By Nicasio, Sembrador Apprentice
The Sembradores program, so far, has been everything it promised and more. Since April, we’ve learned to make rows by hand with cavadores and planted seeds with prayer. We’ve learned about the herbs growing around us and how to extract their medicine in tinctures, salves, and essences. We’ve talked about our place in this world; about life, death, and God. Over the past few months, I have felt my eyes open more to the world around me and I have deepened my relationship with nature – la Tierra, el Sol, la Luna, los animalitos, el agua.
As a first year farmer, I planted way more than I ever planned. Not every seed or transplant has made it, but that’s ok, it’s not all bad — or bad at all really. My three sisters are doing well. I ate my first calabacita the other day (an almasigo from Chicoyole Farm). The garbanzo beans (seeds from Sol Feliz Farm — pictured) are poppin’ off and I’m getting excited to harvest soon. My tobacco is surviving, maybe I’ll get one frajo out of everything, but I know it will be the best tobacco money couldn’t buy. I’m already planning out how I want to do everything differently next year: planting a lot more, planting things closer together (like my corn), and I would like to keep refining my water catchment to always get the best use of the rain.
Outside of the garden, I’ve been on the hunt for any new remedios or herbs popping up. I had the entire length of my little RV lined with drying herbs at one point. I have drunk at least a few gallons of tea and I have a few remedios brewing: tinctures for anxiety (milky oats & vervain) and lung health (mullein) all from the fresh herbs I’ve gathered. Medicine is in abundance all around us and I feel grateful to be able to learn about and utilize these plants; to feel healthful without always needing to turn to pharmaceuticals.
I came to New Mexico 3 years ago knowing near to nothing about living off the land. I used to believe you had to be a green-thumb to even have a chance at growing food. Really, I was scared to mess up and do the “wrong” thing. But with the guidance of Donne, Miguel, and their families, I have felt that fear subside. Oftentimes, when we ask how to do something in the garden, Miguel will say, “the worst thing you can do is to do nothing” and “the best way to do it is how you do it.”
I resonate with those sayings and lately I’ve felt more confident in not knowing. I can’t fully control what happens out on the farm and I’m at the mercy of nature. However, I do have control over how I facilitate nature and create more opportunities for nature to grow what I want or ask of her. The rest is a matter of time and seeing what works or not, and the only real failure is to never try at all.
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