Become a Better Farmer
AIRE and Growing Community Now are seeking beginning farmers to participate in an eight-part workshop series focused on carrot production in Northern New Mexico.
~ $30 per session for community members ~
Stipends are available and costs are waived for 15 participants who qualify as socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers.
Why Carrots?
Carrots are particularly well suited for the short growing season of Northern New Mexico. They are a robust cool season crop that is highly nutritious and stores well during the fall and winter months. The goal of this project is to provide healthy, locally grown carrots for children through the USDA School Lunch Program, CSA shares for families in need, and area food banks.
How do I sign up?
Click this link and fill out the form.
Applications are due April 15th, 2022
How do I qualify for financial assistance?
Answer the questionnaire above and we will let you know if you qualify for the $75 per workshop stipend.
Where?
– Cerro Vista Farm in Cerro, NM
– Taos Pueblo in Taos, NM
– Morning Star Farm in Arroyo Seco, NM
– Zitro Farm in Chimayo, NM
What will I learn?
• Different methods to plant, cultivate, harvest, store, and grow carrots and other crops such as leafy greens, radishes, turnips and cabbage
• Practices for regenerative, sustainable, biodynamic, and organic agriculture
• Stale bed cultivation and flame weeding
• Training in working with equipment such as a flame weeder, wheel planter, carrot washer, power harrower, or carrot harvester
When?
These workshops will occur monthly, beginning in May and ending in October of 2022.
Who are the Farmers hosting these workshops?
Daniel Carmona
Cerro Vista Farm
Cerro, NM
Daniel Carmona, owner of Cerro Vista Farm, has been growing and marketing mixed vegetable crops in the local region for the past 41 years. He has been training resident farm interns, four interns per season, for the past 11 years to produce and market organic foods locally. Daniel believes that to avert human extinction; the earth needs millions of new young farmers to be trained ASAP to produce food for local markets. Cerro Vista Farm produces 8,000 lb. of carrots per year which are sold through local farmers markets, grocery stores, and schools.
Geronimo Romero
Geronimo’s Farm
Taos Pueblo, NM
Geronimo Romero is a traditional Taos Pueblo Farmer, board member of the co-op and a heritage teacher. He is an experienced mentor and combines cultural farming traditions with production Acequia farming. He is currently planting heritage grains, market crops and is a traditional baker making local organic pueblo bread. He grows for the Red Willow Farmers Market at Taos Pueblo and worked with Pueblo youth interns in 2019 as part of the AIRE New Farmers Program and Farm to Family Box project. Geronimo integrates traditional practices passed down from his grandfather and integrates this knowledge with best practices to increase the productivity of his farm with a goal of providing fresh, healthy food for elders and children.
Melinda Bateman
Morning Star Farm
Arroyo Seco, NM
Melinda Bateman is an allied Co-op farmer with over 20 years of experience as a Market Gardener and CSA farmer in Taos, New Mexico. Utilizing Organic and Biodynamic methods, Melinda will cover basic soil compost, irrigation, season extension techniques, high tunnel greenhouse production, drip irrigation systems, composting and seed saving for growing specialty carrot varieties.
Anjel Ortiz
Zitro Farm
Chimayo, NM
Anjel Ortiz of Zitro Farms produced 5,000 lb. of carrots in 2019, increasing to 7,000 lb. of carrots in 2020. Initially training with Don Bustos at La Plazitas project in Albuquerque, Anjel now leases land in Chimayo and Peñasco and has experience working with 5 interns over the last two years through A.I.R.E.’s young intern program. He is a six-generation farmer in Northern New Mexico. His experience with the numerous factors in growing carrots in northern New Mexico, including microclimates, variation in elevation, irrigation techniques, frost dates, and growing local regenerative, traditional foods throughout the seasons will benefit young farmers.