Monday, June 17, 2013
Thursday, June 13, 2013
No more Volunteers and Visitors allowed at the Farm
Two days ago, we received a Notice of Violation letter from the City (see excerpt below), asking us to “cease operations immediately” because attracting numerous visitors (how many is too many the City doesn’t have it written in its codes!) and working with volunteers in a residential neighborhood is against City codes.
A Home Occupation License only permits two employees maximum to work on a Home Business. The citation also addresses some building issues and the use of a recreational vehicle for lodging (my home!).
I have agreed verbally with the City, and will follow with a requested written statement, that Gaia Gardens will:
We are therefore forced to comply with the City codes and scale down our operation or risk to:
1) incur fines of $500/day for non-compliance and 90 days of jail time for each day of non-compliance.
2) risk to irritate the City Administration and jeopardize our ability to gain political support and get the City to amend its codes as every other major city in the US has done, or is in the process of doing, to allow urban farming to flourish in inner cities.
Dominique and I will carry on the season by ourselves and will creatively attempt to garner community support to address the City Council with a request to amend the codes to allow urban farming and the sale of produce on urban farms in residential neighborhoods.
Several organizations, including the New Mexico Community Foundation, our fiscal sponsor, the Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute and others are looking at ways to assist us in our effort to amend City codes.
We regret to announce that we can no longer accept volunteers nor welcome visitors to the farm.
It is a very sad turn of event for us, and also an opportunity to form a broad coalition of concerned citizens and organizations to assist the City to evolve its codes to foster a healthy and resilient culture.
Should you have any questions or a willingness to help organize to address the City Council, please email us.
We want to express our deepest gratitude to the many volunteers, supporters and donors who have contributed to make Gaia Gardens such a success. In the word of a top City official, “we are victims of our own success!”
Thank you for your support and please come visit us on Saturdays at the Santa Fe Farmers Market, or on Fridays at the Eldorado Farmers Market.
Please stay tuned to this channel for further news about our brand new ducklings (click on video for 34 seconds of sheer delight!)
(click on image to watch video)
With Love and Gratitude (and a healthy dose of bitterness, anger and grief).
Poki
The Pearl
Said one oyster to a neighboring oyster, “I have a very great pain within me. It is heavy and round and I am in distress.
And the other oyster replied with haughty complacence, “Praise be to the heavens and to the sea, I have no pain within me. I am well and whole both within and without.”
At that moment a crab was passing by and heard the two oysters, and he said to the one who was well and whole both within and without, “Yes you are well and whole; but the pain that your neighbor bears is a pearl of exceeding beauty.”
-From “The Wanderer” By Kahlil Gibran
Aware of the deep disappointment I feel this evening, I hope to share some essence of beauty as well. Our recent demand from the city to cease all farm related operations “immediately,” has not only greatly affected Poki and I, but many devoted friends and supporters. As we sat in circle sharing this afternoon I was mostly speechless, allowing the reality of this unfolding to sink in. No more children laughing and running in freedom and delight, no more groups of elders sharing their wisdom and inspiration, no more shared meals after a morning of sifting compost or delicately transplanting vegetable starts, NO MORE, NO, NO, NO. This experience of denial and in a sense oppression, has opened my heart to the experience of so many humans across the globe, in situations far worse than ours.
This land has magnetized great kindness, amazing willingness, and selfless service. After countless hours of shared toil we have undoubtedly grown a precious family of volunteers and interns. To think of my brothers and sisters, aunties and uncles no longer being, “allowed,” to come share in living with us, breaks my heart. I think of all the elders in the world who spend most of their day alone and isolated, the many urbanized children hungry to have their hands in the soil, while learning the priceless art of listening well, and simply the brave and lonely individuals who show up with a willingness to risk connecting with others. Gaia Gardens has been a sanctuary and inspiration to many, and for this I am forever grateful. Countless seeds of regeneration have been cast and I trust that however this story unfolds, we have all been gifted the freedom to share in big love, upon and for the land.
Dominique
A Home Occupation License only permits two employees maximum to work on a Home Business. The citation also addresses some building issues and the use of a recreational vehicle for lodging (my home!).
I have agreed verbally with the City, and will follow with a requested written statement, that Gaia Gardens will:
- no longer have volunteers work on the farm operation
- no longer have Wwoofer (farm interns) work on the farm operation
- host no events of any kind
- no longer welcome schools or other organizations to visit the farm.
- have no more trailer on the land (I’m now officially homeless!)
We are therefore forced to comply with the City codes and scale down our operation or risk to:
1) incur fines of $500/day for non-compliance and 90 days of jail time for each day of non-compliance.
2) risk to irritate the City Administration and jeopardize our ability to gain political support and get the City to amend its codes as every other major city in the US has done, or is in the process of doing, to allow urban farming to flourish in inner cities.
Dominique and I will carry on the season by ourselves and will creatively attempt to garner community support to address the City Council with a request to amend the codes to allow urban farming and the sale of produce on urban farms in residential neighborhoods.
Several organizations, including the New Mexico Community Foundation, our fiscal sponsor, the Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute and others are looking at ways to assist us in our effort to amend City codes.
We regret to announce that we can no longer accept volunteers nor welcome visitors to the farm.
It is a very sad turn of event for us, and also an opportunity to form a broad coalition of concerned citizens and organizations to assist the City to evolve its codes to foster a healthy and resilient culture.
Should you have any questions or a willingness to help organize to address the City Council, please email us.
We want to express our deepest gratitude to the many volunteers, supporters and donors who have contributed to make Gaia Gardens such a success. In the word of a top City official, “we are victims of our own success!”
Thank you for your support and please come visit us on Saturdays at the Santa Fe Farmers Market, or on Fridays at the Eldorado Farmers Market.
Please stay tuned to this channel for further news about our brand new ducklings (click on video for 34 seconds of sheer delight!)
(click on image to watch video)
With Love and Gratitude (and a healthy dose of bitterness, anger and grief).
Poki
The Pearl
Said one oyster to a neighboring oyster, “I have a very great pain within me. It is heavy and round and I am in distress.
And the other oyster replied with haughty complacence, “Praise be to the heavens and to the sea, I have no pain within me. I am well and whole both within and without.”
At that moment a crab was passing by and heard the two oysters, and he said to the one who was well and whole both within and without, “Yes you are well and whole; but the pain that your neighbor bears is a pearl of exceeding beauty.”
-From “The Wanderer” By Kahlil Gibran
Aware of the deep disappointment I feel this evening, I hope to share some essence of beauty as well. Our recent demand from the city to cease all farm related operations “immediately,” has not only greatly affected Poki and I, but many devoted friends and supporters. As we sat in circle sharing this afternoon I was mostly speechless, allowing the reality of this unfolding to sink in. No more children laughing and running in freedom and delight, no more groups of elders sharing their wisdom and inspiration, no more shared meals after a morning of sifting compost or delicately transplanting vegetable starts, NO MORE, NO, NO, NO. This experience of denial and in a sense oppression, has opened my heart to the experience of so many humans across the globe, in situations far worse than ours.
This land has magnetized great kindness, amazing willingness, and selfless service. After countless hours of shared toil we have undoubtedly grown a precious family of volunteers and interns. To think of my brothers and sisters, aunties and uncles no longer being, “allowed,” to come share in living with us, breaks my heart. I think of all the elders in the world who spend most of their day alone and isolated, the many urbanized children hungry to have their hands in the soil, while learning the priceless art of listening well, and simply the brave and lonely individuals who show up with a willingness to risk connecting with others. Gaia Gardens has been a sanctuary and inspiration to many, and for this I am forever grateful. Countless seeds of regeneration have been cast and I trust that however this story unfolds, we have all been gifted the freedom to share in big love, upon and for the land.
Dominique
Friday, May 3, 2013
They Did It! Cistern is excavated.
Amazing but they did it! Pierce, Maria and Thomas, along with a slew of volunteers, excavated a 22' X 5' X 7' old water cistern, hauling away some 20 tons of soil and debris. We will soon have a 5,550 gallon water harvesting system.
Yes, even Scrapper helped....
(Click on image to start video)
Thank you Maria and Thomas! Our first two wwoofers this year were extraordinary. Maria went off to Nevada for a forestry job and Thomas headed to a Zen monastery in the Bay area. We'll miss you and hope to see you in the fall.
A new (and shaded) work area
Lainy (home-schooled) and her Mom Katy transplanting chard
Tara and Dominique bringing compost to the garden.
Zoe and Lainy in the hoophouse
Kim and Lainy transplanting collard greens
Scott, Zoe and Poki transplanting Kohlrabi
The ducks have been having breakfast in the worm bin every morning
A group of students from the Espanola Community College with agronomy Professor Mario Montes-Helu.
Dominique and Poki receiving the Sustainable Santa Fe award.
REMINDERS
Our first Community Potluck of the season will take place on Monday May 6 @ 6:00pm
We'll fire up the horno so bring toppings for the pizza!
Our CSA shares are almost gone. If you wish to sign up, hurry! Email here for an enrollment form.
Farmers Market on Saturdays
Look for us outside. We' are selling seeds, plant, flower and herb starts, and worms.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Permaculture Design Course in Santa Fe this fall
A Permaculture Design Course (72-hours) could happen this fall in Santa Fe if enough folks are interested. The course would be non-residential in order to accommodate people with regular jobs. Classes would be held on weekends and one evening a week. Many of the renowned local Permaculture teachers would be co-leading the course.
If interested, please contact Poki ASAP so we can see if we have enough interest for the course.
Learn how Permaculture Design can meet and exceed human needs by transforming human gardens and communities into fully functioning ecosystems. Receive hands-on experience on how to apply the principles of ecological design in your own home, farm, neighborhood, and city. Permaculture is an integrated ecological design system for creating sustainable human settlements. Far more than a set of gardening tips and techniques, Permaculture is about understanding and designing the connections between people, the earth, plants, energy, climate, water, transportation, shelter, animals, economics and much more.
For more information on topics covered in a Permaculture Design Course, see:
Permaculture Institute
Denver Permaculture Design Course
Friday, April 26, 2013
Gaia Gardens offering CSA shares for 2013
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Our intention in offering CSA shares this season is to
create an intimate community around the farm. To us, being intimate with the farm involves developing a
relationship with the land that your food is grown on, and the community of
people who grow it. It means
participating in some of the farm activities, such as working in the garden
once in a while, helping us harvest or pack vegetables, selling at the farmers
market, helping with school kids when they come on field trips, writing grants,
being a host for some of our events or however you may be inspired to
participate.
What you’ll get in your weekly allotment is what’s growing at the farm, as if you lived here with us. We may occasionally supplement your box with produce from some of our favorite local organic farmers, such as fruits, or vegetables we don’t grow.
CSA crops planned for 2013 include arugula, beets, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, cabbages, chard, collard greens, mustard greens, eggplant, herbs (basil, cilantro, dill, marjoram, parsley, summer savory, sage), kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, leeks, onions, potatoes, peas, peppers, chile, radishes, spinach, summer squash, tomatoes, winter squash and zucchini.
Our CSA will only be offering 20 shares to start with. If we are blessed with enough produce to offer more shares, we’ll let people on our waiting list know.
We would like to know why you want to support Gaia Gardens and how you want to participate in the farm activities (please be creative as any participation is welcome!)
What you’ll get in your weekly allotment is what’s growing at the farm, as if you lived here with us. We may occasionally supplement your box with produce from some of our favorite local organic farmers, such as fruits, or vegetables we don’t grow.
CSA crops planned for 2013 include arugula, beets, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, cabbages, chard, collard greens, mustard greens, eggplant, herbs (basil, cilantro, dill, marjoram, parsley, summer savory, sage), kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, leeks, onions, potatoes, peas, peppers, chile, radishes, spinach, summer squash, tomatoes, winter squash and zucchini.
Our CSA will only be offering 20 shares to start with. If we are blessed with enough produce to offer more shares, we’ll let people on our waiting list know.
We would like to know why you want to support Gaia Gardens and how you want to participate in the farm activities (please be creative as any participation is welcome!)
In addition to the 20 shares that we are offering, we will
be donating 5 shares to people with terminal illnesses and/or families in
need. We are looking for sponsors
(individuals or businesses) for these extra shares.
The drop off location is yet to be determined. If you wish to offer your home or business as a drop off, please let us know (that would count as a way to participate).
The drop off location is yet to be determined. If you wish to offer your home or business as a drop off, please let us know (that would count as a way to participate).
The season will run from June to October, or approximately
20 weeks.
Shares are $22/week. If you decide to join the CSA, we ask that you pay half of the season up front ($220) by May 1st, and the other half ($220) by July 1st.
If you leave town and are unable to pick up your box (they will actually be insulated shopping bags, provided by Del Norte Credit Union!), you will need to make arrangements to give your share to a friend during your absence, or you can donate it to a person in need (we will arrange for delivery).
This is our first year offering a CSA. We only grow a limited variety of vegetables and will not supplement boxes with anything not grown locally. When kale is abundant, you’ll get lots of kale. When it’s zucchini season, same. When we harvest potatoes, your bag will be heavy. Our CSA will be simple. We probably won’t have time to include recipes in your box but you may occasionally find a poem, a bunch of flowers or herbs, or a couple of eggs from our lovely feathered friends.
We promise to give you the freshest, most organic, most grown with passion and reverence vegetables we can grow.
The upfront money from the CSA shares will go to the construction of our water-harvesting system and well fund. If you are inspired to pitch in a little extra, bless your heart. If you wish to sponsor a share for a family in need or person with terminal illness, please indicate the amount of your sponsorship on your enrollment form.
If interested in joining our CSA, please email us to request a CSA enrollment form.
Thank you for your interest in our CSA offering and for supporting organic and regenerative farming in Santa Fe!
Dominique and Poki
Shares are $22/week. If you decide to join the CSA, we ask that you pay half of the season up front ($220) by May 1st, and the other half ($220) by July 1st.
If you leave town and are unable to pick up your box (they will actually be insulated shopping bags, provided by Del Norte Credit Union!), you will need to make arrangements to give your share to a friend during your absence, or you can donate it to a person in need (we will arrange for delivery).
This is our first year offering a CSA. We only grow a limited variety of vegetables and will not supplement boxes with anything not grown locally. When kale is abundant, you’ll get lots of kale. When it’s zucchini season, same. When we harvest potatoes, your bag will be heavy. Our CSA will be simple. We probably won’t have time to include recipes in your box but you may occasionally find a poem, a bunch of flowers or herbs, or a couple of eggs from our lovely feathered friends.
We promise to give you the freshest, most organic, most grown with passion and reverence vegetables we can grow.
The upfront money from the CSA shares will go to the construction of our water-harvesting system and well fund. If you are inspired to pitch in a little extra, bless your heart. If you wish to sponsor a share for a family in need or person with terminal illness, please indicate the amount of your sponsorship on your enrollment form.
If interested in joining our CSA, please email us to request a CSA enrollment form.
Thank you for your interest in our CSA offering and for supporting organic and regenerative farming in Santa Fe!
Dominique and Poki
Once upon a time,
When
women were birds,
There
was the simple understanding
That
to sing at dawn
And
to sing at dusk
Was
to heal the world through joy.
The
birds still remember what we have forgotten,
That
the world is meant to be celebrated.4
- Terry Tempest Williams, When Women Were Birds
