Photo from Muskogee OK school garden circa 1917.
APS is seeking a new school gardens coordinator following the resignation of Susan Schipull. Susan has left a gardening legacy in the Albuquerque area with big shoes to fill. https://www.aps.edu/jobs
School Gardens has a growing list of resources and partners, including CABQ Ag, Water Authority Compost, Master Gardeners, NMSU Bernalillo County Extension Office, and City Greenhouse.
https://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/open-space/local-agriculture-in-albuquerque/community-and-school-gardens
https://www.abcwua.org/customer-service-compost/
https://abqmastergardeners.org/
https://bernalilloextension.nmsu.edu/yardgarden/gardens.html
https://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/greenhouse
The Albuquerque School Gardens Facebook page is still active.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057492818527
The School Gardens map can now be updated. Please send new gardens or new info on your school for the map.
Garden Focus (Stefany Olivas)
* Needs work and volunteers:
Van Buren MS
Wilson MS
* New and improved:
Loma Linda CC https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/international-district-community-garden-reopens/
Phil Chacon Community Garden https://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/featured-projects/phil-chacon-park-renovations
Sustainable Gardening
Everyone has seen a garden unmaintained for years, especially during the pandemic. Master Gardeners is developing a community model for sustainable gardening with collaboration between school, Master Gardener, City, and community (e.g., businesses and neighborhood organizations). Summer is a particularly challenging time for maintaining a school garden and students love to see an abundant garden crop on Aug 1. A major effort is underway to revitalize gardens left alone during the pandemic and to begin new gardens using a sustainable model. Soil delivery has been a major challenge for most schools and collaboration with Water Authority Compost is in the works.
Sustainable Irrigation
APS doesn’t want garden irrigation systems connected to the school water suppy so the next best option is rain collection. An example of a sustainable system can be found at 538 Utah NE with water collected in about ten 250 gal containers. An irrigation system includes storage containers, pump (battery and solar if off-grid), timer, and distribution. Four 350 gal containers were recently donated to Hubert Humphrey ES from the neighborhood. Winterizing is a must to avoid freezing and broken pipes. Cover crops and winter crops typically require less water in the winter and hand watering weekly is usually enough.
Winter Crops
New Mexico State University (NMSU) publications provide comprehensive guidance on winter crops, particularly focusing on cover crops, forage species, and vegetable gardening in New Mexico’s arid and semi-arid climates.
https://pubs.nmsu.edu/howto/index.html
Bernalillo County Extension Office offers free seeds to schools. 1510 Menaul Blvd NW https://bernalilloextension.nmsu.edu/map.html
Winter crops are plants specifically suited to grow during colder months, often thriving in frost and even improving in flavor after exposure to cold temperatures. These crops are typically sown in late summer or early autumn to allow sufficient time for establishment before harsh winter conditions set in. Common winter crops include root vegetables like carrots, beets, parsnips, and turnips, which can withstand temperatures as low as 15°F and often become sweeter after a frost due to starch-to-sugar conversion. Leafy greens such as kale, spinach, Swiss chard, and lamb’s lettuce are also well-suited for winter, with kale and spinach known to improve in taste and resilience after cold exposure.
Now is the perfect season to dream ahead to your 2026 garden—plan your beds, choose your favorites, and stock up on seeds.
Kale: Upright plants with deep green, textured leaves that hold beautifully in the garden. The flavor is rich and hearty, perfect for sautés, soups, and salads.
Baby lettuces & spinach: Soft, colorful leaves that fill a bowl with texture and freshness. Their mild, sweet flavor makes every salad taste like it just came from the field.
Carrots: Neat rows of ferny foliage hiding straight, uniform roots beneath the soil. Sweet, crisp, and delicious whether you snack them raw or roast them.
Greens (mustards, chard, Asian greens): Lush leaves in shades of green and red that stand out in any bed. Peppery, mild, or earthy flavors add depth to salads and stir-fries.
Radishes: Small, bright roots that are ready in a flash. Snappy, juicy, and just spicy enough to wake up a sandwich or salad.
https://www.groworganic.com/
Albuquerque School Gardens 