Our program is led by Farm Trainer, Donne Gonzales, with support from Edward Gonzales and other experienced farmers and acequiero/as. Growing up on the land, Donne and her family have always maintained summer gardens and small livestock, and this has developed in her a great respect and love for gardening and traditional practices. Donne speaks proudly of how rich we truly are to have sacred land, water, and native seeds – and acequias and farming as a way of life. She believes strongly in sharing gardening skills, traditions, and her querencia for the land and acequias to individuals of all ages.

“Hello, my name is Juan Lopez and I am from Peñasco, New Mexico and I am currently living in Llano Largo, New Mexico in Taos County. I am a college graduate with a degree in chemical engineering and a minor in chemistry. I enjoy hiking in the mountains, camping, and snowboarding with my friends. I have a background in growing hemp here in northern New Mexico as well as ranching cattle with my father, and I’m excited to see what the Los Sembradores program can teach me beyond those experiences. I hope to one day become a good produce farmer and hopefully a skilled fruit grower, so that I might be able to make wines and utilize my degree to make extracts of various types from the plants within the area. I have an interest in learning about beekeeping as well. I would someday enjoy trying to make mead from local honey. I would also enjoy learning about farming and harvesting of various types of mushrooms if that is something that could be learned through this program. I believe the knowledge this program gives to new farmers regarding how to properly use the acequia system is extremely valuable and important, and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn about this trade with a mentor.”

Nicholas Cruz Torres, born and raised in Las Vegas, NV, grew up hearing whispers of ancestral stories from New Mexico. In 2021, he and his husband, David, embarked on a stewardship journey along the Cañada Seca Acequia. Passionate about reviving traditional healing practices and fostering land and water stewardship, Nicholas envisions community weaving at the heart of collective healing and authentic expression. His love for travel, creativity, nature, and dance fuels his commitment to holding transformative spaces for dreaming, healing, and co-creation. With a deep reverence for ancestral wisdom and a commitment to nurturing harmonious connections between people and the land, Nicholas embodies a holistic approach to wellness and sustainability. Joining Los Sembradores with an open mind and open heart, he trusts this space will teach him the skills, wisdom, and knowledge necessary to continue on this journey.

“Hello! My name is Elba-Celeste. I was born and raised in New Mexico, spending much of my childhood between New Mexico and Mexico experiencing my culture. I am just weeks away from completing my undergraduate studies at the University of New Mexico where I have been studying Studio Art, Sustainability Studies, and Race & Social Justice. I am extremely passionate about these intersecting topics and will continue to explore regenerative ecology and land art through my land practices after graduation.

I have grown up observing my grandparents and uncles tending to our family’s spaces in Mexico and New Mexico. My Father’s family, based locally in New Mexico used to be comprised of several land workers, and has decreased substantially. My family in Mexico still produces corn, beans, and chile.

I am grateful to learn and apply the traditional methods that coincide with our beloved and sacred acequias. I am honored to collaborate with my mother and her land in the South Valley of Albuquerque. Because farming skipped a generation with both of my parents, I am working toward continuous reconnecting to our deepest roots.”