Infinity Farm in New Mexico

Armando was among several we met during our trip who called New Mexico “The Land of Entrapment.” He's is originally from Buffalo, and, like my father-in-law, is one of the many transplanted residents from “back east” who have fallen in love with the wide skies and purple vistas here.  I can see why it would be hard for them to shake themselves free.

Infinity Farm and its sister farm nearby, Drangonfly Farm, are two of a growing number of small farms whose mission is to aquaint people with the pleasures of growing and eating fresh organic food and changing the way our children eat.

We met Armando at the farmers market and he invited us to visit his farm, where he’s worked for the past 3 years to become a sustainable producer for local restaurants and residents. Several times during my visit I was asked if I was a “wwoofer.”  WWOOF stands for World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. WWOOFers exchange a half day of work on participating farms in exchange for food, and accommodation, and in return learn practical farming skills and gain experience. Infinity Farm often hosts woofers, and I got a taste that day of what it is like to be one.

Buona Fortuna! It was a rare, overcast, cool day when I was there. The day began with a tour of the farm. The Pecos River Valley, where this farm is located, is known to be among the most fertile areas in New Mexico. Many of these farms use a combination of river water and well water to irrigate their crops. A system of canals, known as acequias, are a used communally to bring river water to the fields.

Armando designed these bee hives using old milk tubs.



The greenhouse had loads of tomatoes workng hard on ripening. There was also a small orchard with plum, peach, apple and pear trees.

Two other volunteers, John and Betty, worked with Armando and I on Tuesday. We picked and weeded the tomatillo patch, where many have re-seeded themselves and gone wild.

Then we moved up to the “willow patch” where weeds had overtaken the onion patch. Some onions were ready to harvest.

I love this fence, handmade from willow branches. 

The visit closed with a lunch of fresh homemade sushi. Many thanks to Armando for his kindness and hospitality, and for putting up with my many questions about why this is that way and what to do about this or that pest!  His stand can be found at the Las Vegas, NM Farmer’s Market on Fridays.

Here is a link to a wwoofer’s blog, Fieldwork 2010