From Pindi Pueblo to Agua Fría: Enduring love for the land
Editor’s note: Food sovereignty is the right of a community to identify and control how its food is produced and distributed. Native communities have the right to grow, share and be nourished by Native foods, which has a direct contribution to the health of the community and continuation of traditions. To understand the importance of food sovereignty in Santa Fe, we looked to community organizer Christina M. Castro, a co-founder of The Three Sisters Collective. This is the latest in an occasional series of articles on food insecurity in Northern New Mexico.
Learning to cultivate our own food not only ensures our sustenance but also reduces our dependence on external food systems. Let me take you on a journey exploring how the cultural fabric of our state intertwines with these agricultural practices.
Each year, in mid-May, across our cherished state, multigenerational Indigenous and Nuevo Mexicano communities pay homage to San Isidro, the patron saint of farming, through blessings of fields and waters. In Agua Fría village, situated on the south side of O’ga P’ogeh in Santa Fe, the San Isidro Catholic
Church orchestrates an annual water blessing following Sunday Mass. The congregation, accompanied by guitar and singing regional Spanish songs like “De Colores,” proceeds in a procession to the nearby Santa Fe River to bless its waters.
As parishioners cross Agua Fría Road, they merge with another group from Full Circle Farm, a one-acre community garden and gathering space at Agua Fría and San Isidro Crossing. Some don ceremonial
Aztec dance attire, having just concluded their own ceremonial blessings. Together, these communities converge at the water’s edge. Here, the priest offers prayers, and roses are tenderly cast into the water, expressing gratitude and an earnest plea for cooperation and sufficient water for the upcoming months. The phrase “Water is life” resonates deeply, underscoring the importance of water in our ecosystems.
Historically known as Pindi Pueblo, Agua Fría village derived its name from the abundant farming and large-scale turkey cultivation along the Santa Fe River, adjacent to the ancient Indigenous trade route El Camino Real (now Agua Fría Road). Despite the river now flowing only seasonally, the annual water blessing in Pindi Pueblo stands as a testament to our shared understanding as Northern New Mexicans, deeply rooted in generations past.
Established in 2021 by Alas de Agua Art Collective and Three Sisters Collective, Full Circle Farm serves as a hub for Indigenous and multigenerational Nuevo Mexicano communities, emphasizing land-based culture centered around farming and seed preservation. Many of our crops originate from traditional local heirloom seeds, passed down through generations by members of local tribal communities. These ancestral seeds serve as a living link to our past, symbolizing the commitment of previous generations to ensure our sustenance.
At Full Circle Farm, our praxis revolves around rematriation, reconnecting with our sacred Mother Earth and fostering reciprocal relationships with the land. It’s about getting our hands in the dirt and nurturing life from the ground up.
An integral aspect of our farm is its volunteer-driven nature, where no money is exchanged. Volunteers are welcome to harvest crops as needed, taking only what they require. We eagerly anticipate the upcoming farm season and invite the community to learn more about our programming by visiting our website threesisterscollective.org. We also welcome attendance at our annual Full Circle Farm blessing in conjunction with San Isidro Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 12 at 2080 San Ysidro Crossing. Everyone is welcome!