By Donne Gonzales, NMAA Farm Trainer
Los Sembradores have had a wonderful start to the year.
On April 29th, we talked about soil health. Sam & Jason (of the NMAA Food, Farms and Seeds Team) took the lead on demonstrating how to read soil, what healthy soil should look, feel, smell like, and how to create a more sponge-like area to give water & the microbiome space to flourish easily & happily! We dressed some beds with chicken manure and compost, and companion planted peas, flowers, and potatoes!
On May 6th, we visited the amazing Maestro Miguel Santistevan, and he explained acequia and land grant history. He showed us so many cool ways to compost everything from vermicompost to different types of permaculture. We really got to think about desert sustainability. We got an amazing tour filled with ideas for Sembradores to experiment with and learn from. I think we really learned that investing time & personal energy (sweat!) are the best ways to learn from and care for your land! Don’t be scared 🙂 just jump in & do it!
On May 13th, we had an early celebration for Día de San Isidro in Sapello with one of our recent 2025 Sembradores graduates leading the learning farm day. The 2026 crew assisted in finishing beds and creating different types of water channels. We planted blue corn, beans, and black garbanzos, and mulched the area. We shared a meal and discussed how we can honor our relationship with prayer and blessings for our growing season. The team of Sembradores heard about the land stewardship happening in the area and even saw some cute yaks!
We prayed for a bountiful harvest full of nourishment; may our hands and bodies be strong to work our land, may the weeds be beneficial in many ways! It’s easier to use them than fight them.
May your gardens and your hearts be blessed and full of love this week! 🌱
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