400-Year-Old New Mexico Farm Adapts with Solar and Organic Practices

Nestled in the heart of New Mexico’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains, a 4.5-acre farm is where Don Bustos merges centuries-old farming traditions with modern techniques to nourish local communities.

Santa Cruz Farm, now over 400 years in the hands of the Bustos family, thrives under Don’s leadership. For more than two decades, Bustos has steered the farm toward organic practices, long before they became widely adopted. He credits his farm’s success to his commitment to sustainability, relying on solar energy and avoiding major chemicals or pesticides.

“We cultivate 72 different varieties of produce year-round, powered solely by solar energy,” Bustos explains. “We grow traditional crops like corn and green chilies using the same heirloom seeds passed down through generations. We’ve also expanded into specialty crops.”

Bustos attributes his success not just to modern technology but also to his respect for his family’s agricultural roots and the wisdom passed down through the generations. The farm relies on an ancient acequia irrigation system that channels water from the mountains, sustaining the land through centuries-old techniques.

In addition to managing the farm, Bustos dedicated more than a decade to educating fellow farmers through the American Friends Service Committee. His training helped local farmers learn how to grow organic produce even in the colder months of New Mexico’s winter.

Known for his squash, asparagus, leafy greens, and other fresh produce, Bustos prides himself on his farm’s impact. “We’re not trying to save the world,” he says. “Our mission is to feed our community. As long as we’re healthy and our community is healthy, we’re doing well.”

Bustos’s farm also benefits from the support of New Mexico State University. By leveraging research from the university’s science center, Bustos has made his farm a standout in the region. The Triple Crown Blackberry, with its large, sweet berries, has become one of his most successful crops.

With the knowledge gained from a business course at the university, Bustos also gained a better understanding of farm finances. However, he insists that financial success isn’t his primary goal. “When I took over the farm in the early ’80s, I fell in love with it. Making a lot of money was never the mission. The mission is to have fun doing it,” Bustos reflects.

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