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Gardens (Directions) Mailing address: P.O. Box 8845 Albuquerque, NM 87198-8845 ph: 505-610-1538 (leave message) email: info@erdagardens.org 
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About Erda Gardens
Erda Gardens and Learning Center is much more than your average farm, it is a grassroots community building effort aimed at sustainabilty and caring for the Earth. We are a biodynamic community supported agriculture program that relies on its member / shareholders to finance the growing season by purchasing shares of the harvest at the beginning of the season. Members therefore create the financial base for the farmers to provide a diverse selection of vegetables and fruit. In return for financial support, the members receive fresh locally grown, pesticide free biodynamic produce on a weekly basis and the peace of mind knowing where their food came from, that it was grown and distributed in an environmentally conscious manner by good people with good intent. In addition, Erda Gardens seeks to inform and educate about agricultural practices that heal and preserve the Earth. In this manner, the farmer and the consumer enter a symbiotic relationship in which each supports and encourages the other. Members have the opportunity and are encouraged to contribute their efforts in all aspects of the gardening process from planting to harvest. Throughout the year, we offer celebrations and workshops to build our community and be grateful for the abundance of the Earth and our garden.
A Brief History:
In 1996, Marie Nord, a Franciscan nun and peace activist, manifested a vision. It was one of health, permaculture, food security and the quiet, peaceful subversion of an unjust and violent social system. With the help of two friends, and a small plot of land in Albuquerque's North Valley, she founded Erda Gardens and Learning Center, a small community supported agriculture program aimed at healing the Earth, empowerment, and education. At the same time, it was a softly spoken, but appropriate and powerful protest of the mentalities that fed a system with which she disagreed and the traditional methods of battling it directly. Starting with a small group of approximately 20 shareholders, and a grant from the Order of Franciscan Nuns, a truly grassroots farming operation began. She chose to use Biodynamic gardening methods, an internationally recognized approach to organic agriculture in which the farmers work with the spiritual dimension of the Earth's environment, enabling the ecological interconnections of plants and animals to function at their best. The Erda Gardens community grew, and, with a large amount of interest and support, quickly outgrew the original plot of land. In 1998, Erda Gardens relocated to a several acre plot of land located at the Los Poblanos ranch, where it continued to grow and evolve, fulfilling its mission. Tragically, Marie Nord died in a car accident in April of 2001. Despite the huge loss of such an amazingly inspirational figure, the volunteers and interns pulled together in her memory and continued through the 2001 growing season. Unwilling to let Marie's powerful and influential vision fade, the Erda Gardens core group hired experienced biodynamic gardener Jimmy Pettit as the new head farmer for the 2002 growing season. Since then, under the guidance of Jimmy and a core group of members, Erda Gardens has continued to provide fresh, locally grown biodynamic produce to its members, while encouraging participation and building community. Faced with an expiring lease at the old Los Poblanos site, Erda Gardens and Learning Center relocated for the 2006 growing season to 5 plots of land spanning an approximately 7 mile radius throughout Albuquerque's South Valley. For the 2007 season, we were able to use yet another neighborhood plot. Erda Gardens for the second time in its history has a new face and is now excited to continue to heal and sustainably farm the new plots of land. We would love to have you come check out the beautiful and abundant new sites.
Current Locations:
For the 2010 growing season, Erda Gardens and Learning Center is growing at the following three locations, graciously donated by Erda Gardens members and our broader supporting community:
Blake/La Vega-
This has been our headquarters for the duration of our 4 year stay in the South Valley. ~1 acre (1305 Blake Rd. SW at La Vega, east of Isleta), donated by the Goldman family
La Placita Gardens at the Historic Sanchez Farms-
For 4 seasons, we have been farming a small piece of this ~11 acre farm that has recently been made available to community growers as a part of a large community farming effort, many groups are working with youth. Other groups farming this site include University of New Mexico, Gardens Edge, La Plazita and ARCA. (on Arenal east of Isleta), donated by La Plazita Institute.
Trujillo St.-
This is a small, but quite productive 1/4 acre neighborhood site that we have been farming for two seasons. (West of Sunset between Central and Bridge), donated by the Chavez family
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