This summer we grew three gardens totaling 1.5 acres on the property of Victor and Nora Scherzinger and Bob Lynn and Janet Braziel. Like 2010, the 2011 growing season got off to a rocky start. We had a late frost in May that killed half of our early tomatoes, in June we had record wind and we had record heat and drought conditions all summer. As a result, our tomatoes were not as productive as last year, the fruit was unusually small and our early tomato varieties developed blossom end rot.

However, despite the rocky start, the gardens did pretty well. Our total harvest was 45,400 pounds. During peak harvest, we distributed fresh produce to ten food pantries and one soup kitchen

Storehouse West Rio Grande Food Project St. John's Episcopal Food Pantry Casa Rosa Food Pantry in Placitas Corrales Food Pantry Maggie Cordova School Food Pantry in Rio Rancho People Helping People in Rio Rancho Jewish Family Services Food Pantry St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry in Bernalillo St. Anthony's Soup Kitchen in Bernalillo

Crop 2011 2010

 Quantity

* Pounds Approx PriceApprox Value 

Quantity Pounds Approx Price 

Approx Value

Tomatoes 21,991.5

0 $1.75 lb$38,485.1

3 20,773.0

0 $1.75 lb$36,352.7

5Green Beans 2,100.50 $1.50 lb $3,150.75 3,097.00 $1.50 lb $4,645.50Cucumbers 5355 3,748.50 $0.50 ea $2,677.28 1712 1,198.50 $0.99 ea $1,694.88Zucchini 3590 4,366.50 $0.88 lb $3,842.52 2317 2,818.00 $0.99 lb $2,789.82Crookneck Squash 401 194.00 $0.99 lb $192.06

Watermelons 3,078.50 $0.50 lb $1,539.25 Cantaloupe 507 1,802.00 $0.50 lb $901.00 227 807.50 $1.50 ea $340.50Pumpkin 22.00 $0.99 lb $21.78 Apples 1,495.50 $0.99 lb $1,480.55 Pears 262.50 $0.99 lb $259.88 Green Chile 2,494.50 $0.99 lb $2,469.56 195.00 $0.99 lb $193.05Eggplant 112 22.00 $0.99 lb $21.78 2112 415 $1.99 lb $825.85Onions/Leeks 21.00 $0.50 lb $10.50 59 $0.69 lb $40.71

Beets 223.50 $3.00 lb $670.50 Cabbage 724.00 $0.60 lb $434.40 Broccoli 247.50 $0.99 lb $245.03

Bell Peppers 1539 531.50 $0.50 ea $769.50

Carrots $0.00 446.00 $1.29 2 lb $287.67Misc Gleaned Produce 2,799.00 ** $5,220.14 Swiss Chard (Gleaned) 59.00 $1.99 lb $117.41Bok Choy (Gleaned) 107.50 $1.99 lb $213.93

9,56345,399.0

0    $61,430.0

2 8,30830,701.0

0    $48,463.6

3

*    Quantity for 2011 was estimated based on the ratio of 2010 quantity to pounds.  We did not count the produce in 2011.  

** The value of misc gleaned produce assumed that half was tomatoes and half was squash

Plans/Goals for 2012

Erect a greenhouse - we have enough money left over from 2011 donations to purchase a greenhouse. Our plan is to purchase a greenhouse kit while they are on sale in November and December and to put it up early next spring. Our goal is to raise 5000-6000 seedlings.

Purchase or rent a plastic mulch layer - this is a piece of equipment that is pulled behind a tractor. It lays the irrigation system and covers the row with plastic mulch in one pass. There are several advantages to using plastic mulch.

There have been periods when volunteer turnout has been low. In order to continue expanding the gardens, we need to implement some farming practices that reduce manual labor. Most of our crops are suitable for planting in plastic mulch and plastic mulch reduces weeding.

Covering the irrigation system with plastic mulch reduces damage from mice, ground squirrels and other small animals

Plastic mulch retains moisture

Form our own 501c3 - Right now Seed2Need is organized as a separate project under the fiscal sponsorship of Rio Grande Food Project, a food pantry in Bernalillo County. My objectives for setting up a separate non-profit are to1. associate this project more closely with the village of Corrales. I would like this to be a project that the Village is known for and that Corrales residents take pride in. With so much vacant, irrigated land available, Corrales is uniquely suited to this type of project.2. give Seed2Need more autonomy to distribute the produce to food pantries in Sandoval Co based on number of families served. 3. provide more flexibility in applying for grants. Right now Seed2Need can not apply for grants without permission from Rio Grande Food Project, our fiscal sponsor. Since we are treated as the same entity, both Seed2Need and Rio Grande Food Project can not apply for the same grant. 4. I would like to provide more separation between the project and the Davis family. I enjoy this project and all of the people involved in it but if health issues or something else were to prevent us from serving in a lead role, I would like to have a board who would ensure that the project goes on.

Donate 50,000-60,000 pounds of produce in 2012 - We will grow the majority of the vegetables. The rest would either be gleaned or donated by customers and vendors at the Corrales Grower's Market.