The Taos County Economic Development Corporation (TCEDC) is now in its nineteenth year of supporting food, land, cultures, and the people of Northern New Mexico. In this traditionally agricultural region, activities that support the local farmers, their lands, water, and production, are critical to the resiliency of our community. TCEDC’s innovative agricultural projects build on the area’s rich agricultural traditions, networks of farmers (such as the centuries old acequia/ditch associations), and the dynamic specialty foods sector.
TCEDC’s “Adding Value, Managing Risk” program offers increased access to the local farmers to risk management and business management tools that can help them sustain and increase their farm incomes. With a regional drought, wells and acequias (irrigation ditches) running dry, devastating winds and fires all around, the need for risk management is clear to the farmers of Northern New Mexico. Ironically, these farmers are some of the most under-served by government crop insurance programs. The risk management program supports farm networks, conferences, training, and outreach activities to bridge this gap. Taos County Agriculture Day coordinated with over 25 other farm-support organizations and production workshops coordinated with Taos Pueblo were some of the highlights of this program in 2003.
Also as a part of this program, TCEDC added the 12-week NxLevel “Tilling the Soil of Opportunity” course. This is a class that gives farmers and ranchers business tools and knowledge of the resources available to manage risks and grab opportunities.
TCEDC’s Community Garden expanded in 2003 to include a greenhouse project. With one of the shortest growing seasons in New Mexico, greenhouses have become a key tool for area farmers to extend their growing seasons, diversify their crops, and increase incomes. TCEDC’s greenhouse includes an innovative water catchment and distribution system and utilizes affordable materials that area farmers can copy. A year-round herb garden, demonstration, and education program is now under way in the greenhouse.
The Community Garden also benefited in 2002 from a joint tree-planting project with the NM Re-leaf Program and Rocky Mountain Youth Corp, in honor of Cesar Chavez. Over 100 heirloom fruit trees were planted around the garden, with a water-conserving drip irrigation system. Future benefits from these trees will include heirloom fruit crops and a windbreak for the garden.
TCEDC’s Comida para la Vida (Food for Life) project connects the agriculture programs with the value-added support activities. This program also connects the community to local, healthy, fresh foods and to the lands and farms that the food comes from. Food security is a global issue that reflects the central activities of the local cultures of Taos. Through the Comida para la Vida program TCEDC offers kitchen gardens and nutrition classes to low-income clients, connects the local growers with the local food processors and produce buyers, educates youth about local farms and food, and promotes the identity of local food products through the “Oso Good Foods” campaign.