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  • From: Jennifer Albert <jalbert AT cybermesa.com>
  • To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Market-farming] The rules don't apply; more than you might want to know about Northern New Mexico
  • Date: Tue, 03 May 2005 19:25:08 -0600

At 04:24 PM 5/3/2005 -0400, you wrote:
Message: 11
Date: Tue, 3 May 2005 15:23:45 -0400
From: "Brigette Leach" <avalonfarmshomegrown AT earthlink.net>
Subject: RE: [Market-farming] Thanks, everyone! Plus, my berry
packaging
To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>,
market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
Message-ID: <410-22005523192345750 AT earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Jenny,
The overkill of regulations, permits and insurance costs isn't specific to
New Mexico or to agriculture of any size. Far too many legislators,
regulators, bureaucrats, etc., think that regulation and permitting will
solve problems. Wish that were the case.IMHO it just adds cost to the
businesses impacted and increases taxes to implement. In Michigan, we've
worked very hard to move away from *permits* to voluntary, incentive driven
programs and projects for agricultural producers of all sizes, and it is
working. This approach doesn't generate inflammatory newspaper articles,
but it does actually help producers protect soil and water resources.
Sometimes money to implement practices is involved, sometimes protection
from liability, sometimes a tax exemption, all around this approach helps
to provide a more stable business environment and that benefits everyone.


Ah, Michigan! My daughter lives there and likes it a lot. It's a very civilized place compared to this.

Northern New Mexico is a bit different world from the rest of the US. Progress would mean starting from a hundreds-of-years old political establishment and entrenchment (and pride) in ignorance and tradition and racism (but probably not in the way most people would imagine).

A lot of the lobbying here comes from developers who would kill, literally, for the water that farmers use. We have a centuries old acequia system (irrigation ditches that distribute mountain runoff and river water) that those in power would sell out (and are trying to) if they could. Three cultures grappling for power here (Indians, here from the get-go; Hispanics (here since the 16th and 17th century); and Anglos (almost everyone else---including Asians and blacks---who have only been here legally since the mid-1800s) and the big bucks are in real-estate development (mostly Anglos). Then the pueblos are putting in golf courses to ensure their water rights, and using all the water they can pump to claim it. We have NO tradition of voluntary action or self-policing incentive programs. I can't imagine how you'd even get started here. As a former student of theology, I use the metaphor that we don't do anything here on the Congregational model. Instead, we have popes and bishops.

I moved back here (why? Don't ask, but I am committed to being here as long as my parents are alive) four years ago after spending 8 years in Cambridge, Mass (A WORLD of difference), and there's just not the ability to change things here that there is in other parts of the country. I think it's in the water . . .

I've come to realize that the only way to go is to not pay attention to any regulations and hope you don't get caught. It seems to be what everyone is doing and expects to continue doing. If you're not willing to risk the consequences, you just have to hang back and do what you can legally, and that's where I'm more comfortable (but not necessarily financially successful).

I have a city job description from what passes for our local newspaper on my refrigerator. The job title is "Community Prevention Specialist."* That about sums it up.

Anyhow, it's beautiful here and the climate is ideal.

Jenny in Northern New Mexico


*Actually, the job turns out to be a drug-prevention position. This is the black-tar heroin capital of the US.








  • [Market-farming] The rules don't apply; more than you might want to know about Northern New Mexico, Jennifer Albert, 05/03/2005

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