Rooted in Place.Growing Together.

Urban agriculture is the practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food in and around towns and cities — taking the form of community gardens, urban farms, and community kitchens that help people overcome barriers of age, ethnicity, class, and geography.

This ArcGIS StoryMap documents the community and school gardens of Las Cruces, New Mexico — mapping active gardens, who has access to them, and the services they provide. It is a living resource for the Las Cruces community rooted in the same values Peacemaker Enterprise holds: food sovereignty, intergenerational knowledge, and collective stewardship of the land.

Agriculture is a significant part of Doña Ana County's culture. Community gardens contribute to food equity by offering affordable access to fresh produce, fostering social cohesion, and giving people opportunities to learn where their food comes from — a foundation for the 7th generational thinking at the heart of Peacemaker's mission.

Ruben J. Calderon, Stephanie Garcia, Danielle Nowotenski, Brita Sauer & Erica Whitlock — NMSU Critical Approaches to Place