Martin Luther King Day at Rio Grande Community Farm was a Big Hit! We had 3 separate groups participate, plus an odd assortment of individuals that heard about the event. Rio Grande Community Farm had 9 members participate, VSA of New Mexico had 11 members participate and Amy Biehl High School sent over a school bus full of happy teenagers and their happy teachers, 28 in all!

We began the day describing the various work activities that the groups would be doing. These included making special trellises to grow food for Albuquerque Public Schools, clearing out brush and weeds in the community garden and completing work in the barn. All activities benefit the public at large and help Rio Grande Community Farm fulfill its Mission to serve the public.

After a great lunch partially provided by the RGCF Board (home made rice and beans), the group watched a movie about the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A lively discussion followed in which the group grappled with some big issues such as: “What is the American Dream today?”, “Are people of color free today?” and “How does my Americorps experience relate to what young people in the civil rights movement experienced?”. Everyone came away from the discussion deeply moved after listening to Dr. King’s “I have a Dream Speech” and reflecting on its contemporaneous meaning.

In addition to completing several projects, we were very pleased we were able to accommodate 6 participants with disabilities, including one young man in a wheelchair.

Perhaps the most moving moment was at the completion of Dr. Kings speech in front of 300,000 marchers at the Lincoln memorial. Our group had watched the complete 19 minute speech on t.v. with its moving final statement: “Free at Last, Free at Last, thank God Almighty, we’re free at last”. The television suddenly went blank and our group sat in complete silence for over 3 minutes. No-one spoke out of a deep sense of respect for what they had just watched. The day ended on a high note as folks left.

See Photos on MLK-Day-2011.pdf

Migrating Sandhill Cranes in the Remaining Winter Corn

Join us for cocoa (as well as tea or coffee) and Sandhill Crane watching on the back of the RGCF tractor. Tractor rides will last about an hour, providing plenty of time to enjoy the cranes, ask questions and sip a toasty beverage. We’ll also have some sweet treats for sale. The funds generated will go towards our Share the Harvest program.

PLEASE NOTE: Each time slot (3:30pm or 4:30pm) is limited to 20 people, so your RSVP will be required. Please email Lindsay Wood (lindsay3131@gmail.com) to RSVP, and provide the following information in your email:
- Name
- Email
- Phone Number
- Number of people in your party
- Preferred time slot

You will receive a reply to let you confirm your spot. If your preferred time slot, or both time slots, are full, we will ask if you would like to be placed on a wait list.

Cranes and cocoa, without the tractor ride?
Absolutely! If you would like to join us for a hot beverage while you stroll around the farm to watch the Sandhill Cranes and enjoy the sunset, we will have cocoa, tea and coffee for sale ($1 a cup). Bring the kids and a camera!
Information

Date: November 20th
Times: 3:30pm & 4:30pm
Cost: $5, adults (12+ up) / $2 children (4-11) / Tots under 4 are free
Location: 1701 Montano Road NW – Get Directions
Public access at Los Poblanos Fields Open Space is from Montano Road, 1.1 miles west of Fourth Street. Turn north on Tierra Viva, and park in the gravel lot to your left.

Mild weather has allowed for the Maize Maze to be extended for one more weekend.  The Maize Maze will be open Saturday (11/6) and Sunday (11/7) from 11am – 5pm.  We will be offering a special discounted rate:

Adults (12 and older) $5.00; Children (4-11) $3.00; Children under 4 are free.

We will also be extending for an additional two weeks for groups visits to the maze.  Please call (505) 333-8180 to schedule your group.  Group Details

October 30th and 31st

The Maize Maze will be open on October 30th and 31st for the annual haunted maze.  Put on your make-up and your costume for a scary good time. Be ready for our  friendly haunters to safely surprise you from within the 7-acre corn maze.

We’ll keep the maze open late for you to explore until 10pm.  Be sure to dress warm as it does get cold in the maze after dark.

The Maize Maze will be open late on Friday October 22nd and Saturday October 23rd for the Moonlight Maze.  Connect with your ancient roots, challenge your senses and use the light of the full moon to navigate the maze.

We’ll keep the maze open late for you to explore until 10pm.  Be sure to dress warm as it does get cold in the maze after dark.

Come out Saturday October 2nd. Rio Grande Community Farm will be hosting a free music event at the farm.  We’ll have musicians all day so be sure to come out and enjoy the cool fall weather at the farm.  The festivities will kick off at 10am.  The schedule includes Susan Clark, Robert Roman, Almos Pau, Kathryn Soapes, and the Saints & Sinners.  See Schedule

Come gaze at the stars with the help of The Albuquerque Astronomy Society’s and see the stars like never before.  Show up before sundown for some time to explore the maze and then stop and check out the night sky through the society’s telescopes.

Learn more about the Maize Maze costs and locations.

Image from WIldlife West

Several New Mexico wildlife organizations will be out at the Maize Maze on Saturday, September 11th from 10am to 4pm.  Come out and see birds of prey from Wildlife West and Wildlife Rescue.  There will also be representation from NM Wildlife Federation and other organizations.

The design of this year’s Maize Maze consists of the wildlife often found at the Los Poblanos Fields Open Space.  This includes coyotes, rabbits, lizards, and migrating birds.  The Maize Maze is actually food for these birds as they travel back south.

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO (September 3, 2010) – Rio Grande Community Farm is  announcing the opening of the 2010 Maize Maze season on September 3rd at 6pm.  Maize Maze is an exciting, outdoor alternative for fall activities, celebrations and field trips.

Located on one of the oldest continuously farmed parcels of land in the U.S., this historic farm has been an agricultural center since 300 A.D.  It’s a 139-acre tract of farm land located at the Los Poblanos Open Space near Montano and Rio Grande.  Here you can see acequias, organic food production, community gardens and a variety of local and migrating wildlife. Every year, the farm puts on the Maize Maze for its annual fundraiser.

This is an elaborate 7 acre maze cut using GPS technology into a 7-acre field full of corn.  Coyote Magic is the theme of this year’s Maize Maze.  A coyote will be cut into a 7-acre field, providing hours of fun as attendees use the maze’s many wildlife checkpoints to successfully navigate their way out of the maze.  This year’s maze was designed by award winning author and illustrator Gerald McDermott.

This fundraiser helps the farm continue its many contributions to the Albuquerque area by growing certified organic produce for Albuquerque Public Schools, using natural farming methods without the use of toxic chemicals, providing habitat for local and migrating wildlife, providing members with a community garden to grow food and maintaining a beautiful open space for the public.  Please come see for yourself!

Learn More about the 2010 Maize Maze.

Come enjoy an evening of music at the farm to benefit the Share the Harvest program.  Wed. August 11th 6:30 – 8:30pm. Bring a picnic and chairs.  Soft drinks available (no alcohol please).

Featuring songwriters:

• Timothy joseph
• Terry clements
• Kevin morgan
• John and viv

Suggested donation of $10
Each $1 we raise buys 1 lb. of produce for low income families!!

Los Poblanos Fields Open Space
1701 Montano Road NW
Enter at Montano and Tierra Viva