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 interestedThe 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!)

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 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

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

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Can you Dig it?



















Help us finish the excavation of the cistern...

Our interns Maria and Thomas, and several volunteers have been hard at work excavating the old 6,000 gallon cistern that will be the center piece of our water harvesting system.

Once connected to the adjacent roofs (3 buildings) our system will be able to capture 40,000 gallon during a season  The cistern is 22 feet long, 4 feet wide and 7 feet deep.   Next to it is another, already excavated, 1,000 gallon cistern.  Both cisterns were part of an hydroponic greenhouse operating until the 1980's.

The cistern and a booster pump will be directly connected to our irrigation system,  The well will be feeding the cistern when rain water is not falling.

We are eager to finish the excavation of the cistern so we can fill it up and be ready for the growing season.  As you may know, we have expanded our cultivated area to twice the size we were cultivating last season.  We are about 45% done and have reached the bottom of the cistern on one side.

We are postponing the drilling of a new well until our water harvesting system is in place.  We may be able to sustain our irrigation needs with the cistern alone.







(click on image to start video)









Our crew is working on the cistern excavation everyday.  Tasks include digging, sifting debris and pushing wheelbarrows.  If you have an hour or two to spare, please consider joining us.  Any help will speed up the process.   Most days, we have lunch together, with soup provided by Gaia Gardens.

Thank you Maria, Thomas, Pierce, Kim, Tod and the many other volunteers who have lent us a hand.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

32 pics and a mule


































Demonstrating the sift-turning method (mixing a freshly-applied layer of compost into a bed)



















A generous donation of baked goods from Chocolate Maven




Getting ready for a lettuce transplanting session


























Pierce and Poki fixing the ceiling in the back kitchen



















The excavation of our 7,000 gallon water cistern continues.  If you need some good exercise, please join us anytime!  We are almost half way there.



















If you come help, Caramela may let you taste one of her delicious eggs



















Our garlic is doing mighty well



















Dominique and Maria planting pollinator flower seeds



















Three classes from the Santa Fe Waldorf School visited us to do their annual community service



























First apricot blooms





A young friend from the Camino De La Paz School in Espanola



























Laying seedlings on a wet rags to make a seedling bundle,  This method helps keep the roots protected until seedlings are transplanted.







We now serve soups to our visitors and volunteers



The salad bar



















One of Gemini Farms mules (on the right)  



















Our meditation hut being painted


























Our new shed is almost finished.  Thank you Jonathon for your fabulous help and skills!





















We always welcome families with young kids.  It's so much fun to be on a farm!






















Scrapper is now DJ'ing during our volunteer days



















Maria and Dominique composted 1,500lbs of bananas last Monday.


ANNOUNCEMENTS

Community Potlucks will resume on Monday May 6, at 6:00pm and will be held the first Monday of each month.  Weather permitting, we'll be showing a movie after potluck

Gaia Gardens will soon be offering a CSA since we cannot have a farm stand for the time being.  If you are not yet on our waiting list, please email us so we can notify you when we are ready.  Del Norte Credit Union will be sponsoring our CSA.

We are selling seeds and plant starts every Saturday at the Farmers Market.
On Sat. April 27, we'll also be selling at the Master Gardeners Annual Fair at the Rodeo Grounds

Fundraiser Auction (on eBay) of outdoor furniture donated by Moss Outdoor from April 15-April 25.  If interested in bidding, please email us and we'll send you the announcement


















Dedon Hemisphere Lounge Chair


















Gandia Blasco Flat Armchairs (2) + Flat Table



Gandia Blasco Butaca Big armchair



















Gandia Blasco Butaca Lipstick OutdoorChair




Sign-up on the right of blog (Follow this Blog by Email) to receive announcements posted on this blog.



We are fiscally-sponsored by the New Mexico Community Foundation, a 501(c)3.  Donations are tax-deductible.  Please Donate here

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Gaia Gardens Receives Award from the Sustainable Santa Fe Commission



Gaia Gardens was selected to receive a Sustainable Santa Fe Award for Food Systems.  The 2013 Sustainable Santa Fe Awards are sponsored by the City’s Sustainable Santa Fe Commission, Earth Care, Green Fire Times, and the Green Chamber of Commerce

Monday, April 8, 2013

WOMEN’S GARDENER, FARMER, RANCHER TRAINING

April 12-14
Santa Fe

A two day and a half day conference for all women farmers and ranchers interested in improved quality of life, profitability, and land health.  Want a down-to-earth approach to education? Then come to the source.  We take it seriously, but we make it fun, interesting and real, so you’re ready to tackle real-world issues. Learn how Whole Farm Planning can help you achieve improved quality of life, profitability, and land health. Hear about the successes  participants have achieved.  Learn from experts in the field about ways to farm successfully whether you are a beginning farmer or have been farming for years.  Network with other farmers in the Southwest to share tips and learn about farming resources.        More info here

Friday, April 5, 2013

Seeds and Plants Starts for Sale every Saturday at the Farmers Market


















Tomorrow Sat. April 6

We will have:
  • Red Russian Kale
  • Mustard Greens
  • Collard Greens
  • Mesclun Lettuce
  • Giant Sunflowers
  • Sweet Corn
  • Calendula (medicinal)






















































We will also bring Compost Tea ($4/gallon) and Earth Worms ($10/quart).

If you want tea or worms, please email here to place your order

AND, through the Spring, we also sell a variety of pollinator flower seeds at the Farmers Market.