Corrales, New Mexico, is really a "green scene" in so many ways!

This historic little village (around 7500 population) is located on the west bank of the Rio Grande, and has been an agricultural community from its founding in 1712! Known for its centuries-old cottonwoods, artists, agriculture, picturesque adobe homes, and horses galore, Corrales is small enough for residents to walk or bike around town, or better yet, ride horses right into the village center! Corrales residents love the quiet, peaceful atmosphere, with a single main road through town, with various "horse crossing signs, and one sign warning:"Drive slow, see or village:drive fast, see our judge."

With its plentiful irrigated land, Corrales fields are truly lush and green, but that's not the only way in which Corrales is "green."

• As I mentioned in an earlier post, Corrales boasts a wonderful local farm market, Wagner's Farm, where residents can purchase truly local and fresh-picked produce.
• La Finca de Nuestras Madres, located at 78 Quirks Lane, in Corrales, is a small shop offering organic produce, honey, cider, jams, & pickles
• The Corrales Growers Market is held every Sunday throughout the growing season, and provides another wonderful opportunity to purchase just-picked produce, often organic, from local growers. Local honey, jams, and baked goods are also available at the Growers Market, which is located at 4100 Corrales Road.
• If you're from anywhere back east, you may miss the "U-Pick" orchards and berries that are so common there. But you don't have to! Right in Corrales is Heidi's Raspberry Farm, growing certified organic raspberries that are available at the Corrales Growers Market, and from July to Ocatober, are available "U-pick" at the farm at 600 Lindero del Drenaje (Andrew's Lane) in Corrales, NM. Wouldn't this be agreat experience for the kids or grandkids?
• Want to plant your own organic garden, or maybe do some xeriscaping with native plants? Jericho Nursery has a branch in Corrales, at the Village Mercantile, to help you do just that. And, of course, if you find yourself in need of some all-natural, organic fertilizer (i.e. manure!), there are loads of Corrales horse properties whose owners would be please to provide all you want!
• Here's a double-whammy for anyone with a social conscience! ARCA, a non-profit organization that provides residential and vocational services to people with developmental disabilities, has a great venture in Corrales: ARCA Organics! ARCA Organics is is a greenhouse operation, located at 181 La Entrada in Corrales, that organically grows wheatgrass and supplies it to businesses in Albuquerque. And they employ individuals with developmental disabilities in the various steps of growing, preparing, packaging and distributing. And right next door is the La Paloma Greenhouses, La Paloma Greenhouses, which provide vocational experiences for adults with developmental disabilities. La Paloma grows more than 28,000 plants and flowers each year, including a world-class poinsettia crop. Wouldn't that be a great local resource come Christmas time?

 If you live in or near Corrales, you really owe it to yourself to check out some of the great, green opportunities this picturesque little village offers!