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----PO BOX 5588, Santa Fe, NM 87502-5588------(505-745-0589)-----www.TheSun-News.com |
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Vol.5. NO.1 ....................................................Pages 12and 13
Local Organic Profiles by Zusha Elinson Monte Vista Organic Farm David
Frésquez is the pulse of the of the local organic
movement. He owns and operates Monte Vista Organic Farm,
he gives workshops to other small farmers, and he
consults with individual farmers. As we chat at his
farmer’s market booth on a Saturday morning, he
talks excitedly, helps customers, calls out to
acquaintances that pass by (everyone seems to know him
here), and jabs his wife, Loretta, in the arm to ask her
questions. At an age when most people retire, he is
unstoppable. His wife reports that “he runs
circles around the workers at our farm and they’re
half his age.” Frésquez
and his wife farm a total of 7.5 acres in Peñasco, near
Río Lucia, in the mountains, and in La Mesilla. Both
plots are irrigated directly from fresh mountain springs.
They grow all types of vegetables, including many
different varieties brought home from their travels
throughout Europe and the US. Today, at their booth,
there are eight varieties of garlic and a plethora of
squash, many of which I had never seen before. Frésquez
says, “We grow what we like as well as what is
nutritious for people. I tell people that they can even
put the carrot tops in a stew, they’re full of
vitamins and minerals.” Monte
Vista Organic Farm is certified organic. Frésquez says
that “Growing organic is easy, because organically
grown plants are strong plants and are far more resistant
to disease and pests.” Making strong
plants, for organic farmers, begins with good soil. Over
the years, with the aid of compost, he has built up his
sandy soil to a rich loam. The loamy soil retains water
and is ideal for farming. He does not use
artificial fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides, which
deplete the soil and kill all the beneficial insects. On
Frésquez’s farm naturally prevalent spiders, lady
bugs, lacewings, praying mantis’ and sparrows
control the pest problem. “Chemicals are a thing of
the past” he says. Even
with the sustainable practices of organic agriculture,
there exists the persistent paradox of farming in
the desert. Frésquez insists that there is enough water
for farmers in New Mexico if ranchers and golf courses
can reform their ways. “Here” he says,
“ranchers should switch to farming. Farming with
drip irrigation is far more water-efficient than the
flood irrigation required in maintaining pasture for
cattle.” Golf courses, he thinks, should switch to
artificial turf. The
farm is a labor of love for Frésquez, but he has also
made it into a profitable venture. He sells his produce
at the farmers market where this morning he has sold out
almost everything in three hours. He also sells his
produce to local area restaurants like Café San Estevan,
Pizza, etc., Joe’s Diner, Bistro 315, Mu Du Noodles,
and Cloud Cliff Bakery in Santa Fe, Sugar Nymphs in
Peñasco and Café Corazón in Dixon. The
Marketplace buys his produce, but Wild Oats and Whole
Foods certainly do not. He tells the story of going to
Wild Oats to sell them his organic heirloom tomatoes at a
price far lower than what they were already paying, but
he says, “they don’t want to deal with the
little guy. They sell to locals, but they don’t buy
from local farmers, so I boycott their store.” The
most recent development in sales at the farm is a new
program in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe Public Schools
where administrators are trying to bring more locally
grown produce into their cafeterias. Frésquez cites the
case of Central Alternative School, a reform school in
Appleton, Wisconsin, that replaced its vending machines
and cafeteria food with healthy organic food. The
school’s discipline problems dropped dramatically.
Since the program’s inception in 1997 there have
been no drop-outs, no expulsions, no drugs or weapons
found on students and no suicides. Another
issue that Frésquez has been working on is a referendum
to ban genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) from
our area. A county in northern California has already
passed a similar measure and Frésquez hopes that area
counties will soon follow. As
his final word, Frésquez says, “For your health,
eat organic. At the farmers market we have
everything you can find at the store. Plus, organic
produce is fresher, lasts longer and has more vitamins
and minerals. You can taste the difference.” As he
gives me one of his 60 varieties of heirloom tomatoes to
try, he tells me that conventional tomatoes are made red
with methane gas before being stocked in supermarkets.
Indeed his tomato is not like the cardboard flavored ones
that are sold in the supermarket; it is sweet and
flavorful. This is where all of David Frésquez’s
energy ends up; in organic produce that not only tastes
great but is changing the world we live in. Route 1, Box 370-R, Española, New Mexico 87532. More
next time.
OVERDOSE!
Homeless Assistance Monies Awarded U.S.
Representative Tom Udall, D-N.M., recently announced 25
grants totaling $7,282,329 for programs that assist the
homeless in New Mexico from the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD). “These
grants will not only provide food, shelter and job
training but also new opportunities to bring hope and
encouragement to our homeless population,” Udall
said. “Beyond funding the critical immediate
needs of the homeless, these funds will offer substantial
support for those who are looking to secure rentals or
other housing for themselves.” The
grants given to New Mexico come from two HUD programs: Albuquerque St.
Martin’s Hospitality Center - $115,500 Albuquerque
Health Care for the Homeless, Inc. - $135,267 Barrett
Foundation, Inc. - (2 grants) - $121, 227 Catholic
Charities - (4 grants) - $1,240,393 City
of Albuquerque - (2 grants) - $1,084,781 Transitional
Living Services - (2 grants) $381,300 Women’s
Community Association - $42,097 Aztec Daybreak
Center, Inc. - $199,979 Clovis Eastern
Plains Hobbs Guidance
Center of Las
Cruces La
Casa, Inc. - $221,655 Mesilla
Valley Community of Hope - $274,050 Taos Town of
Taos - $450,000 The
Shelter Plus Care Program provides rental assistance to
disabled homeless persons through one of the following
components: tenant-based assistance, sponsor-based
assistance, project-based assistance, and single-room
occupancy assistance. Grantees must match the
rental assistance with an equal dollar amount of
supportive services. New Mexico received the
following grants under this program: Albuquerque City of
Albuquerque - (2 grants) - $1,020,108 Las
Cruces City of Las
Cruces - $327,060 Sandoval
County Sandoval
County - $641,040 Santa Fe City of
Santa Fe - (2 grants) - $270,888 Udall said
HUD released nearly $1.3 billion in grants this past
December. The funding is part of federal strategy
being embraced by state and local leaders to help end
long-term or chronic homelessness for persons who are
mentally ill, addicted, or physically disabled.
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Inside This Issue
About the Cover....... 3 Ad Sales Person Wanted.... 2 Armada of Terror...... 6 Book Reviews............... 15 Gathering: The Sacred Breath...... 5 GE-Free Northern California. 4 Good Sayings6 Homeless Assistance Monies...... Inside the Camper Shell............... 10 Local Organic Profiles... 12 Mad Cow Disease... 11 Movie Making in NM...... 7 No Child Left Behind..... 1 North Central NM Events 3 Pregnancy Q and A...... 15 Testing Faith............... 14 Urban Legend............... 14 What Bush Wants, Bush Gets........ 14 “What Does Love Mean?”.... 8 Why Can Tattoos Kill............... 11 |
