Guide to Albuquerque's Community Gardens

The Alvarado Urban Farm has a goal of being a place where Albuquerque residents can learn about food systems and how to grow food. The downtown garden hosts events, lectures, and classes, and sells its produce at the downtown growers' market. The project is organized by the Historic District Improvement Company, the Downtown Action Team, and a host of partners and collaborators.

The Barelas Community Garden lies west of the Barelas Senior Center. The 6,000 square foot greenhouse and garden were built for the intergenerational community, nearby schools and the neighborhood. Plots are made of raised beds.

Growing Awareness Urban Farm is a project of East Central Ministries. The garden supports the surrounding neighborhood in a number of ways in addition to providing fresh, local food. The garden provides the neighborhood with various jobs, such as tending the garden and creating olla clay pots.

The project has grown from a few seedlings to several micro-businesses. There is a nursery, an apiary, chicken coops, demonstration and community gardens, a playground with edible landscaping, worm composting, and a small store. All profits go directly back to the community.

La Placita Gardens is part of the historic Sanchez Farms in Albuquerque's south valley. The organic community farm includes many partners, such as neighborhood children from a nearby charter school, agricultural specialists, and community activists. They grow organic vegetables, fruits, medicinal plants, and flowers, which are sold in the South Valley and Nob Hill farmers markets and through community-supported agriculture shares.

Project Feed the Hood is a food literacy community garden in Albuquerque's International District. Its goal is to engage people in a food system that teaches them about agriculture while improving the community's health.

The Rio Grande Community Farm (RGCF) is a certified organic farm in Albuquerque which is run by the city of Albuquerque's Open Space division. The community garden is one facet of the farm and welcomes gardeners from beginner to expert. Run on two acres in the northwest corner of the Los Poblanos Open Space of the north valley, the community garden lets gardeners bring home food grown here or donates the food to a local food bank.

The Source Forest is a local wellness center and has a small community garden located within its grounds. People share the collaborative herb and food garden, both of which incorporate the wisdom of abundant forest life.

The Lobo Gardens provides the University of New Mexico students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to learn about food cultivation in a community setting. They provide opportunities for research, education, and programs around urban food. The gardens have locations at Hokona Hall on UNM campus, at the UNM Real Estate Department, at UNM Telehealth, and at Martineztown House of Neighborly Service.