Join the Local Food Movement Now

News from AIRE

Volunteers from Nusenda Credit Union Joined AIRE at the Taos High School Orchard and Garden

Staff members from the Albuquerque and Taos branches of Nusenda Credit Union joined high school agriculture students and AIRE staff at the Taos High School garden for their annual Community Day. The five students helped lead the volunteers through various tasks around the garden.

Amigos Locale Launch!

Amigos Locale was officially ‘christened’ on November 14, 2023 with an evening of culinary delights, sharing information about this A.I.R.E. program, and expressions of gratitude to the partners, donors and volunteers who made it all possible.

 

In the Taos News 

Local nonprofit A.I.R.E. opens new space, Amigos Locale

Agriculture Implementation Research & Education

For over 10 years, AIRE has connected Taos County’s students with local food in the garden, classroom, cafeteria and community while supporting our farmers and ranchers, cultivating a sustainable economy, and restoring our land.

For $20 you can: provide a fresh produce box to a student

For $50 you can: provide healthy, organic snacks and cooking lessons for two classrooms or 50 students

For $100 you can: provide seeds and tools for a school garden for a growing season

For $1,000 you can: sponsor a Taos High School intern for working in the High School’s new grow dome and high tunnel education program 

Our Programming Includes

Farm to Family & Enos Garcia Food Boxes

Boxes of local farm food were built and delivered to Taos Pueblo, Enos Garcia Nurturing Center program, and Tiwa Babies including fresh vegetables for school families in the Enos Garcia Community School program for 16 weeks (4,000 servings of fresh vegetables and fruit). 
NM Farmers Market Article

Farmer Support Program

We provide consultation, equipment, and seeds to new and upcoming farmers to produce food for school lunches and our community.

Taos Community Farms CSA

In 2023, we grew and sourced approximately 18,500lbs of organic produce from 15 local farms for over 150 CSA members while catering to those with EBT and SNAP benefits.

Farm to School Nutrition Education Classes

Nutrition and garden classes continue at Enos Garcia, Arroyos del Norte, Taos High School, and Ranchos Elementary schools. Students also continued growing in school gardens while planting at home, and trying new foods with the help of Three Sisters Garden Kit that included seeds, bilingual planting instructions, and new and exciting recipes.

School Gardens & Interns

We coordinated programs including high tunnel greenhouse construction, garden education, and seed saving programs at Parr Field, Enos Garcia grow dome, and Arroyos del Norte’s high tunnel. Production at schools was maintained by high school interns who also helped to complete the construction of a grow dome and high tunnel at Taos High School.

Direct Ranch to Family Program

Rios del Norte Coop continues to bring local lamb and beef to families while increasing their member rancher’s profitability and sustainability.

Local Food Production is Important

We continue to support farmers, ranchers and families to build the regional food system. We have continued to support farmers and families during this time of uncertainty.
 
Now, more than ever, growing local seed, protecting our traditional acequia water rights and promoting regenerative agricultural practices are essential.
  
We are currently expanding contract production with farmers, building greenhouses and education programing at the Taos High School, providing Farm to Family Food Boxes, and building programs to increase resilience for our community food chain.
 
You can send a check for any amount to:
AIRE
PO Box 3137
Taos, NM 87571

 

Or, donate using the button below. 

AIRE

A.I.R.E. ~ Agriculture Implementation Research & Education (AIRE) is a non-profit organization was formed to help reconnect people with the land, their food, and ecology while addressing the growing problems associated with the industrial food system, climate change, & nature deficit disorder.