Our vision for food production in Santa Fe City and County views farming and ranching as an economically viable way of life that promotes stewardship of the land and resources. This vision supports food security through the integration of sustainable agricultural practices into the built environment.

Goal 1: Increase the impact and efficiency of community gardens.

  • Enforce existing water conservation policies for community gardens. This will encourage appropriate growing methods that support efficient water usage and minimize negative environmental impacts. Potential Partners: City of Santa Fe Parks Division, Community Garden Council, Homegrown NM, Santa Fe Watershed Association
  • Support development of community gardens that create educational opportunities with diversified crops. Potential Partners: City of Santa Fe Parks Division, Community Garden Council, Homegrown NM, Santa Fe County Open Space, Santa Fe Community College, Institute of American Indian Arts
  • Define the populations intended to be served by community gardens and develop policies that ensure those populations have access and education to benefit from the increased food security of those gardens. Potential Partners: City of Santa Fe Parks Division, Community Garden Council, Homegrown NM, Earth Care, Somos un Pueblo Unido
  • Support the development of community gardens and other agricultural projects by providing water, land, and infrastructure on County or public land where appropriate. (Santa Fe County Sustainable Growth Management Strategy 15.1.1, page 86). Potential Partners: Santa Fe County Open Space and Trails program, Santa Fe County Growth Management Department
  • Allow the option for community gardens to be considered as part of
    the open space requirements for new developments. (Santa Fe County Sustainable Growth Management Plan, 2010, Strategy 15.5.2, page 86). Potential Partners: Santa Fe County Open Space and Trails program, Santa Fe County Growth Management Department.

Goal 2: Develop on-site gardens at senior centers to increase the availability of fresh and local foods for seniors.

  • Design sustainability plans for senior center gardens to ensure they have operational support, are economically self-sufficient, and are integrated into the community. Potential Partners: Santa Fe County Community Services, City of Santa Fe Community Services, City of Santa Fe Parks Division, Santa Fe County Open Space and Trails program,  Homegrown NM, non-profits
  • Connect garden coordinators to resources, technical support, and educational opportunities available within Santa Fe County. Potential Partners: Santa Fe County Community Services Department, City of Santa Fe Community Services, Santa Fe Community College, Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), Homegrown NM, non-profits.
  • Develop the plan by which fruit and vegetables grown in senior center gardens can be practically harvested, washed, stored and integrated into food preparation for senior center meals. Potential Partners: Santa Fe County Community Services Department, New Mexico Environment Department, National Farm to School Network, Farm to Table, New Mexico State Extension Service

Goal 3: Increase the number of school gardens aimed at helping youth 

  • Develop and implement plans for school gardens that address the need for continuing support from the school district and community. Encourage schools to use school gardens as outdoor classrooms, integrating learning about food into the school day, cafeteria meals, and afterschool and summer programs. Potential Partners: National Farm to School Network, school district administration and staff, Americorps, Food Corps, non-profits. 
  • Work with school administration and local governments to develop joint use agreements establishing community gardens on school grounds. This will increase opportunities for multi-generational and multi-cultural learning and help gardens become long-term resources that serve the entire community. Potential Partners: City of Santa Fe Community Services, Santa Fe County Community Services, school district administration and staff, non-profits. 
  • Develop partnerships with the Santa Fe Community College and/or other academic institutions to deliver arid-land agriculture training for residents and people pursuing careers in food production. Potential Partners: Santa Fe Community College, Sustainable Santa Fe, Santa Fe Community Farm, IAIA

Goal 4: Conserve water through educational programs, incentives, and policies.

  • Design educational landscapes in urban and rural settings that demonstrate the range of possibilities for water conservation, including harvested rainwater, xeric irrigation, re-vegetation and supplementing food production. Potential Partners: City of Santa Fe Water Division, Santa Fe County Water Policy Advisory Committee, City of Santa Fe Environmental Services Department, Santa Fe Watershed Alliance, non-profits, Sustainable Santa Fe.
  • Require that urban farms that grow produce for sale or to donate to organizations that address food insecurity must provide a water use plan including a water budget for plantings and water sources which minimize the use of municipal drinking water for crop irrigation. Potential Partners: City of Santa Fe Water Division, Santa Fe County Water Policy Advisory Committee, City of Santa Fe Environmental Services Department, Santa Fe Watershed Alliance, non-profits, Sustainable Santa Fe. 
  • Support rebates and other incentives for agricultural use such as rain barrels, drip-irrigation, composting systems, and water conservation techniques in areas where appropriate. (Santa Fe County Sustainable Growth Management Plan, 2010, strategy 16.2.1, p. 87). Potential Partners: City of Santa Fe Water Division, Santa Fe County Water Policy Advisory Committee, City of Santa Fe Environmental Services Department, Santa Fe Watershed Alliance, non-profits, Sustainable Santa Fe. 
  • Support the use of rain fed agriculture where collected water is used to irrigate crops. (Santa Fe County Sustainable Growth Management Plan, 2010, strategy 16.2.2, p. 87. Potential Partners: Santa Fe County Growth Management Department, City of Santa Fe Water Division, Santa Fe County Water Policy Advisory Committee, City of Santa Fe Environmental Services Department, Santa Fe Watershed Alliance, non-profits, Sustainable Santa Fe.
  • Support farming techniques that facilitate the conversion from spray irrigation-based practices to lower water use systems such as no-till, drip irrigation, and/or greenhouse based agriculture. (Santa Fe County Sustainable Growth Plan, 2010, strategy 16.2.3, p.87.) Potential Partners: Santa Fe County Growth Management Department, Santa Fe Watershed Association, New Mexico Acequia Association, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), New Mexico State Extension Service.
  • Create educational programs that highlight our watershed, related policies, and water conservation tips. Potential Partners: City of Santa Fe Water Division, Santa Fe County Water Policy Advisory Committee, City of Santa Fe Environmental Services Department, Santa Fe Watershed Association, New Mexico Acequia Association, non-profits.
  • Develop and publicize incentive programs to reduce in-home water use by utilizing gray water and rainwater for irrigation and other purposes that do not require potable water. Potential Partners: City of Santa Fe Water Division, Santa Fe County Water Policy Advisory Committee, City of Santa Fe Environmental Services Department, Santa Fe Watershed Alliance, non-profits.

Goal 5: Increase the viability and presence of local gardens, farms and ranches.

  • Work with Santa Fe County to incorporate land use allowances for agricultural activity into the Sustainable Land Development Code. Potential Partners: Santa Fe County Growth Management Department, Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners, Water and Soil Conservation Districts, local farmers, non-profits.
  • Create a LandLink program which connects landowners in Northern New Mexico with farmers who need land; Also provides opportunity to connect new farmers with experienced mentors. Potential Partners: Santa Fe County Growth Management Department, North Central New Mexico Economic Development District.
  • Collaborate with area agencies and organizations to help small and medium scale farms meet market-based and Federal food safety requirements. Potential partners: New Mexico State Extension Service, New Mexico Department of Agriculture, Farm to Table
  • Design and implement a City Harvest program, (as detailed in the Sustainable Santa Fe Plan), to create multiple growing, processing, storing, and selling opportunities. (Sustainable Santa Fe Plan, 2008, Proposed Action 10-2 under Food Production, page 29-30.) Potential Partners: Santa Fe County Growth Management Department, City of Santa Fe Water Division, Santa Fe County Water Policy Advisory Committee, City of Santa Fe Environmental Services Department, Santa Fe Watershed Alliance, non-profits, Sustainable Santa Fe.
  • Develop a Commercial Scale Urban Agricultural Permit to protect both neighborhood and agricultural interests within the City by setting policies for uses including, but not limited to water conservation, embedded greenhouse gas footprint, sales, employees, volunteers, visitors and community educational benefits. Potential Partners: City of Santa Fe Land Use and Zoning Department, Santa Fe City Council, neighborhood associations, non-profits, farmers, and community members
  • Work with the City and County to develop zoning and land use polices which clearly detail home-based agricultural activities such as raising chickens, small livestock, and honey bees. Potential Partners: City of Santa Fe Land Use and Zoning Department, Santa Fe City Council, Santa Fe County Growth Management and Land Use Department, neighborhood associations, non-profits, farmers, and community members.
  • Encourage public and private land owners within the City to revitalize vacant and underutilized property by allowing land to be used for green space and gardening. Potential Partners: City of Santa Fe Land Use and Zoning Department, Santa Fe City Council, and community members

Goal 6: Develop agricultural incentives and innovative programs to support small farmers and maximize food production/distribution in our regional foodshed.

  • Promote and expand outreach and incentives for extended season farming techniques, supporting farmers to generate more income. Potential Partners: New Mexico State Extension Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute
  • Assess and develop resource tools such as conservation easements, improvement districts, and grants to support the viability of agricultural uses. (Santa Fe County Sustainable Growth Management Plan, 2010, strategy 14.2.2, page 85.) Potential Partners: Santa Fe County Planning Division, Santa Fe Growth Management Department, Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners, New Mexico Land Conservancy
  • Coordinate with local communities and organizations to promote the development of agricultural products and markets, including the development of farmers markets, buy-local campaigns, and a local products website to market and distribute fresh goods. (Santa Fe County Sustainable Growth Management Plan, 2010, strategy 14.2.3, page 85.) Potential Partners: Santa Fe County Growth Management Department, Santa Fe Food Policy Council, Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute, New Mexico Farmer’s Market Association, NMDA-Taste the Tradition and Growth with Tradition
  • Establish Specialty Crop programs which support local farm and food based businesses by creating subsidies for fruits and vegetables. Potential Partners: City of Santa Fe Economic Development, Santa Fe County Economic Development, New Mexico Department of Agriculture.
  • Clarify and communicate the process by which landowners can apply for Agricultureal Exemptions; Conduct a “Did You Know?” campaign to make the public aware of qualifications for this classification, and to facilitate the application process. Potential Partners: Santa Fe County Growth Management Office of the Santa Fe County Assessor, Santa Fe Food Policy Council-Lane Use Subcommittee
  • Maximize the efficient use of existing infrastructure in our regional food shed. For example, the Rail Runner is a public transit spine, which could be used to transport growers and their produce, expanding markets and food access points from Belen to Santa Fe. Potential Partners: Santa Fe County Growth Management, Rio Metro Board, Mid Region Council of Governments (MRCOG), University of New Mexico

Goal 7: Adopt sustainable land/resource management practices at a regional scale.

  • Encourage City planning initiatives such as urban forestry, green belts, and edible infrastructure to create continuous green space which can provide habitat for animals, food, shade, and places to play. Potential Partners: City of Santa Fe Parks Division, City of Santa Fe Roadway and Trails Department, Southwest Area Planning Initiative
  • Develop a list-serv for urban food harvesting opportunities to connect individuals to existing food production sites, allowing them to collect crops that would otherwise go to waste. Potential Partners: City of Santa Fe, Santa Fe County Growth Management Department, Gaia Gardens, non-profits, community members.
  • Support the development of community elected “GMO Free Zones” to create buffer zones that protect farmland, crops, and seeds from the unknown impacts of genetically engineered organisms. Potential Partners: Santa Fe County Growth Management, New Mexico State Extension Service, area Tribal Governments, non-profits. 
  • Promote educational opportunities in community gardens and public spaces that highlight native, low water plants and traditional uses. Potential Partners: Homegrown New Mexico, Tesuque Agriculture Department, City of Santa Fe Parks Division, Santa Fe County Open Space and Trails Division, Southwest Area Planning Initiative
  • Develop incentives, policies and programs throughout the City and
    County designed to support farming and ranching activities and improve environmental resiliency: develop a composting program, build soil to increase land fertility and groundwater recharge, improve functionality of waterways and irrigation networks, and promote growth of plants that are resilient in a wider range of climate conditions and provide habitat for beneficial insects. Potential Partners: City of Santa Fe Parks Division, Santa Fe County Growth Management, New Mexico State Extension Service, area Tribal Governments, USDA, Santa Fe Watershed Association, Quivira Coalition, other non-profits
  • Collaborate with area agencies and organizations to develop “Farmer to Farmer” outreach programs focused on innovative farming and ranching practices that build soil health. Potential partners: Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute, Quivira Coalition, Natural Resource Conservation Service, New Mexico State Extension Service, Farm to Table, other non-profits. 

Goal 8: Prioritize sustainability and agriculture in future development in Santa Fe City and County.

  • Develop an Implementation Plan for the Agriculture and Ranching Element, Chapter 4 of the 2010 Sustainable Growth Management Plan. Potential Partners: Santa Fe Food Policy Council, Santa Fe County Growth Management, Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners, Santa Fe Food Policy Council.
  • Establish City and County development approval requirements to incorporate water-efficient edible landscapes, food production and composting areas for the future residents into their master plans. Potential Partners: City of Santa Fe Department of Housing and Community Development, Santa Fe County Building and Development Services, Santa Fe County Growth Management and Land Use, area developers
  • Establish City and County development approval requirements with standards and regulations that do not limit home-based agricultural activities otherwise allowed by land use approval authority. Potential Partners: City of Santa Fe Department of Housing and Community Development, Santa Fe County Growth Management and Land Use, Homegrown NM, area developers
  • Revise the City of Santa Fe’s Development Code landscape requirements to allow and/or require a percentage of plants produce fruits or vegetables that have low to moderate water requirements. Potential partners: City of Santa Fe Parks Division, Sangre de Cristo Water Division, Santa Fe Watershed Association
  • Assess and develop a county-wide composting program that considers food waste, green waste, and manure. (Santa Fe County Sustainable Growth Management Plan, 2010, strategy 15.3.3, page 86). Potential Partners: City of Santa Fe Environmental Services Division, Santa Fe County Growth Management, New Mexico State Extension Service, area Tribal Governments, USDA, Santa Fe Watershed Association, Quivira Coalition, other non-profits.
  • Complete an Agricultural Overlay Zone to protect agricultural land and resources and create bonus and incentive zoning techniques. Potential Partners: Santa Fe County Growth Management Department, Santa Fe Food Policy Council-Land Use subcommittee.
  • Provide regulatory framework to accommodate sustainable historic development patterns and strengthen community planning efforts to ensure that traditional communities are supported in planning for their futures. Potential Partners: Santa Fe County Growth Management
  • Develop an agriculture preservation policy that is directed toward maintaining small agricultural parcels, including “working land” (such as barns, greenhouses, and other structures) as part of the development land. (Santa Fe County Sustainable Growth Management Plan, 2010, strategy 14.1.3, page 85). Potential Partners: Santa Fe County Planning Division, Santa Fe County Growth Management Department, Santa Fe Food Policy Council,-Land Use Subcommittee, Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners, non-profits. 
  • Create an inventory of agricultural lands and conduct a land suitability analysis to identify agricultural potential and determine high priority of protection for agricultural soils and other sensitive arable lands, especially historical agricultural lands with water rights. (Santa Fe County Sustainable Growth Management Plan, 2010, strategy 14.1.5, page 85). Potential Partners: Santa Fe County Growth Management Department, Santa Fe Food Policy Council-Land Use Subcommittee, Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners, New Mexico Acequia Association, non-profits.
  • Require clustering of new development on acequia-irrigated agricultural land. (Santa Fe County Sustainable Growth Management Plan, 2010, strategy 16.3.5, page 87). Potential Partners: Santa Fe County Growth Management Department, Santa Fe Food Policy Council, Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners, non-profits.