Here at Taos Land Trust, we’re rolling up our sleeves to welcome the growing season with open arms and shovels! 

Last month, we teamed up with community members and Vista Grande High School students to clear debris from our local acequia, ensuring our neighbors can access water for irrigation, especially as dry conditions persist. This annual tradition is about more than hauling mud and leaves; students learned firsthand how acequias sustain our agricultural heritage and why maintaining them is a shared responsibility. Hands-on learning like this keeps our acequia heritage alive and flowing. We had a great time celebrating a successful cleaning of the Vigil y Romo acequia—check out the photos of our smiling crew braving the weather. 

We’re also excited to announce that our inaugural Growing Communities garden program is off to a great start! We’ve repurposed a space at Rio Fernando Park, and the first seeds are already in the ground. Our vision is to grow (pun intended!) this program next year and find even more spaces around Taos where folks can come together to plant, learn, and share the harvest. Taos Land Trust will help coordinate and support these community gardens, so if you know of a spot or want to get involved, let us know!

As always, thank you for being part of our community. Scroll down for more on composting, upcoming events, and ways to get your hands in the dirt with us this season!

🌱 How Composting Works

Composting is a simple way we can practice sustainability at home. When we compost, we keep food scraps out of the landfill, cut down on greenhouse gases, and turn food waste and yard scraps into rich, healthy soil for our gardens and landscapes, helping our plants grow stronger and need less water and synthetic fertilizer. Composting at home is easy. Just collect your green materials, like veggie scraps and coffee grounds, and mix them with about twice as much brown materials, like dry leaves or shredded paper. Aerate and water your pile now and then, and let nature do the rest. But if you don’t have space for a compost pile at home—or just want to keep things simple—we’ve got you covered!

 

♻️ Our Composting Program

Did you know we offer a free compost bucket exchange? Swing by Taos Land Trust. Grab a bucket from us, fill it with food scraps (no meat or dairy, please!), and swap it for a clean one whenever you’re ready. Your apple cores, crushed eggshells, and banana peels will join our innovative Johnson-Su Bioreactors—stackable, aerated systems that transform waste into microbe-rich compost. Thanks to our composting greenhouse, these bioreactors work year-round, even in freezing temperatures, ensuring those hard-working microorganisms stay cozy all winter. So, come get your nutrient-packed soil amendment for your garden and landscape and keep Taos green.

🌱 Composting Workshop: April 17

Join us on April 17 where we’ll learn about:

• Johnson-Su Bioreactors and how these low-maintenance systems create living compost teeming with beneficial fungi and bacteria.
• Hugelkultur Beds, which are perfect for folks with fallen branches or dead wood. Learn to build these moisture-retaining mounds instead of risking a burn pile in dry conditions.
• How to compost at home. We’ll share simple tips for balancing greens and browns, managing odors, and speeding up decomposition in your backyard bin.

Seasoned gardeners and composting newbies welcome.🌻

FREE EVENTS!

Composting Workshop: April 17

Join us on April 17th, 3-5:30 PM at Rio Fernando Park and learn about:

• Johnson-Su Bioreactors and how these systems create living compost teeming with beneficial fungi and bacteria.
• Hugelkultur Beds perfect for folks with fallen branches or dead wood. Learn to build these moisture-retaining mounds instead of risking a burn pile in dry conditions.
• Static Pile Composting, a low-maintenance method where organic materials are piled up and left to decompose with little or no turning.

Seasoned gardeners and composting newbies welcome.

 Earth Day Fiesta: April 22

On April 22nd, 10 AM–2 PM at Rio Fernando Park celebrate Earth Day with us! All ages can choose your own adventure by joining volunteer activities like river cleanup, park beautification, or perennial planting. Kids ages 3–8 can experience Finn’s Acequia Adventure with Twirl, featuring storytelling, puppetry, dance, and a playful STEAM project exploring water, community, and tradition. Plus, free food, a seed exchange, creative workshops, and a youth nature writing session. There’s something for everyone!

Permaculture Workshop: April 26

Food Forest Movement presents a Permaculture Workshop on April 26th, 11 AM-5 PM at Rio Fernando Park. Learn how to plant and train fruit trees, build healthy soil, and more. Enjoy free pizza and connect with fellow land stewards. Contact Maciek at (505) 901-1078 for more information.

All of our events, activities, and community spaces at Taos Land Trust are possible because of the incredible support and generosity of people like you. Your donations directly fund our conservation, sustainability, and education programs—helping us offer free workshops, restore local lands, and create opportunities for everyone to connect with nature. Every contribution not only keeps these efforts going, but also strengthens our ability to secure additional grant funding, expand our programs, and continue building a healthier, more resilient Taos. If you’d like to show your support, please consider making a donation. Your gift truly makes a difference!

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