Albuquerque: Part 1

Last week I had the amazing opportunity to attend the conference for the Community Food Project grantees in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  All of the Community Food Projects are designed to increase food security in our communities through whole-system change.  It was great to learn about the different projects happening across the country that are working towards access to fresh, healthy produce within food deserts, self-sufficiency for low-income families, education about local produce, and a closer connection to where our food comes from.  This grant is what helps my organization to feed low-income children from a local, whole-foods menu, educate families about local produce and cooking from scratch at home, and create sustainable markets for local farms.  Pretty cool huh?

Our last day of the conference we went on a farm tour around Albuquerque.  All of the farms that we saw work to build community, create hands-on learning, and reconnect people to their food.  I really enjoyed seeing La Plazita Gardens, a 12-acre community farm in Albuquerque's South Valley.  Not only do they use the garden as a way to educate youth about farming and selling produce, but it connects youth back to their culture and indigenous roots and creates healing for the entire community. 

We also got to see the kitchen at the South Valley Economic Development Center.  Their kitchen is used by a variety of local growers and businesses who are able to use the kitchen on an hourly basis, rather than having to build their own commercial space.  I fell in love with the mural outside their center that was created by local youth.  The "three sisters" (pictured above) hold agricultural significance because corn, beans, and squash help each other to grow when planted closeby one another.

Want to find out about what I ate during the trip?  Stay tuned for Part 2!