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East Valencia SWCD Urban Gardens Program
The East Valencia Urban Gardens Program aims to build climate resiliency, protect soil and water resources, and increase access to healthy local food and economic opportunities through youth in the Meadow Lake and Cerro Mission areas of Valencia County, New Mexico. The program established demonstration gardens in 2016 that provide educational opportunities and classes. A youth internship program and East Mesa Grower's Market were also created. The program seeks to expand garden spaces, partner with more schools, and create district-wide farming internships through collaborations with local organizations.
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East Valencia SWCD Urban Gardens Program
- 1. East Valencia Urban GardensProgram CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCY, SOIL AND WATER RESOURCE PROTECTION, FOOD ACCESS AND YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES
- 2. Valencia Soil and Water Conservation District •1,438,000 acres • Valencia County, parts of Socorro and Bernalillo Counties • Includes parts of Isleta and Laguna Pueblos
- 3. East Valencia ‘East Mesa’ • MeadowLake and Cerro Mission • 10,000 people • 100% elementary students receive free or reduced lunch • $27,608 medium income • 50% below poverty level • Over 50% Spanish-speaking homes
- 4. Background VSWCD Co-Chairof the Board surveyed door-to- door Climate Change Resiliency Community Meetings NACD Urban Ag Grant in 2016 to implement East Valencia Urban Gardens Program (EVUGP)
- 5. Community Meetings • Educational opportunities • Stronger Community •Youth Opportunities
- 6. Goals Community resiliency Soil and water resource protection Healthy Local Food access Economic Opportunities Youth opportunities
- 7. Meadow Lake CommunityDemonstration Garden 2016 2019
- 8. El Cerro MissionCommunity Demonstration Garden 2016 2019
- 9. Community Demonstration Gardens- Getting Started Community volunteers Soil Testing Valencia County Support
- 10. Soil Amendments Soil donationsfrom community members
- 11. Soil Amendments County maintenancehelps to till compost at El Cerro Mission Straw bale donation to use as mulch
- 12. Water Conservation Heavily mulchedpaths Water HarvestingDrip Irrigation
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- 18. Classes and Workshops JijubeFruit Tree Workshop Hoop House Johnson-Su Bioreactor
- 19. Seed to SupperClass Series
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- 22. Kids Groups PilotProgram 2017-2018
- 24. Youth Internship Program,2018-2020 10 Interns 2018, 15 Interns 2019 2020: 2 Youth Leaders added Food growing skills Small business skills Teamwork 6 months > 8 months Funding: Conservation Fund (Kellogg Foundation) Funding: Youth Development Inc.
- 25. Planting native varietyof white corn. Planting tomato transplants
- 26. Interns weighing theharvest Interns building a compost bin Building a sign for kids to paint.
- 28. East Mesa Grower’sMarket
- 29. Financial and TechnicalAssistance Program Summary of Program: Funds projects that conserve soil and water resources and provide habitat for wildlife and pollinators. Reimburses projects up to 75% of cost. Must be VSWCD Mil Levy taxpayer. Ranking process. https://www.valenciaswcd.org/
- 30. Examples of Projects •Water harvesting tanks • Hoop houses • Cover crops • Native plants • Soil erosion project • Stream restoration • Irrigation using water conservation • Regenerative agriculture practices • Holistic grazing practices
- 31. Program Sustainability 2017 Recipientof grant through The Conservation Fund (Kellogg Foundation funding) 2018 Recipient of Permaculture Grant through New Mexico Community Foundation 2020 Recipient of NACD Urban Agriculture Conservation Initiative Grant Partially funded through VSWCD Mil Levy Tax 2018 – July, 2020 Donations Programming for Sustainability CAB Youth Leaders Community Leadership Partnerships
- 32. Partnerships NMSU ValenciaCounty Cooperative Extension Services I-CAN (Ideas in Cooking and Nutrition) Valencia Community Government Youth Development Inc. Valencia Community Action Network Valencia Community Gardens Community Wellness Council Friends of Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area Valencia County Master Gardeners New Mexico Farmer’s Markets Young Farmer’s Coalition Rural Farmer’s Coalition Farm To School Rio Grande Agricultural Land Trust Natural Resource Conservation Service
- 33. Looking Ahead! Garden Expansion El Cerro Mission – 3x larger, fruit trees, private plots, kids section Community Advisory Boards Food distribution Donation systems, develop growers’ market Kids Groups Each garden, Partner w/ NMSU Extension School Garden and Greenhouse Network Develop partnerships to create District-wide farming youth internships, apprentice and training opportunities 2020 NACD Urban Agriculture Conservation Initiative Grant Recipient
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