HHA Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Spring 2003

What's Happening at the Hubbell House - A Work In Progress
By Joe Hlifka

Hubbell House Alliance is now a little more than one year old. When we started our journey as the Committee to Preserve the Hubbell Property, we wanted to insure that the Pajarito community would be actively involved with Bernalillo County in the planning, programming and development of the property. HHA's mission to facilitate public participation and involve the local community in the project will come through a partnership agreement with Bernalillo County. Formalizing our partnership and completing this agreement has been our main focus for the last several months. Once this has been accomplished, we can make major strides forward to implement some of our initiatives.

Hubbell House Alliance Goals
Our goals are multi-faceted and include the following:

• See the Hubbell House restored and reinstated as the hub of the community and its land revived and activated
• Operate the Hubbell Farm and Hubbell House Museum
• Preserve our local history and cultural traditions
• Support economic development for small-scale sustainable agriculture
• Foster responsible stewardship of our environment by advocating organic farming methods
• Promote water conservation for agriculture
• Protect our wildlife habitat
• Advocate public and private open spaces

To date 1.1 million dollars in public funding for the purchase of the property and Phase I renovation of the Hubbell House. Phase I renovation will include office space for Hubbell House Alliance and the New Mexico Organic Commodity Commission and construction of new outdoor ADA wheel chair accessible restrooms. This work is estimated to be completed in 2003.

Now that many of the needs of the house have been addressed, we are beginning to shift our focus to the surrounding farmland and our agricultural initiatives. Our philosophy is to build partnerships with other organizations that share our vision. Our partners will assist HHA and Bernalillo County in developing the farm and related educational programs. They include:

• Bernalillo County
• Cornerstones
• The New Mexico Organic CommodityCommission
• New Mexico State University - College of Agriculture
• City of Albuquerque Open Space Division
• Friends of the Rio Grande Nature Center
• New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Foundation
• Albuquerque Museum - Casa San Ysidro
• Albuquerque Public Schools
• Mid Region Council of Governments
• Rio Grande Community Development Corporation
• South Valley Growers' Association

Hubbell House Alliance initiatives will address a number of important economic, environmental and cultural issues:

• Food Security is being thought about since the 9/11 incident and it is something we should be thinking about in every state of our country. In New Mexico, there are about 45,000 acres of irrigated farmland in the greater Albuquerque area. 100 years ago that number was 120,000 acres. In the desert southwest, we should be especial mindful of protecting our farmland. Currently, this acreage is primarily in alfalfa production. The challenge will be to re-introduce the production of food for people in the Middle Rio Grande region and elsewhere in the state.
• Recruitment and Retainment of Farmers is another major challenge. HHA will develop the New Mexico Small Farm Resource Center. The Center will foster sustainable agriculture at the urban fringe and serve as a clearing house for services to small-scale farms and provide training and technical assistance to small specialty-crop producers with the assistance of our partners.
• Agriculture and Nutrition Education in Public Schools is an important initiative HHA will be working on with NMSU-College of Agriculture, Rio Grande High School and the South Valley Academy charter high school to develop and re-introduce an agricultural curriculum into the public schools. The Hubbell Farm will serve as an extension of these school programs by providing an outdoor classroom setting for field trips and workshops, etc.
• Preserving Cultural and Historical and Agricultural Lands is another important matter to address as urban sprawl in the Rio Grande corridor continues. The Hubbell Property will show case and teach visitors about our local and regional history through a living history museum setting. The Hubbell House, the surrounding cultural landscape and a working demonstration farm will provide dynamic education and foster community-building and an appreciation of our cultural heritage.
• Strengthening the Connection Between Good Stewardship and Healthy Food. It's been said, "we are what we eat". If that is so, then some of us would argue that we as a nation are in trouble. Our food is grown with chemical agents, over processed and "fresh" produce is often more than a week old when we purchase it at the supermarket. Growing food in healthy soils, produces healthy food. Eating fresh locally grown organic produce is a win-win-win scenario. We maintain a healthy natural environment in which we and wildlife may thrive, have nutritious food to eat and at the same time support our local farmers and Farmers' Markets by keeping the money spent on food circulating in the local economy.
• The New Mexico Small Farm Resource Center is about education, education and more education. We must educate the adult public, our children, policy makers, politicians, farmers and ourselves about eating better, practicing good stewardship of our natural environment and celebrating our cultural heritage. We welcome all who share our vision to join us in our effort to establish a cultural and agricultural learning center in central New Mexico that will foster a "sense of place" and build strong community ties.

November-December 2002

These were busy months for HHA. The Board held two retreats to discuss agendas for the coming months and review its mission. Several meetings were held with Cornerstones Community Partnerships and Bernalillo County Parks and Recreation Department (BCPR) regarding the Phase I renovation, future community workdays and the Home and Garden Television (HGTV) "Restore America" program.

January 2003

HGTV required most of our attention for the month of January. More meetings to prepare for the filming of the show. On Saturday January 11th HHA, Cornerstones and BCPR repaired plastered walls in the southwest wing in preparation and practice for the shoot.

On the 25th some of us turned from bees to butterflies, and flitted up to Sena Morrow's lovely Lamy luncheon for Bobbie Green (Director of Save America's Treasures), Cornerstones members, and others vitally interested & involved with these projects at State and Local levels. We came to appreciate how Hubbell House was chosen as the only site in the S.W. (out of 12 country-wide) to be featured. And that beyond the nation-wide notoriety there would be a financial boon too!

HGTV arrived on the 27th to scope their work for the following day's shoot. January 28th saw New Mexico (enchanting) Bobbie Green, Gary Beaton (the Producer), & the Camera Crew with a splendid sun spangling day for filming outside shots, & with mild (for January!) temps, for the inside ones.

The professionals certainly made the locals feel like stars, as they coached many through our first on-camera experience in order to annotate the House's sustained story. And, the House's current "humble conditions" couldn't have contrasted more dramatically with the recitals of Her prior grandeur, present multi-de-constructions, and visionary predictions of future rejuvenation.

From this, H&G TV will feature a special series (starting July 2003 thru June 2004) on Hubbell House and the 11 other national historic buildings. STAY TUNED!

February 2003

HHA attended the New Mexico Farming and Gardening Expo hosted by the New Mexico Organic Commodity commission. This is an annual two-day event which attracts growers and suppliers form all across the United States. HHA had a table setup to inform folks about our organization and our initiatives and invite new members. We were fortunate to attend some of the outstanding educational seminars, not to mention fine floor displays and samples, and make valuable new contacts.

Thanks so much for being a supporter of Hubbell House Alliance.

WE'LL BE KEEPING IN TOUCH!