Make A Difference in Your Community |
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American author and disability rights advocate, Helen Keller once said “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Please help us grow our work in the community of Northern New Mexico by volunteering your time.
Our current Board Members give their time and talent to the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute. Led by Board Chair Michael Knight, Vice-Chair Pam Walker, Secretary Mary Dixon, and Treasurer Kyle Burns our dynamic dozen drives the work of the Institute “to advocate for farmers, ranchers and other land-based producers; provide equitable access to fresh, local food; own and operate a year-round venue for the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market; and manage programs to help sustain a profitable, locally-based agricultural community.”
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In addition to the Board of Directors, the Institute has several standing committees and a task force that draws on the expertise of community members.
Volunteer contributions are appreciated in a number of areas of the Institute’s work: office support and special event production are just two. And at the Market on Tuesdays and Saturdays, specially-trained volunteers help serve our customers at the fast-paced Information Booth and in serving as Docents.
Please consider joining us!
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Welcome to Our New Board Members |
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Nathaniel Earls enjoys a healthy snack with his daughter at the Santa Fe Farmers' Market |
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Nathaniel Earls was born and grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. He moved to Santa Fe to attend St. John’s College, a rigorous liberal arts college “focused on the most important books and ideas of Western civilization, taught in seminar-style classes.” He graduated in 2008, and is currently pursuing graduate studies in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
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A fourth generation trustee of The John C. Griswold Family Foundation, which was created by his great grandfather John C. Griswold, he supports organizations devoted to local food, agriculture, and the environment, as well as the arts. Nathaniel shared that he “particularly loves the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market because it is such a gathering place for the community. I often share the experience with my four-year-old daughter.”
A jazz aficionado, for 11 years Nathaniel hosted a jazz music radio program on KSFR.
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Diane Sandoval-Griego is the Chief of Financial Empowerment at Guadalupe Credit Union, where she has worked for 15 years. She is very passionate about identifying needs in the communities of her state of New Mexico, which is ranked second highest for poverty in the US. She founded and leads a financial coaching team that reaches seven counties of northern New Mexico providing financial solutions to community members and offering access to safe and fair financial services to the unbanked and the underbanked.
Guadalupe Credit Union partners with the Santa Fe Farmers' Market Institute’s microloan program to encourage farmers to invest and expand their businesses. Diane Sandoval-Griego shared, “I have witnessed such amazing projects that were accomplished with funding provided by the SFFMI microloan program. I look forward to joining the Board, as GCU and SFFMI continue working together to bring funding support to more farmers and ranchers in northern NM.”
She became a National Credit Union Development Education Program graduate in 2017, and was nominated as Credit Union Hero of the Year for 2019. Diane recently obtained a certification in Solar Lending from the University of New Hampshire and has worked with the Common Cents Lab from Duke University Behavioral Economics on product development.
In her free time she loves spending time with her family, art, traveling and watching documentaries.
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Click to watch Asher's 2021 Microloan Program Story, Reyah Sunshine Farm!
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Shai Haber and Asher Singer pictured at the Seed The Future Celebration
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Asher Singer of Reyah Sunshine Farm, LLC in Chimayó shared his experience with Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute microloans facilitated by Guadalupe Credit Union at the December 9th Seed The Future event featured in our last issue of the newsletter. A recipient of two successive microloans, Asher was able to put the funds to work to improve his access to water and to expand his growing capacity.
At the Institute, we know that farmers often have limited resources or lack access to capital, which can impact the sustainability of their business or their capacity to grow. Our Microloan Program awards low-interest flexible loans which fund projects that have a huge impact on many of our vendors’ businesses, as well as the quality and quantity of the products brought to the Market. The Microloan Program helps vendors defray seasonal operating expenses, improve infrastructure, extend the growing season, and much more. Access to capital ensures that farmers and ranchers can provide a constant and growing food supply to Santa Fe and the region.
Any vendor in good standing at the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market is eligible to apply. The application is very user-friendly and the process is straightforward. Applications are now accepted on a rolling basis, making funds more available as needs arise.
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Chicken Italian Sausage and Bolita Bean Stew with Green Chile and Hearty Greens
We had so many compliments on the delicious bohemian stew which David Sundberg prepared for our Seed The Future Celebration, that we decided to share it with you.
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Serves 6
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 pound chicken Italian sausage
- 1 onions
- 2 medium carrots
- 2 stalks celery
- 1 tablespoon (2-3 cloves) garlic
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 pound bolita beans
- 6 quarts chicken stock
- 1-2 bunches, hearty greens like spinach, kale, chard, collards
- 1-2 sprigs thyme
- 1-2 sprigs rosemary
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 teaspoons elderberry vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
PREPARATION:
- Soak the beans covered with an inch of water overnight.
- Cook the sausage in olive oil until browned and cooked through. Remove from the pot and set aside.
- Add onions to pot and cook 5-10 minutes until just beginning to sweat out.
- Add carrots, celery, garlic and tomato paste and cook, stirring over high until fragrant and the tomato paste is beginning to brown. It will help if you don’t stir the vegetables too much so they get a little browned before stirring.
- Drain the beans and add them to the vegetable mix along with 3 qts of stock, the cleaned and chopped herbs, the bay leaf, and a bit of salt and pepper and bring to boil. Cover the pot, reduce to a hard simmer, stirring frequently, and cook for about an hour, until the beans are about 90% cooked. You may need to add more stock.
- Return the sausage to the pot along with the washed and torn leaves of greens, remove the lid, and continue to cook, reducing liquid and adjusting seasoning until thick and stew-like.
- Finish the stew with the vinegar; you’ll notice that all the flavors brighten and pop with the addition - it’s a great trick for many rich dishes to add a touch of acid at the end to punch up flavors!
If you want to make your own chicken sausage, here is the recipe:
Chicken Italian Sausage
- 1 pound ground chicken
- ½ tablespoon fennel
- ½ tablespoon black pepper
- ¼ tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon sage
- ½ tablespoon anise seed
- ½ tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- ½ cup green chile, peeled diced - if desired
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About the Institute
The Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute was founded in 2002 to raise funds for an affordable space where farmers could sell their goods year round. After the Farmers’ Market Pavilion opened in 2008, the Institute expanded its mission to include developing economic resources for farmers and growing access to healthy, locally grown food for northern New Mexicans.
We deeply appreciate your support for our efforts to connect families with local food, to provide economic services to our farmers, as well as an affordable space where farmers can sell their goods year round. Want to get to know the Institute better? We’d love to take you on a tour of the market and talk to you about the programs we provide. Just email janice@farmersmarketinstitute.org to get more information.
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The Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute’s mission is to advocate for farmers, ranchers and other land-based producers; provide equitable access to fresh, local food; own and operate a year-round venue for the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market; and manage programs to help sustain a profitable, locally-based agricultural community. |
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THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS! |
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These lead sponsors help ensure the sustainability of the northern New Mexico food system as well as nurture the agricultural community and the customers that make the Santa Fe Farmers' Market so successful.
Support the businesses that support your community!
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