Growing Food and Community Together

Cultivando La Comida y La Comunidad Juntos

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Overview of Our Program

The East Valencia Urban Gardens Program (EVUGP) aims to increase access to locally grown and healthy food, conserve water and soil resources, increase economic opportunities and reach youth through farming and gardening of fruits and vegetables. EVUGP started because of concerns expressed for improving the District's local food economy during a  series of community consensus meetings on building a more resilient community to climate change. We teach community members how to grow food, lead two youth gardening programs, connect farmers to resources and are working to start the first farmer's market on the East Mesa. EVUGP is specifically concerned with working on projects on the East Mesa, an underserved area that has minimal access to healthy foods and a higher poverty rate.

We are:

• Community members;
• TWO community gardens, in El Cerro Mission and Meadow Lake;
• A growing youth internship program learning everything from planting seeds, to harvesting and selling produce;
• Kids programs to learn about food and farming and to begin gardening;
• Free workshops for the community;
• Seed to Supper Spring Class series to learn how to start your own backyard garden;
• Financial Assistance programs to start backyard gardens and conserve water and soil resources (water harvesting, native plants, hoop houses, and more)  

Join the community gardens!

We have regularly scheduled work days at the community gardens and you can join anytime! Regular volunteers in a community garden may harvest some of the produce.

Meadow Lake: Saturdays 9-11am in November

100 Cuerro Ln, Meadow Lake, NM (behind the Meadow Lake Community Center)

El Cerro: Thursdays 3:30-5pm in November

309 El Cerro Mission Rd, El Cerro Mission, NM (behind the El Cerro Mission Community Center)

UPCOMING EVENTS!

Permaculture Workshop

Date TBD

Join us a full-day workshop teaching the basics of how to incorporate permaculture concepts into your garden, farm or homestead. Learn how to conserve water, reduce waste, plant large amounts of food in a small area and save money! Lead by Certified Permaculture Design Expert.

Seed to Supper Spring Series

Saturdays, February 22 - March 28 TENTATIVE

The highly popular Seed to Supper class series is back this year! This class teaches everything you need to know to start your own backyard garden. We will cover choosing a site, building healthy soils, propogating your own plants, maintaining your garden, conserving water, pest management and more! First 10 participants to complete the series from the East Mesa recieve a Garden Starter Kit worth $250 that includes seeds, tools, drip hose, compost and more! (Garden Kits are funded through the VSWCD mil levy tax.) Lindsey Diaz leads the curriculum, developed by I-CAN NMSU Extension with visiting experts. Ms. Diaz has 20+ years gardening throughout the western US, is Certified in Permaculture Design and focuses on how to conserve resources and build sustainable sollutions that reduce waste and save money and efforts.

Community Gardens Wish List

The East Valencia Community Garden relies on donations from the community to support the start of the community gardens so that the opportunity remains free for participants. If you have items to donate to the garden please contact Lindsey at EVUrbanGardens@gmail.com. Thank you!!

Fruit trees and shrubs (1st priority)

Straw bails (old or new)

Shovels

Hoes

Picnic Tables (or chairs/tables)

6 mm greenhouse plastic

4x4 and 2x4 wood (old or new)

shade netting

EVUGP was featured in the Valencia County News Bulletin! Read the article here:

http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/features/gardens-friendships-are-growing-in-meadow-lake-and-el-cerro/article_ecbc9ac0-1a20-11e7-b218-47053496302d.html

Contact for more information, question or feedback:

Lindsey Díaz , EVUG Program Coordinator

EVUrbanGardens@gmail.com