Fruits of the Land: Heritage Field

Fruits of the Land

Casa San Ysidro’s Heritage Field produces native seeds for restoration

Heritage Field is growing native plants for seeds which are in demand for habitat restoration projects. This summer's drought meant using a drip irrigation system instead of the acequia method.

THE LAND AND THE RIVER—HOW THEY ARE CULTIVATED, REVERED, AND CARED FOR, IS INTEGRAL TO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY’S HISTORY.

Heritage Field at Casa San Ysidro is a 2.38 acre strip of farmland that is being used to benefit the Rio Grande Valley and its citizens. In 2008, Dr. Ward Alan Minge donated the land to the Albuquerque Museum and established a Deed of Conservation Easement that preserves the field from development and keeps the land in agricultural production.

Last year, Rio Grande Return, a nonprofit whose mission is to protect and restore watersheds, waters, and the native plants and wildlife, partnered with the Museum to manage the field. They began to develop a procedure of best practices for agriculture and education.

Agriculture has been integral to the way of life in the Village of Corrales for centuries, driven by the flow of water that irrigated the land. Corrales' acequia, or irrigation ditch, was dug in the early 18th century to guide irrigation water throughout the village. However, like most of the Southwest, Corrales is experiencing a drought and acequia irrigation has been inconsistent. Rio Grande Return’s Habitat Conservation Director Cameron Weber has equipped the Heritage Field with drip irrigation through a system of acquired water tanks, a hydro pump, and water lines.

With the help of the Youth Conservation Corps, Sandoval County Master Gardeners, and the Institute for Applied Ecology, the farm program is growing. “We have two new hires who have spent a lot of time at Casa San Ysidro so we have more hands involved,” says Weber. “Instead of growing plants by putting seeds in the ground and depending on ditch water, we used funding through the Healthy Soils program to contract with Santa Ana Native Plants. We planted 5000 little bitty plugs to grow out eight species of native plants, and also planted through biodegradable mulch made out of paper.”

The native plants will produce seeds which are in demand for habitat restoration projects. And the field has become home to several wildlife species, including falcons, rabbits and a variety of pollinators. In addition, Weber and the Heritage Field team are creating an outdoor classroom, complete with a shaded structure, for programming in traditional agricultural practices, permaculture, ecology, and community farming. An ethnobotanical demonstration plot with 55 container plants, shrubs and vines includes plants that have historic and contemporary use. The demonstration garden will be used as part of classes about the territorial period, and as an opportunity to re-establish small grains and plants used for dye and fiber.

VISIT CASA SAN YSIDRO AND HERITAGE FIELD

October and November Tour Schedule Tues. to Fri.: 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; Sat.: 10:30 a.m., noon and 1:30 p.m. Tickets: cabq.gov/artsculture/albuquerque-museum/casa-san-ysidro/visit Casa San Ysidro is closed during December and January.