Friday, July 25, 2008

Organic Farm Tour Is Sunday

By Jessica Dyer
Journal Staff Writer
      In addition to tomatoes and squash, interest is growing at the Rio Grande Community Farm.
    Ian Simmons, the farm's community outreach and education coordinator, said the farm's organic community garden accommodated a record 45 gardeners this season.
    "We lose some gardeners year after year, but we gain usually a few more than drop off each season," he said of the farm, a nonprofit organization that leases approximately 50 acres of Los Poblanos Fields in the North Valley from the city of Albuquerque.
    Simmons hopes to generate more interest in community gardening during a free talk and tour at 9 a.m. Sunday at the farm. The event is part of the City's Sunday Hikes series.
    Simmons said many people are eager to try community gardening but have questions about how it all works. At Rio Grande Community Farm, the gardeners are paid farm members who work their own row, using organic, chemical-free methods. They often share knowledge and ideas with one another.
    "People are getting more interested in where there food is coming from and what's in their food. Having a sense of control over that market and growing your own food is one way you know what's going into your food, and you know where it's coming from," Simmons said.
    Simmons said the bulk of the farm's gardeners grow food for their own use or to share with neighbors, but there are many reasons people opt to toil in the soil.
    "It's very therapeutic to work out in the soil and dirt for some folks. Some folks want to grow food for food banks and organizations that need food, or they just like sharing it. Or they get value of being part of a community garden. They like the concept that brings communities together," Simmons said.
    Those who wish to attend Simmons' tour and talk should meet at the main parking area at Los Poblanos Fields. To get there, go west on Montaño from Fourth Street and turn north on Tierra Viva Road.
    Outdoor awareness
    The Open Space Visitor Center, 6500 Coors NW, is also hosting an educational event Sunday. Otis Price will conduct a free "Wilderness Proofing" workshop at 2 p.m.
    Price is a West Side resident who has studied wilderness survival for the past 30 years. He said his program is geared toward elementary school-age children and their parents.
    The Open Space Visitor Center is hosting some similarly themed events in August – a "survival skills" workshop Aug. 9 and a "friction fire" workshop Aug. 23.
    Price said his advice and exercises are applicable to the wilderness but also to any environment where a child might get lost in a crowd, such as the State Fair, shopping malls or football games.
    The most important lesson he gives is to teach kids about their surroundings.
    "It's information most people don't think about. If you go to the grocery store and ask (children) when you get there, 'Which way is home?' you start making your child aware of their surroundings," Price said.
    The father of three said there are several simple exercises and tips to prevent separation, some of which could even save lives.
    "I have a daily Google search on lost kids, and every summer, every year, hundreds of people get separated from their families and get lost and get into a situation where they're injured or even killed," Price said. "It just doesn't need to be that way. If they'd taken a few precautions, they wouldn't get separated."
    To register for Price's workshop, call the Open Space Visitor Center at 897-8831.
    Market cool down
    In you're looking to cool down this weekend, the Los Ranchos Growers' and Arts/Crafts Markets will be offering a "Fruit and Ice Cream Special." The market will run from 7-11 a.m. Saturday at 6718 Rio Grande NW.
    In addition to sampling ice cream and fresh fruit, visitors can learn more about making soft ice cream at home, including how to use fruit.
    Saturday's festivities also include music by Three String Bale, dog treats from Bow Wow Blues and face-painting by Bee Bee the clown.
    There will also be the usual selection of fresh-from-the-farm goodies and locally made gifts.
    To access the market during construction, enter via northbound Rio Grande.
    From Fourth Street, turn west on Chavez and north onto Rio Grande.
    From southbound Rio Grande, turn east on El Pueblo, south onto Fourth Street and west onto Chavez to Rio Grande.
    Cool cars on Old 66
    Car lovers also have an option this weekend. The town of Bernalillo's Old Route 66 Classic, Antique & Custom Car Show will be from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Loretto Park in Bernalillo.
    The event is free and open to the public and will feature food vendors, kids' activities and live entertainment.
    For more information, visit www.townofbernalillo.org.
    Concerts at the museum
    The Albuquerque Museum of Art & History, 2000 Mountain NW, is hosting a pair of "Women's Voices" concerts this weekend in the Museum Amphitheater.
    Charmed, Dianna Hughes, Patti Littlefield, Kari Simmons and Hillary Smith will perform at 7 p.m. today. Saturday's concert, also at 7 p.m., features The Buckarettes, Jenny Marlow, Busy McCarroll, Madi Sato and Susan Clark.
    Tickets are $15 adults, $12 for seniors and students, and $10 for New Mexico Jazz Workshop and Albuquerque Museum Foundation members.
    For tickets or more information, call 255-9798.
   

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