crawford Symposium: Museum of International Folk Art of Inequality” tural and people resources with certified Ho- Green Trails for the Next listic Management International educator Exhibit focuses on the mixing of food cul- Generation Conference tures in the Americas. 505.476.1200, inter Jan. 14 Application Deadline Kirk Gadzia. 505.867.4685, kirk@rmsgad Food Justice zia.com, www.rmsgadzia.com Bosque School nationalfolkart.org Info: 505.898.6388, Rebecca.belletto@ Thematic Residency Through March 16, 2014 Jan. 30-Feb. 2 bosqueschool.org anta e rt nstitute Cowboys Real and Imagined S F A I Clean Economy Conference From July 2014-May 2015, the SFAI will March 5-7, 8 am-5 pm NM History Museum address pertinent food justice questions ABQ Embassy Suites rd 3 International Meeting on This exhibit explores NM’s contribution to facing diverse regional and global commu- 1000 Woodward Place Indigenous Women’s Health Building Resiliency through Sustainable the cowboys of both myth and reality from nities. How can we use creative practices the 1600s to the present day. to confront social, cultural and economic Practices. Keynote speaker: Joel Salatin of Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town Through April 1, 10 am-5 pm Healthy Generations: Integrating Tradi- problems in our food system? How can we

38 Green Fire Times • January 2014 www.GreenFireTimes.com bring together insights from creative fields, and dignity for elders and people in hospice March 26-28 HERE & THERE GLOBE 2014 environmental sciences, sustainable agri- care. Free. Registration: 505.995.1860, www. Jan 2-24 culture, critical theory and food studies to aloveoflearning.org/programs/lifesongs Ghost Ranch Workshops Vancouver, BC, Canada have a local, national and international im- 13th biennial conference and trade fair on Feb. 21, 5-8 pm biquiú pact? 505.424.5050, [email protected], http:// A , NM business and sustainability. Speakers in- sfaiblog.org/residency/application/ Edible Art Tour (EAT) Indigenous Pottery & Southwest Culture; clude Amory Lovins, chief scientist, Rocky Members of the SF Gallery Association An Inner Journey: Still the Mind, Open the Jan. 17-19 Mountain Institute; Peter Brabeck-Let- team with local restaurants; stroll from Heart; Outdoor Adventure; Photography in mathe, chairman of the board, Nestle; Hans Salt and Pepper doorway to doorway or take shuttle busses the Desert; Southwest Weaving & Culture; Engel, CFO, BASF. 400 exhibitors from Teatro Paraguas Studio between downtown and Canyon Road; EAT: Sustainability Practices in Action: Agriculture North America, Latin America, Europe, the and the Earth. 505.685.4333, ext. 4196, caler@ 3205 Calle Marie $35; EAT and Fashion Feast dance party $70. Middle East and Asia. 604.637.6649, www. A play by Los Alamos playwright Rob- 505.603.4643, artfeast.com ghostranch.org, www.GhostRanch.org GLOBESeries.com ert Benjamin set in SF. Upbeat tales about January 10 Submission maturing with grace, courage and humor. March 27-28, 8 am-5 pm Deadline March 26-28 $18/$15. Reservations/info: 505.424.1601, SW Jemez Mountain Aldo Leopold Writing Contest 2014 National Food Hub www.teatoparaguas.org Collaborative Forest Land- Conference Eligibility: Students grades 6-12 in public, scape Restoration Project Jan. 22, 12 pm private and home schools in NM. Describe Raleigh, North Carolina Firefighters Rally Santa Fe Community College what “wilderness” means to you and your “Building capacity for healthy regional food systems” www.ngfn.org/ at the Roundhouse Jemez Rooms community. $500 prizes (total of $2,000 will 3/27: All-Hands Monitoring Presentations be awarded). Info: 505.898.6388, Rebecca. NM State Capitol April 15-18 will showcase results from 2013 activities. [email protected] th Rally in support of Capital Outlay bill 3/28: Implementation Workshop will use 7 National Farm to solarize all fire stations in SF County. information from monitoring to develop Jan. 13-May 11 to Cafeteria Conference 505.989.7262, www.newenergyeconomy.org implementation strategies in the project area Adobe in Action Online Classes Austin, Texas for 2015. Info: 505.438.5431, pashmead@ An approved Continuing Education Sys- “Powering Up” Three days of inspiring field Jan. 25, 10 am-2 pm fs.fed.us Renewable Energy Day tems provider through the American In- trips, workshops, speakers and networking. stitute of Architects. 1/13-3/9: Passive So- Farmtocafetereiaconference.org NM State Capitol First Saturday of Each Month, lar Adobe Design; 1/13-3/9: NM Adobe Celebrate the economic, environmental and 10 am-12 pm Building Permit Process; 3/17-5/11: His- Tuesday-Friday, 10 am-1 pm social benefits of renewable energy and ener- SF Citizens’ Climate Lobby tory and Basics of Adobe Construction; and Saturday gy efficiency. This family-friendly event will Natural Grocers, Community Room, 3/17-5-11: Foundations for Adobe Struc- Pajarito Environmental include an ecological art table, electric cars, 3328 Cerrillos Road tures. Each class: $250. Instructor: Kurt Education Center solar ovens and hands-on electricity gen- “Creating political will for a livable world.” Gardella. Also, on-site classes in northern range t os lamos eration demonstrations. 11 am press confer- 3540 O S ., L A , NM [email protected] New Mexico. Info: [email protected], Exhibits of flora and fauna of the Pajarito ence will feature mayoral and gubernatorial www.adobeinaction.org/education Plateau; herbarium, live amphibians, but- candidates, legislators, youth and industry Tuesdays and Saturdays terfly and xeric gardens. Free. Pajaritoeec.org specialists who will share their policies and 8 am-12 pm Jan. 30, 7 pm plans to help grow the renewable-energy Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Backcountry Film Festival Tree Seedlings Available industry in our state. Info: 505.310.4425, Reel Deal Theater [email protected] 1607 Paseo de Peralta (& Guadalupe) The NM State Forestry Division is selling 60 Northern NM farmers & ranchers bring you 2551 Central Ave., Los Alamos species of tree and shrub seedlings as part of Jan. 29, 9 am-12 pm fresh greenhouse tomatoes, greens, root veg- Ten unique films will inspire you to embrace the division’s Spring Conservation Seedling Food and Farm Day gies, cheese, teas, herbs, spices, honey, baked your spirit for outdoor adventure. The only Program to promote healthy forests and wa- goods, Southwestern body care and much showing in NM. $12 adv, $15 at the door. tersheds around the state. The seedlings are NM State Capitol more. www.santafefarmersmarket.com 505.662.0460, [email protected], available to landowners who own at least one Speakers, exhibits, demonstrations. Press www.PajaritoEEC.org acre in NM and agree to use the seedlings for conference starts at 9 am Sundays, 10 am-4 pm Feb. 10-11 conservation purposes such as erosion con- New Mexico Artisan Market trol or riparian restoration. 505.476.3325, Jan. 29, 4 pm Good Jobs, Green Jobs Southside Quality of Life Farmers’ Market Pavillion www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SFD/treepublic/ Conference ConservationSeedlings.html Listening Session www.artmarketsantafe.com Washington, D.C. SF Community College Board Room Santa Fe Creative Tourism Work- “Where Jobs and the Environment Meet” In- Río Grande Return shops, Classes and Experiences formative workshops led by issue experts, state Gifts from the River Feb. 1, 7 pm; Feb. 2, 3 pm http://santafecreativetourism.org/ and local government officials, agency officials, Locally produced salsas, jams, honey, choco- Canticum Novum Chorus business and industry representatives. Work- lates, soaps, lotions, incense and more. Sup- & Orchestra 7th Edition of “Day Hikes in the shops include: Climate Resiliency and Adap- ports local farmers, producers and the conser- St. Francis Auditorium, Santa Fe Area” tation; Creating Good, Green Jobs: Repairing vation of the Río Grande. 505.466.1767, toll Our Economy; Repairing and Transforming free: 866.466.1767, www.riograndereturn.com NM Museum of Art Features 56 destinations, new reconfigured Music by Mozart, Schubert, Cimarosa, Our Energy Systems; Repairing Our Work- hikes with maps and photos, safety tips, re- places, Communities and the Environment; Veterans Green Jobs Academy Hovhaness & Holst. Pre-concert lecture by source guide. Available in local bookstores. Oliver Prezant one hour before each perfor- Repairing and Transforming Our Manufac- Northern NM College, Española mance. $35/$25/$15. Info: www.sfcanticum Unwanted Mail turing Base; Repairing Our Democracy; Re- Workforce training and specific degree programs novum.com, tickets: 505.988.1234, and Phone Books pairing Our Schools and Communities to Be to support military veterans in fully accredited ticketssantafe.org Healthy and Safe; Water and Pipes: Repairing academic certificate and degree programs in ar- Opt out of unwanted phone books, cata- the Infrastructure Under Us. $225/$125. www. eas of environmental science related to renewable logs, credit card solicitations. Free service Feb. 4 Registration Deadline greenjobsconference.org/ energy, hazardous materials response, forestry, will help SF shed thousands of pounds of City of Santa Fe sustainable agriculture, wildland fire science, con- waste and dollars in costs. http://santafe/ Feb. 14 Application Deadline March 4th Election struction trades and others. A partnership with the catalogchoice.org Northern NM Conservation NM Dept. of Veterans Services. For more info, call Santa Fe County Clerk, 103 Grant Opportunity Dr. Biggs at 505.747.5453 or visit www.nnmc.edu/ Ave., 505.986.6280, co.santa-fe.nm.us Santa Fe Recycling Rocky Mountain Youth Corps is hiring young vetacademy.htm. Make 2014 the year to reduce, reuse and recy- Feb. 8, 12 pm women and men 18-25 for seasonal, full-time con- cle as much as you can. City residential curb- New Mexico Green Chamber Southside Quality of Life servation programs. Applications and program side customers can recycle at no additional descriptions: 575.751.1420, www.youthcorps.org of Commerce Listening Session cost and drop by 1142 Siler Road, Building The NM Green Chamber of Commerce, with Southside Public Library Community A to pick up free recycling bins. At least 50 March 26-27 percent of curbside residential customers chapters around the state, has a business di- Room Sustainability Summit rectory that is a great resource for conscious recycle now. Let’s take that number to 100 and Exhibition Feb. 11, 6:30-8:30 pm percent. For more information, visit http:// consumers looking for locally owned and Lifesongs Community www.santafenm.gov/trash_and_recycling or Wisconsin Center, environmentally friendly businesses in their area. Contribute to a sustainable future by Conversations call 505.955.2200 (city); 505.992.3010 (coun- Milwaukee, Wisconsin ty); 505.424.1850 (SF Solid Waste Manage- Implementing sustainable business models, supporting businesses in your city/town that cademy for the ove of earning A L L , ment Agency). supply chain innovation, freshwater chal- are striving to be leaders in green business Seton Village lenges – global and local, sustainability op- practices. Info: 505.859.3433, info@nmgre An evening with Molly Sturges, Acushla portunities in global markets, sustainable enchamber.com, http://nmgreenchamber. Bastible, Denys Cope and Christine San- food supply, the efficiency and nutrition revo- com/members?page=2 doval. Lifesongs is an intergenerational lution, sustainable energy, climate: the global arts program that promotes social inclusion challenge. www.sustainabilitysummit.us www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • January 2014 39 Green40 Fire Times • January 2014 www.GreenFireTimes.com