Ancestor Voice

H A M A A T S A H A R V E S T

Bringing back the sacred into the way we grow, harvest and share our food

At HAMAATSA,

we plant only heirloom, organic

and open pollinated seeds.

HAMAATSA HARVEST is a regenerative farming project inspired by our mission for living simply on the land informed by an indigenous ecology and land wisdom.

HAMAATSA is an indigenous learning center committed to sustainable and regenerative living, cultural restoration and spiritual wholeness. The off grid learning center and demonstration farm is located on 320 acres of environmentally protected aboriginal lands, south of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

We presently have a half acre under crop cultivation within a food forest which has evolved over the past three years into a “super guild” with an orchard and bio diverse edible landscape. In 2010, we successfully planted our first crop of Pueblo heritage blue corn with companion sister crops of beans and squash. In spring 2011, we started trial vegetable plots to include many heirloom vegetables, specialty perennial crops such as raspberries, asparagus and grapes, perennial herbs, green manure and cover crops. Come 2012, we will set up our bee hives for honey production.

Throughout the 320 acre property there is also an abundance of edible wild plants such as wild celery and onion and medicinal herbs. We plan to expand our farming operations and market gardens to 4 acres under cultivation over the next three years.

We’re not presently “certified organic”, however all our crops are grown using tried and true organic growing methods combined with age old indigenous farming wisdom from the Rio Grande Pueblo people. Our locally grown crops are lovingly cared for by hand, with no pesticides and no GMO seeds. We plant only heirloom, organic and open pollinated seeds. Our water comes directly from our solar powered well bringing sweet clear mineral rich water directly to our crops.

Join us in revitalizing this local food shed!

Your meaningful donation supports four pathways:

1. HAMAATSA HARVEST

This farm to market project inspires all of us to grow, eat and share food within our local food shed area. It’s a win-win project, with many benefits:

• creates sustainability for Hamaatsa through market crops

• restores ancient Puebloan farm lands and watersheds

• provides fresh local produce through farmer’s markets and CSA boxes

• addresses critical issues of food insecurity, hunger, diabetes and obesity in Indian country and underserved rural communities through nutrition education and accessible and affordable CSA vegetable boxes

2. MARKET GARDENER APPRENTICESHIPS

Presently, there are not enough farmers to meet the supply and demand for fresh local farm grown produce. Studies and predictions indicate that eating organic produce was up by 11.8% in 2010 over 2009 and that with this steady increase that there are not enough growers bringing their crops to market. At Hamaatsa, we are committed to mentor the younger generation of farmers. In 2012, we plan to offer four apprenticeships. Through real time hands on gardening, students will learn how to make a living from their own farming practices. They will create a marketing plan and budget, learn about best market crops and how to effectively and profitably bring crops to market through lessons learned during the Hamaatsa growing season.

3. TRUE FOOD FEAST TM

An outreach program which addresses the critical issues of food insecurity, malnutrition, hunger, diabetes and obesity in food deserts and rural Pueblo communities. True Food Feast promotes bringing back traditional farming practices and the healthy diet, once a way of life for Pueblo Indian people, before commodity foods, fast food and Walmart, which today are the main food sources for many Native families. During the long growing season, we will deliver discounted and donated weekly produce (CSA boxes) to neighboring Pueblo families along the Rio Grande food shed. The weekly boxes will include an educational newsletter and recipes with nutrition facts to help educate people on the importance of eating a diet of fresh organic vegetables. Program scholarships will also be made available to interested individuals who want to attend our farming courses. Our emphasis is on mentoring Native youth. Relevant courses offered include: building healthy soil, crop selection, rotation and green manures, healthy diet and nutrition, seed saving and traditional food preserving.

4. BEEKEEPING

Setting up hives and nurturing these incredible bee creatures at Hamaatsa is a critical link to our overall health and the wellbeing of our ecosystem by bringing back the bees into our local food shed.