Schedule of Activities

8 am – Bird watching group meets in the Montano parking lot — Join Tish Morris and John Arnold for a guided bird walk

9:30 am – Hayride starts at Montano parking lot — Travels around the farm and stops at Los Poblanos Gazebo for kids activities

10 – 12 – Kids activities at Los Poblanos Gazebo. Access from Montano parking lot.

10 am – Composting workshop at the RGCF Community Garden — Join Tam Saimons to learn the basics of composting (access to garden from Solar Rd. see directions below)

11 am – Geocaching group meets in Montano parking lot — Join Maere McNamara as she guides the group in seeking out hidden treasures. Note: Download a geocaching app on your smart phone or bring a GPS unit. If not, you can still tag along.

11:30 am – Farm tour meets in Montano parking lot — Join Dan Schuster, RGCF Chief Farmer, to learn about sustainable agriculture.

12 – 2 pm – Plant wildflower seeds at the Community Garden (access to garden from Solar Rd. see directions below)

3 more ways to make the most of Wildlife Day

1. Support our wildlife program. Download a Wildlife Donation Form or make a general donation online.

• Adopt an Acre
• Adopt an Animal
• Challenge your family to Run, Walk or Ride for Wildlife

2. Participate in the National Wildlife Federation’s Wildlife Watch Program. Visit their website for more information: http://www.nwf.org/wildlifewatch/

3. Download the Project Noah app and record your wildlife viewings.

Please bring the schedule and directions with you to the event as the activities are scattered throughout Los Poblanos Open Space property.

Directions to Montano Parking Lot: Rio Grande Community Farm is located at Los Poblanos Open Space. The main parking lot is at 1701 Montano Rd. NW, 1 mile west of 4th Street. Turn north onto Tierra Viva and park in the gravel lot on your left. Bird watching, geocaching, and the farm tour will all start here, at the Montano parking lot. See on Map

Kids activities will begin at the Los Poblanos Gazebo which is located northeast of the Montano parking lot. Follow the trail towards the mountains and you’ll see it near a giant cottonwood tree. You can walk to the Community Garden from here in about 15 minutes.

Please note: Composting workshop and seed planting will be held at the Community Garden. You can walk there from the Montano parking lot or Gazebo in about 15 minutes. It is located in the northwest corner of Los Poblanos Open Space. For closer parking see directions below.

Directions to Community Garden (via Solar Rd.):To park near the Community Garden, you’ll want to access the farm from the north. From 4th Street, go west on Solar Rd. past Alvarado Elementary School. Park on the gravel road just west of the the school near the ditch. From Rio Grande Blvd., go east on Chavez Rd. and turn south on Nabor Rd. Just after the road jogs to the left, turn south onto the gravel road just before Alvarado Elementary School. Park along the ditch or fence and walk south across the ditch to the Community Garden. See on Map

What to bring: Water, sunscreen, hats, and snacks. Optional: Bikes, GPS units or geocaching apps, binoculars, dogs on leash, friends and family, and your curiosity about sustainable agriculture and how it improves wildlife habitat here and downstream.

Please note: Do not leave valuables in your car.

Position Description- AmeriCorps Member Farming Intern update date: 3/22/2012  Download PDF

General Description- the Farming Intern must be at least 18 years old and serves under direct supervision of the Chief Farmer and Farm Manager. Interns will be placed on a sustainable farm in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Interns will complete field and greenhouse tasks necessary for production of agricultural crops. This position will perform field and labor tasks associated with preparing field areas for crops, starting plants in the greenhouse, planting out starts, tending crops, harvesting and arranging for delivery of crops. The position may involve tractor work and does involve use of hand tools and walk behind tractor equipment. Job involves computer work. The work is difficult physical labor in the outdoors. For the first 2 months of the program applicants will be required to assist in our major annual educational event, the Maize Maze. This involves a variety of tasks related to event management.

Specific duties include:
- planting starts in the early spring for plant out in the fields
- maintaining, pruning, fertilizing starts to maximize growth and health
- detailed record keeping of all activity for organic certification purposes
- preparation of field areas using hand tools and walk behind tractor equipment
- working in close communication with Farmer to coordinate tractor/hand cultivation
- season extension activity such as hoop houses and row covers
- disease and pest prevention techniques
- harvesting of crops, storage and packaging of crops for delivery
- following all NOP and NMOCC organic standards
- irrigating using all systems available: flood; well, gravity and City water drip systems
- repairing and maintaining irrigation ditches
- hand weeding in fields and garden beds using weed whacker and hand tools
- stacking hay bales and organizing barn area including moving fence posts, wire, lumber, etc

Candidates with experience in farming or gardening or who are considering a profession in agriculture are preferred. Candidates must have a strong service ethic and demonstrate a commitment to community service. The AmeriCorps farming intern position is not a job, it is a year of subsidized community service. All positions are for 1 year, with a possible 2nd year. Interview process includes background check and field work evaluation. AmeriCorps members will receive a living allowance of $465 bi-weekly. Service hours for spring and summer are 7:00 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. At the successful completion of the year of service (1700 hours) the AmeriCorps member will receive a $5,600 educational credit that can be used to pay for schooling in the future or be used to pay past educational debt. In addition, members will receive a health insurance package at no cost to the member. For more information about AmeriCorps service visit: www.americorps.gov. Start date for the program is 9/1/2012 and ends 8/31/2013. VISTA positions may be available 6/1/2012. Please indicate if you are interested in the VISTA program that starts 6/1/2012. For more information about Rio Grande Community Farm, visit: www.riograndefarm.org.

Folks interested should send a cover letter and resume via email to:
minormorgan@northvalleyorganics.com. Call Minor Morgan at: (505) 379-1640 with questions.

Our programs include demonstration of sustainable agriculture, 2-acre community garden, gardening education, Farm to School, food donations, young farmer training, annual Maize Maze, and urban wildlife habitat enhancement. 

RGCF is seeking board members. The Board of Directors meets on the 2nd Monday of each month from 6-8 pm. In addition to preparing for and attending board meetings, board members are asked to serve on at least one committee. Committee schedules vary depending on focus and time of year.

We are looking for individuals with the following expertise:

• Banking

• Law (general, water or natural resource)

• Farming

• Small business

• Accounting

• Advertising

• Public relations and marketing

• Fundraising

• Event planning

• Advocacy with elected officials

• Public speaking

• Writing skills (website, newsletters, grant proposals, fundraising letters)

 To learn more, contact Stephanie Dobbie at stephanie@riograndefarm.org.

Download Registration Packet

The Rio Grande Community Farm is proud to announce that we have partnered with the Village of Los Ranchos to provide the 2012 Children’s Summer Farm Camp! Based out of the Los Ranchos Agri-Nature Center on Rio Grande Blvd. NW, our five-day farm camps offer environmental literacy experiences through the exploration of a variety of habitats; by growing, harvesting, preparing and eating organic fruits and vegetables, and through nature based art, using child-centered, fun activities. Our caring and qualified camp director and counselors have passed an FBI Background Check, are Red Cross CPR and First Aid certified, and are eager to ensure that your child has a fun and fulfilling experience at Farm Camp!

Camps are open to children ages 6-11. You may register for one, all, or a combination of sessions.  Cost is $250/session.  Camps run Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm (before & after care is not available).  Please call the Education Director, Julie Hirshfield, during business hours at 453-9031 or email education@riograndefarm.org for additional information.

The 2012 Children’s Summer Farm Camp offers four choices of camp themes:

June 4 – June 8: Pizza Camp
Campers will spend the week learning how every part of the pizza is made; they will grind wheat for the crust, harvest tomatoes to make sauce, make homemade mozzarella cheese, and choose their own veggie toppings and herbs while working in the fields. Campers will assemble their own mini-pizzas on the final day of camp and enjoy them at lunch!

June 11 – June 15: Lotions & Potions
Campers will spend the week learning how natural materials, such as lavender and honey, can be used to make sweet-smelling lotions, potions, and candles! Campers will take home a basket full of homemade goodies on the final day of camp!

June 18 – June 22: Birds, Bees & Other Creepy Crawlies
Campers will spend the week learning about birds, honey bees, and other interesting insects. Special guests and speakers will bring their giant birds and creepy crawlies for the campers to observe and touch!

June 25 – June 29: Farm Stand Camp
Campers will spend the week learning what it takes to run a farm stand business. Each day, campers will work on planting, cultivating, and harvesting vegetables. Fun and informative speakers will teach the campers how to effectively market and advertise their farm stand and how to use a cash box and balance sheet. On the final day of camp, campers will run their own farm stand from the Rio Grande Community Farm. Proceeds will benefit the charity of their choice!

• Share the Harvest (food donations)
• Farm to School
• Gardening education
• Community Garden
• Young farmer training
• Wildlife habitat enhancement

We encourage you to stay involved with us.  Volunteer opportunites will become abundant in the spring as we get busy growing food for people and wildlife.  Rows are available in the Community Garden.  Join us for special events such as community service days, seasonal hayrides, the 15th annual Maize Maze, and Dinner in the Field.  Or, just come walk the trails and enjoy the view of the Sandia Mountains.

Happy New Year to you and your family!

Special Event:

When:  Saturday, December 10 at 11 am (full) and 12 (Taking reservations)

Where:  Rio Grande Community Farm at Los Poblanos Fields.  One mile west of 4th St. on Montano.  Turn north onto Tierra Viva.  Park in gravel lot on your left.

Why:  To view the migrating Sandhill Cranes and Canada Geese and get a feel for winter at the Farm

How much:  $7/person, includes a hot drink of your choice and a spectacular view of the Sandia Mountains

How:  Seating is limited, so you must buy your tickets in advance to reserve your seat.  Purchase tickets online.  Or, call 345-4580 with your credit card information.  Or, send a check to 6804 4th St. NW, Village of Los Ranchos, NM 87107.  Please include your phone number and email address for confirmation and cancellation purposes.

1. 10:00 a.m. on sat. Oct 1 is the Grand Unveiling of the “Dino World” Art Mural painted by well known NM artist Ann Marie Eastburn. This 12’ wide panel is designed for your children: full of surprises and hidden artwork, the panel also has cutout holes for your child’s photo picture.

2. Photo Sessions by Butterfly Photography. Come see the specially prepared fall themed photo backdrop. Get dressed up and have a professional photographer take that Holiday Photo at a very reasonable price.

3. Pumpkin Patch! Come select your fall pumpkin from hundreds of pumpkins in our pumpkin patch.

We will of course have all the dinosaur related games, the maze itself with 3 different routes, vendors, t-shirts, patting zoo and all the other fun things at the… DINO MAZE!

Farm tour docents/guides are responsible for guiding and supporting children ages 5-18 through farm and garden activities and transitions during each 2-hour farm tour.

Farm tour docents/guides must either desire or have experience working with children. They must also have a genuine love for children, a creative spirit, the ability to be flexible when needed, and lots of patience. We expect your first priority at the farm to be identifying and meeting the diverse and evolving needs of our farm tour guests. The main focus of the position is to support, engage, challenge, and enjoy the children.

Duties include assisting with all farm tour activities as needed; including daily set-up, inventory, and clean-up.

Farm tours occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 am and 12 pm. Farm tour docents/guides will be required to work a minimum of one 5-hour shift per month. Farm tour docents/guides will not work in December and January. Ideal RGCF farm tour docents/guides will commit to a one year term to allow for continuity in our education program.  Completion of the RGCF Volunteer Docent Training Program is required – cost of training program is $35.

Contact Julie Hirshfield at julieandgreg@comcast.net