Soil stewardship in New Mexico

North Valley Organics, Albuquerque

Farmers Minor Morgan and Matthew Draper affirm that when embracing the soil health principles, application will follow. Their prime directive: “We’re always growing 2 crops, one for us and one for the microbes” reflects a paradigm shift away from looking solely at crop yields. Instead, they focus on actual profit through greater soil health. When sharing what they’ve learned in the context of a small-scale urban farm, they emphasize that everything they do is replicable and scalable. Minor is a USDA/NRCS Certified Technical Service Provider (TSP) for farmers transitioning to organic practices, including large scale operations switching to no-till or minimum tillage.

Tesuque Farm, Pueblo of Tesuque

Pueblo people have farmed in Tesuque since at least the 1300s. Through the centuries they developed methods to raise their crops with a limited source of water. At Tesuque Farm, director Emigdio Ballón and farm manager Gailey Morgan blend traditional methods with innovative agricultural practices that build soil, increase the farm’s resilience and make the most of available water. These include the use of perennials and cover crops to keep living roots in the soil year-round, composting and vermicomposting. Drought resistant and locally adapted seeds of cultural importance are preserved in the most extensive seed bank in the state.

San Pablo Ranch, Encino

Through planned grazing that provides adequate pasture recovery time and strategic stocking rates, Jim Berlier has achieved significant increases in soil health as well as plant and wildlife diversity on his 10,000 acre ranch. To avoid cattle congregating and overgrazing near central water tanks, he designed a water system involving 15 miles of pipe to serve all his pastures. Planned grazing has been good for the bottom line, because with more cover, including both warm and cold season grasses, he’s been able to cut back on supplemental feed. Besides the land being profitable and more resilient to drought, Jim recognizes the benefits of a healthy ecosystem in providing satisfaction and pride in a way of life.

Santa Cruz Farm, Española

Mayordomo Don Bustos is farming on land that has been in his family for 400 years. Located in the high desert, Santa Cruz Farm’s sandy loam soil has only 1-2% organic matter, and the region sees an average rainfall of 8 inches per year. Soil health on the farm is maintained through green manures (e.g. alfalfa) or cover crops (e.g. cows peas, black eyed peas, pinto beans and vetch), crop rotations, and the use of compost tea to enhance the soil biome. They harvest over 70 varieties of vegetables and fruits, including perennials such as berries and asparagus. Santa Cruz Farm has a diversified marketing approach, including selling directly to the local school district as part of the NM Farm To School program. The farm offers a CSA, providing produce on a weekly basis to about thirty families, and they also sell directly to local stores and restaurants. Don has been involved in agricultural policy and advocacy for over 20 years and is passionate about training the younger generation to work the land and keeping the tradition of family farming alive.

Flower Hill Institute, Pueblo of Jemez

Since the beginning of time, Puebloan farmers have worked with soil, seeds and water in hot summer seasons to bring sustenance to their communities. This traditional practice is more than growing food; it also represents an essential piece of cultural preservation. On a 5 acre field laboratory, Flower Hill Institute is demonstrating techniques of water conservation and soil restoration using no-till farming, cover crops, natural and organic fertilizers, and underground irrigation systems. Co-founders Roger Fragua and Joseph Brophy Toledo are working to involve youth in traditional life-ways, offering workshops on soil health in local schools and summer camps in community fields.

Visit the Flower Hill Institute website

Ranney Ranch, Corona

Owner Nancy Ranney and ranch manager Melvin Johnson implemented a planned grazing program in 2002, bringing 19 herds of cattle into one and grazing pastures at most twice a year for short timeframes. Economic benefits include a reduction of feed costs by 60%, even during drought years. Since the cows are all in one herd, fewer bulls are needed, a significant savings. Fuel costs of checking on one herd are lower and in the fall, animals are gathered in one morning, when three or four weeks were previously needed. The most astounding improvement however is in the health of the rangeland. Within three years of changing to planned grazing, soil organic matter increased and blue grama monoculture was replaced with over 45 species of native perennial grasses –without additional seeding. The benefits for cows, wildlife, soil health and for the retention of water on the range are substantial.

Covenant Pathways/Spirit Farm, Vanderwagen

James Skeet and his wife Joyce founded the Native-led educational non-profit Covenant Pathways and established Spirit Farm on Navajo Nation as a demonstration farm focused on healing the high desert southwestern soil with the intentional use of microbiology and composting. Their goal is to reclaim traditional farming and spiritual practices and pair them with regenerative methods to achieve resiliency and food sovereignty in the local Navajo and Zuni communities. Covenant Pathways offers farm tours and classes on soil microbiology and compost, teaching growers how to increase the quantity and quality of their produce, as well as use less water. Interested tribal members receive assistance with their gardens and access to fresh eggs, chickens, and vegetables.

Whole Heart Farm

Whole Heart Farm is an urban market garden in the heart of Albuquerque, based primarily on Jean-Martin Fortier’s regenerative and economically efficient model for small scale farms. Biologically intensive cropping practices produce an abundance of food with higher nutritional quality. Owner/manager Joshua Shelburne uses low-till and no-till processes, always striving to make decisions that will increase the organic matter in the soil. Joshua doesn’t use any pesticides or herbicides on his land. His wife Katie runs the successful CSA and the couple is taking online-orders through their email list, to be picked up directly at the farm or at the Downtown Growers market, when in season.

Pueblo of Santa Ana

For the Pueblo of Santa Ana, home to the Tamayame people, regenerative land management has been the foundation to support the long-term health of wildlife and human communities alike. Through the use of extensive riparian restoration, forest management, wildlife reintroduction, ecological monitoring, and carefully planned livestock grazing, the Pueblo of Santa Ana has been able to steward its high-desert lands, while increasing the economic productivity of tribal ranchers. Meticulous observation is at the heart of Santa Ana’s planned grazing program, using 140 vegetation monitoring points to track and design management to support optimal plant recovery, prevent overgrazing, and protect the soil.

Unity Community, Las Cruces

Yosef and Elizabeth Hernandez are stewarding a healthy environment for their young son, applying the principles of permaculture to transform a sandy patch of chaparral and creosote into a thriving, productive homestead. Using only hand tools, Yosef creates earth works (mini swales) to slow down and catch often destructive winter rains, applies homemade compost and biochar and plants a mix of annuals and perennials to establish a self-sustaining food forest. Korean Natural Farming techniques and compost teas cultivate the diversity and health of soil microbes. Yosef’s farmers market stand is known for colorful varieties and novel foods such as purple celery or asian long beans, and a wide variety of greens. Customers often exclaim:”That’s how produce used to taste!” –a quality reflecting nutritional health directly attributable to the living soil.