New Mexico
Desert Bounty: Celebrating Santa Fe’s Agriculture & Cuisine
Program No. 23838RJ
Discover sustainable farming in Santa Fe, experience delicious regional dishes and attend hands-on cooking classes with local chefs.
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At a Glance
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking over varied terrain in town, at markets and farms.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Visit organic, sustainable agricultural organizations like Santa Cruz Farms, the winner of a James Beard Award for leadership in biodynamic farming.
- Discover sustainable gardening methods that preserve local Indigenous knowledge, and learn how to apply these philosophies and food preparation techniques anywhere.
- Experience the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market, one of the oldest, largest and most successful growers’ markets in the country.
General Notes
This program is part of “Our Changing Planet” series, exploring the solutions to the challenges of global climate change in communities around the United States. Learn more at www.roadscholar.org/planet.
Suggested Reading List
(22 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Desert Bounty: Celebrating Santa Fe’s Agriculture & Cuisine
Program Number: 23838
The Flesh of the Cedarwood
The Flesh of the Cedarwood is a touching, poetic novel honoring the achievements of the many Hispanics and native Americans forced to live in poverty, and treated as an inferior and as a foreigner in his own land, themes that have never been more current in our society.
Runner in the Sun
Nickles combined his anthropology background with all the suspense of a mystery to craft this novel about pre-Hispanic Indian life in the American Southwest.
Unsettled Waters: Rights, Law, and Identity in the American West
In the American West, water adjudication lawsuits are adversarial, expensive, and lengthy. Unsettled Waters is the first detailed study of water adjudications in New Mexico. The state envisioned adjudication as a straightforward accounting of water rights as private property. However, adjudication resurfaced tensions and created conflicts among water sovereigns at multiple scales. Based on more than ten years of fieldwork, this book tells a fascinating story of resistance involving communal water cultures, Native rights and cleaved identities, clashing experts, and unintended outcomes. Whether the state can alter adjudications to meet the water demands in the twenty-first century will have serious consequences.
The Secret Knowledge of Water : Discovering the Essence of the American Desert
Like the highest mountain peaks, deserts are environments that can be inhospitable even to the most seasoned explorers. Craig Childs, who has spent years in the deserts of the American West as an adventurer, a river guide, and a field instructor in natural history, has developed a keen appreciation for these forbidding landscapes: their beauty, their wonder, and especially their paradoxes. His extraordinary treks through arid lands in search of water are an astonishing revelation of the natural world at its most extreme.
Enchanted Foraging: Wildcrafting for Herbal Remedies, Rituals, and a Magical Life
With practical advice for novice foragers and sidebars on how different cultures have connected with the greatest mystic of all, Mother Earth, Enchanted Foraging explores plants and their various uses not just for consumption but for their intrinsic value. Readers will come away with a more complete knowledge of, and appreciation for, the world that lies just beyond their doors--its abundance, hidden applications, and how it makes enchanted beings of us all.
New Mexico, A History
This cooperative effort between three native New Mexicans is the first complete history of New Mexico. It charts the state’s development from 16th-century Spanish colony to frontier province, from its 1912 American statehood to a hub of (often classified) scientific research. A vital source for anyone seeking to understand the complex history of the West.
Corn Dance: Inspired First American Cuisine
Amply illustrated and adapted to bring the taste of Native tradition into the home kitchen, Corn Dance invites readers to join Loretta Oden on her inspiring journey into the Indigenous heritage, and the exhilarating culinary future, of North America.
Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine
Herbalists Rosalee de la Forêt and Emily Han expertly guide you through the benefits of two dozen of the most important and commonly found wild plants-many of which you can easily grow in your own garden, if foraging isn't right for you. Detailed illustrations and beautiful photography ensure that you won't make a plant-identification misstep as you learn how to tend and properly harvest the plant medicine growing right in your own neighborhood.
Thinking Like a Watershed: Voices from the West
Thinking Like a Watershed points our understanding of our relationship to the land in new directions. It is shaped by the bioregional visions of the great explorer John Wesley Powell, who articulated the notion that the arid American West should be seen as a mosaic of watersheds, and the pioneering ecologist Aldo Leopold, who put forward the concept of bringing conscience to bear within the realm of "the land ethic."
Produced in conjunction with the documentary radio series entitled Watersheds as Commons, this book comprises essays and interviews from a diverse group of southwesterners including members of Tewa, Tohono O'odham, Hopi, Navajo, Hispano, and Anglo cultures. Their varied cultural perspectives are shaped by consciousness and resilience through having successfully endured the aridity and harshness of southwestern environments over time.
Seed to Plate, Soil to Sky: Modern Plant-Based Recipes using Native American Ingredients
This enriching cookbook celebrates eight important plants Native Americans introduced to the rest of the world: corn, beans, squash, chile, tomato, potato, vanilla, and cacao—with more than 100 recipes.
Enchantment and Exploitation: The Life and Hard Times of a New Mexico Mountain Range, Revised and Expanded Edition
First published in 1985, William deBuys's Enchantment and Exploitation has become a New Mexico classic. It offers a complete account of the relationship between society and environment in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico, a region unique in its rich combination of ecological and cultural diversity. Now, more than thirty years later, this revised and expanded edition provides a long-awaited assessment of the quality of the journey that New Mexican society has traveled in that time--and continues to travel.
Historias Y Memorias: Tales of growing up in Taos, NM, A Memoir
"I am Hispanic, born raised and educated in Taos, NM, with sojourns as the child of migrant workers in CO and later sheepherding with my Dad in WY and ID. These are my stories, my memories, the tales of witches, folklore and famous people, a tribute to my wonderful mother (who lived to be over 106!) and father who struggled against poverty and racism while raising 7 successful children."
Feast of Santa Fe, Cooking of the American Southwest
An easy-to-follow introduction to the cuisine of the Southwest written by a cooking school instructor.
Santa Fe, History of an Ancient City
A revised edition of of this classic history of Santa Fe to the mid-nineteenth century, featuring essays by ten scholars and hundreds of archival photographs, drawings and maps.
The Southwest Table, Traditional Cuisine from Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona
Expert on chili peppers and spicy foods, Dave DeWitt (aka "the Pope of Peppers") blends Southwestern culinary history with 130 authentic recipes and cooking techniques in this tantalizing collection of fiery, flavorful dishes from Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
Acequia Culture: Water, Land, and Community in the Southwest
Recognizing that "water is the lifeblood of the community," Rivera delineates an acequia culture based on a reciprocal relationship between irrigation and community. The acequia experience grows out of a conservation ethic and a tradition of sharing that should be recognized and preserved in an age of increasing competition for scarce water resources.
One Hundred Years of Water Wars in New Mexico, 1912-2012
Water is the lifeblood of human existence. New Mexico's history provides a fascinating microcosm of the role water plays in the growth and development of a community. This book details many of the complex and messy fights, legal and otherwise, over precious water in a semiarid western state. Focusing on the past one hundred years constituting New Mexico's statehood, contributors describe the often convoluted and always intriguing stories that have shaped New Mexico's water past and that will, without doubt, influence its future history. Many of New Mexico's ''movers and shakers'' in the water community have contributed their water war stories to the book. From acclaimed water lawyers to historians to novelists to academicians, their stories reflect the broad legal, historic, traditional, religious, and community values of New Mexico's water culture. The celebration of New Mexico's centennial is made more complete with the telling of these exciting and colorful narratives of how water has and will shape our future.
High and Dry: The Texas-New Mexico Struggle for the Pecos River
While High and Dry focuses on clashes of principles and personalities, especially in the courtroom, it remains very much a story about a river and its world in an arid region. There are irrigators here, including the leading "old families" of southeastern New Mexico, and there is nature here, including "the vampires of the West," the rapacious salt cedars relentlessly sucking up the precious Pecos stream flow. But beneath them all is the author, inviting readers to see how tiny gardens grown for the soul are as crucial to the overall story as the adjudication of water rights. Hall gives a masterful summary of the legal and scientific parts of the story, but he excels in letting us feel and care about water in the same manner as do the people who use it to grow crops.
Indigenous Food Sovereignty in the United States: Restoring Cultural Knowledge, Protecting Environments, and Regaining Health
Centuries of colonization and other factors have disrupted indigenous communities’ ability to control their own food systems. This volume explores the meaning and importance of food sovereignty for Native peoples in the United States, and asks whether and how it might be achieved and sustained.
The Milagro Beanfield War
This book can be classified as a political novel, a Southwest novel, or an environmental novel and succeeds brilliantly on all fronts. Published in 1974 to little fanfare, Milagro took a while to captivate a large readership. A decade later, however, the book had achieved status as an underground cult favorite.
The tale of Milagro's rising is wildly comic and lovingly tender, a vivid portrayal of a town that, half-stumbling and partly prodded, gropes its way toward its own stubborn salvation.
Ancient Peoples of the American Southwest
This illustrated introduction provides an in-depth look at the ancient cultures that first inhabited the pueblos and cliff dwellings of the American Southwest. Organized chronologically, it features hundreds of maps, mostly black-and-white photographs and site diagrams.
The Return of the River: Writers, Scholars, and Citizens Speak on Behalf of the Santa Fe River
The Santa Fe River in Santa Fe, New Mexico was named Most Endangered River in America in 2007. This richly illustrated collection is a literary response to that designation, a work that ''re-stories'' the river, bringing it back to life in the hearts and minds of the Santa Fe community. It's no secret that the river--a dry wasteland for most of the year--is imperiled. Less well known is the real story of the Santa Fe River, its remarkable history, and how it can be saved.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
7 days
6 nights
What's Included
13 meals (
6B, 3L, 4D
)
6 expert-led lectures
11 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
6 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Santa Fe
Meals:
D
Stay:
Drury Plaza Hotel Santa Fe
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 3:00-5:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the lobby to meet with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please contact your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. During the program, we will learn from local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips as well as our Group Leader who is also a local expert. Transportation for program-related activities will be via motorcoach unless specified otherwise. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
In our private meeting room.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, relax, and get a good night’s sleep for the full day ahead.
Day
2
New Mexico History & Cuisine, Santa Fe Plaza, Reunity Farm
Location:
Santa Fe
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Drury Plaza Hotel Santa Fe
Activity Note
Walking up to 5 miles over the course of the day on uneven, paved and unpaved surfaces with inclines and some steps.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
In the hotel meeting room, our Group Leader will present about the unique history and cuisine of New Mexico. We’ll learn about its earliest Ancestral Puebloan inhabitants and the European settlers who followed. We'll also hear about Santa Fe and the history of agriculture in the region. We’ll then head out on foot to explore Santa Fe’s Plaza area. This has been the vibrant heart of the city for almost four centuries. We’ll enjoy the historic downtown area and continue to learn about the history and cultures of northern New Mexico. We’ll visit the impressive Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, the Palace of the Governors, Sena Plaza, and other sites as time permits. Then, we’ll board the motorcoach and head out for lunch.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Following lunch, we’ll board the motorcoach and travel to Reunity Farm. Reunity Resources was founded in 2011 as a small biodiesel program. They upcycled used cooking oil, and then expanded in 2014 to add the Commercial Food Waste Collection program to collect food scraps from local restaurants. In 2015, they leased a non-arable acre of land from the Santa Fe Community Farm, utilizing an aerated static pile system to compost in what became their Soil Yard. In 2018, with the passing of its founder, the Santa Fe Community Farm closed its doors, and Reunity Resources officially stepped in to steward the land in 2019. Reunity Farm was established on land that holds thousands of years of agricultural history, growing food regeneratively and making it available to those in need through donations with partner organization, farm-to-family meal donations and a 24/7 access Community Fridge. The motorcoach will return us to the hotel in the late afternoon for some time to relax before we meet in the lobby for a short walk to dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
3
Huerta Sol Feliz Farm, Taos Pueblo, Wine-tasting
Location:
Santa Fe
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Drury Plaza Hotel Santa Fe
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 150 miles, approximately 4 hours riding time over the course of the day. Walking up to 3 miles; varied, possibly muddy and uneven terrain. Standing up to 1 hour during expert-led field trips.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll board the motorcoach and ride 75 miles north to the village of Don Fernando de Taos where we will visit the Huerta Sol Feliz Farm. Huerta Sol Feliz is “a manifestation of agricultural reconnection and home-scale sustainable living.” Our host, Miguel Santistevan, spent most of his summers and holidays on this land, where his grandparents lived. He grew up playing on the land, in and around the acequia irrigation ditch that runs behind the house. His grandfather built the house and was a master of adobe, mud, and plaster. Miguel will introduce us to local permaculture techniques, sustainable agriculture, how to nurture biological diversity, and the history of the Acequia Sur del Rio Don Fernando de Taos which has been in existence since the 1700s.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Back on the motorcoach, we will ride to Taos Pueblo. (Note that this is subject to change; the Pueblo sometimes closes with little to no advance notice for private events.) This picturesque Pueblo at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains is one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in North America. The multiple-story adobe dwellings reflect an ancient culture; approximately 100 Pueblo residents still live much as their ancestors did 1,000 years ago, without electricity or running water. Taos Pueblo is the only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. At the Pueblo, we’ll enjoy an expert-led walk through the community. We will then board the motorcoach and ride to a local winery where we will enjoy a wine tasting and learn about the some of the oldest grape production in North America, with vines brought into the area by Spanish monks in 1540. We will return to Santa Fe and adjourn for the evening.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like in Santa Fe. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Santa Fe is known for the breadth and depth of its culinary offerings. Not to be confused with “Tex-Mex,” or traditional Mexican food, New Mexican cuisine is a fusion of Native American, Mexican, and European techniques and ingredients. There are a number of fine restaurants within walking distance.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
4
Santa Fe Farmer's Market, Canyon Road, SF School of Cooking
Location:
Santa Fe
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Drury Plaza Hotel Santa Fe
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 10 miles, approximately 1/2 hour over the course of the day. Walking up to 3 miles; varied paved and unpaved, uneven terrain. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll ride to the Santa Fe Farmer’s Market with time for some independent exploration. The Santa Fe Farmer's Market was voted one of the “Top Ten Farmers’ Markets” by Sunset Magazine, and is one of the oldest, largest, and most successful growers’ markets in the country. We will browse through the over 100 vendors selling locally grown produce, baked goods, agricultural products, and handcrafts. All items are locally grown, made or sourced through fair trade. The motorcoach will then transport us to Canyon Road. Once a trade path that connected Pueblo people in the Rio Grande Pueblos to the trade center at Pecos Pueblo, Canyon Road is now home to the highest density of galleries in the country. Over 100 galleries line the mile or so historic road. Canyon Road was once all private homes, where Spanish families lived alongside budding artists. Now, the narrow charming road is home to galleries featuring art ranging from contemporary to traditional, Western to Native American to abstract, created by artists from all over the world.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. There are a number of museums, shops, and galleries within walking distance of the hotel. Nearby museums include the New Mexico Museum of Art, the New Mexico History Museum, the Palace of the Governors, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Native Art. Another nearby site of interest is the State Capitol building; it houses the State Capitol Art Collection, which features the work of local New Mexico artists, sculptors and photographers. Those willing to travel a few miles down Cerrillos Road (city bus transportation available on Sheridan Street near the Plaza) might enjoy visiting The House of Eternal Return at the Meow Wolf Art Complex. A uniquely Santa Fe experience, The House of Eternal Return is a multimedia, interactive art experience that seeks to immerse their visitors in a fantastical story. Developed with the generous support of Santa Fe resident and author George R.R. Martin—most famous for his Game of Thrones fantasy series— it was an immediate sensation after its opening in March 2016; it has attracted over 1,000,000 adventurers from around the world to date. It’s a far cry from traditional Santa Fe style, but can be a lot of fun for the open-minded and young-at-heart. We will meet in the lobby in the late afternoon for a walk to the Santa Fe School of Cooking. Operating for over 30 years, the Santa Fe School of Cooking is an “internationally acclaimed, recreational Culinary School and Market” located a short walk from our hotel. We will enjoy a cooking demonstration using traditional foods of the American Southwest.
Dinner:
At the Santa Fe School of Cooking.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
5
Santa Fe Watershed, Museum Hill, Free Time
Location:
Santa Fe
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Drury Plaza Hotel Santa Fe
Activity Note
Getting on/off motorcoach; traveling about 10 miles, approximately 1/2 hour over the course of the day. Walking up to 4 miles; varied, possibly muddy rough terrain. Standing up to 2 hours at museums. Walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll board the motorcoach for a short ride to the end of Upper Canyon Road where we will start the morning with an expert-led hike around the upper part of Santa Fe Watershed. The Santa Fe River Watershed covers over 180,000 acres (285 square miles) and is made up of the main course of the Santa Fe River, along with all the streams, arroyos, and water courses that flow into it. This river is Santa Fe's original water supply, and for thousands of years, people have visited and lived along the river. It has long provided a valuable water source for wildlife habitat, drinking water, irrigation, recreation, and cultural needs. We will learn about the importance of water in the desert southwest from a local expert as we hike around the reservoirs that store and supply the water. The coach will depart for Museum Hill following the hike.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Next, we’ll have time to explore Museum Hill for a self-directed field trip to the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture and the Museum of International Folk Art. As we view the exhibits, we’ll learn more about the history, art and culture of indigenous peoples. The Group Leader will be present to answer questions as needed. The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture features pottery, jewelry, sculptures, baskets, and other objects made by Native Americans from the earliest times to modern day, scrupulously documented and beautifully displayed. Most of the work is from the Southwest. The Museum of International Folk Art houses indigenous art from around the world-ranging from ceremonial dress and masks to furniture. The museum hosts the largest collection of international folk art in the world, including wings featuring some of the 106,000 pieces donated by collectors Alexander and Susan Girard and Lloyd Cotsen’s Neutrogena collection. We’ll regroup at a designated time and ride back to the hotel.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy what you like.
Evening:
At leisure. Explore Santa Fe’s nightlife, enjoy the company of new Road Scholar friends with informal activities, or rest and relax.
Day
6
Herbal Medicine, Foraging, Red Mesa Cuisine
Location:
Santa Fe
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Drury Plaza Hotel Santa Fe
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 60 miles over the course of the day, approximately 2 hours total riding time. Walking up to 3 miles over varied terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll start the morning with a presentation on herbal medicines by a local expert. Our expert will explain what curanderismo is and how it applies to holistic healing; centuries-old systems of health that treat body, mind, and spirit through applications of herbal medicine, counseling, reflexology, massage, and visualization techniques. Then we'll board the coach for a short ride into the foothills where we will enjoy a short hike and learn about foraging from a local expert. Also known as “wildcrafting,” foraging for edible plants and herbs is the evolution of “gathering” that Native people did for millennia before the coming of Europeans. In simple terms, foraging is the practice of finding wild edible foods and is rooted in respect and gratitude for the land. After the hike, we will board the motorcoach and head back to the hotel for lunch on your own and some independent time.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
In the late afternoon, we will gather to board the motorcoach for our dinner destination. We’ll travel to the community of Eldorado where we’ll visit with chefs Lois Ellen Frank, Ph.D and Walter Whitewater of Red Mesa Cuisine. They will demonstrate and provide instruction on the preparation of a meal featuring regional cuisine. Dr. Frank is a Native American food historian, culinary anthropologist, photographer, and James Beard Award-winning author.
Dinner:
At Red Mesa Cuisine, we’ll enjoy the 4-course meal that was prepared during the cooking demonstration. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
In the hotel meeting room, we’ll have a wrap-up session to share what we learned and exchange our farewells.
Day
7
Program Concludes
Location:
Santa Fe
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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MEALS
13 Meals
6 Breakfasts
3 Lunches
4 Dinners
LODGING
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