Reunity Resources

CAN A FARM HELP REINVIGORATE A SLEEPY COMMUNITY WHOSE AGRICULTURAL ROOTS ARE ALL BUT FORGOTTEN CAN A FARM CREATE A VIBRANT SPACE FOR NEIGHBORS AND VISITORS TO BREAK BREAD TOGETHER, ENJOY LIVE MUSIC, SHOP FOR FRESH VEGETABLES AND LOCAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, AND EXPLORE REGENERATIVE FARMING AND COMPOSTING TECHNIQUES AT REUNITY RESOURCES FARM, THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 2019, WHEN THE CURRENT OWNERS PURCHASED THE ONLY WORKING FARM REMAINING IN AGUA FRIA VILLAGE IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO. THIS PROPOSAL SEEKS TO PREPARE REUNITY AND THE SMALL FARMERS IT SUPPORTS AT ITS FARM STAND FOR AN INFLUX OF NEW CUSTOMERS EXPECTED UPON THE COMPLETION OF THE MULTI-USE SANTA FE RIVER WALK IN 2025. THE COMPLETED RIVER WALK WILL CONNECT THE CENTER OF SANTA FE TO AGUA FRIA VILLAGE AND REUNITY FARM, AND TO SANTA FES LOW-INCOME SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY. WE REQUEST SUPPORT FOR A CONSULTANT TO HELP DEVELOP A MARKET FEASIBILITY STUDY POSITIONING US TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED BY THE RIVER WALK. THIS INCLUDES EXPLORING THE EXPANSION OF OUR CURRENTLY SEASONAL FARM STAND INTO A YEAR-ROUND ENTERPRISE. ANOTHER CONSULTANT WILL WORK WITH SMALL FARMERS TO DEVELOP VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS FOR SALE AT OUR FARM STAND AND BEYOND. WE ALSO REQUEST SUPPORT TO HIRE A MANAGER TO LAUNCH OUR NEW SAVING SECONDS PROGRAM, WHOSE GOAL IS TO REDUCE FARM WASTE AND DEVELOP PRODUCTS UTILIZING IMPERFECT PRODUCE. WE ARE ABLE TO LEVERAGE REUNITYS INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING A FULLY-EQUIPPED COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, TO THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT OF REUNITY AND THE FARMERS WE SUPPORT.

CN FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** CONSISTENT WITH NATIONAL TRENDS, THE AVERAGE AGE OF NM FARMERS IN 2022 WAS 59.8. ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE, REUNITY HAS PARTNERED WITH YOUTHWORKS (YW) AND THE SANTA FE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (SFCC) SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM SINCE 2019 TO TRAIN BIPOC YOUTH (AGES 18-25) IN REGENERATIVE, BIODIVERSE, HIGH DESERT AGRICULTURE. IN ADDITION, THE SEASONAL FARM CREW ARE TYPICALLY FARMERS WITH LESS THAN TEN YEARS EXPERIENCE. IN OUR WORK WITH THESE GROUPS, WE KNOW THERE ARE MANY WHO WOULD PURSUE A CAREER IN FARMING IF THEY HAD A DEGREE OF CERTAINTY THEY COULD MAKE A LIVING. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF INFORMAL COLLABORATION, WE ARE POISED TO BEGIN THE INTENTIONAL PLANNING NECESSARY TO CREATE A HOLISTIC, SUPPORTIVE AND IMPACTFUL SOW & GROW: TRAINING FOR NEW LAND STEWARDS PROGRAM, PROVIDING THE EDUCATION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESOURCES TO PURSUE A CAREER IN FARMING.THE OBJECTIVES ARE: 1) DEVELOP A WELL-ROUNDED PROGRAM CURRICULUM THAT COMPLIMENTS AND CONNECTS TO REUNITY'S EXISTING PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES, AS WELL AS THOSE THROUGHOUT THE STATE, CONTRIBUTING TO AN ECONOMICALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESILIENT REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM, AND 2) DETERMINE THE BEST ORGANIZATIONAL AND OPERATIONAL APPROACH TO THE PROGRAM.THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPED FOR THIS PROGRAM ADDRESSES BFRDP PRIORITIES 1-7, 9 AND 13-15. IT WILL IMMEDIATELY ADDRESS PRIORITY 8: CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT.100% OF THE FEDERAL FUNDS REQUESTED ARE ALLOCATED TO THE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION REUNITY RESOURCES. YOUTHWORKS AND SFCC HAVE SEPARATE FUNDING FOR THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GRANT ACTIVITIES.REUNITY RESOURCES DOES NOT HOLD ANY EXISTING OR PRIOR BFRDP FUNDING.