AN OASIS IN THE DESERT
The Orchard
Synergia Ranch started its orchard in 1976 on a wind-swept high desert plateau south of Santa Fe. Now thirty years later, the four hundred fruit trees planted (apples, peaches, apricots, pears, cherries and plums) have flourished.
Synergia Ranch is also working on ecological conservation and enrichment of our local ecology since it began in 1969. Most of the 130 acres are left to recover from decades of early overgrazing in the years after the land was first homesteaded. Hundreds of trees have been planted as windbreaks and soil-holders around the Ranch to prevent continuing wind and water erosion and help create an ecological oasis. Two windbreaks of Russian Olive and Honey Locust trees were planted in 1985 on to prevent any soil erosion down slope from the orchard. An adjoining area was setup with micro-catchments supporting trees to prevent soil erosion up slope from the orchard. Over the nearly forty years at Synergia Ranch, we have produced hundreds of tons of topsoil by composting animal manure, helping to replace and enrich the eroded soils that were originally here. Around the orchard and Ranch we now see a much improved ecology from what it was when we started. Native grasses and shrubs have come back strong, and the tree program has helped create a micro-climate much more favorable to plants, animals and people alike!
Our Peaches: Yellow Elberta Peaches
, White Polly Peaches
Our Apples: Cerrillos Red, MacIntosh, Honeycrisp, Jonathan, Rome, Sangre de Cristo
Our Pears: D’Anjou, Bartlett, Keiffer, Seckel
Vegetable Gardens
Several years ago, after a few fallow seasons, the vegetable gardens were restarted and since the soil had become so rich and productive, excess vegetables were sold to restaurants and grocery stores in Santa Fe. In 2010, the vegetable farm was certified organic. In 2011, the vegetable farm was doubled by converting old horse corrals into vegetable production.
The vegetable farm produces heirloom red beets, Ruby Red Swiss Chard, several types of kale, collard greens, rainbow carrots, zucchini, yellow summer squash, cucumbers, parsley, cilantro, basil and Jerusalem artichokes
The vegetable farm uses drip irrigation to conserve water and to yield high-quality crops which are packed with flavor. Our vegetables are beginning to gain the same reputation that the Ranch orchard was always enjoyed – local food of exceptional flavor – due to our unique location in the foothills of the Cerrillos Hills, our improved healthy and living soil and our sparing use of irrigation.
Though the vegetable farm is less than half an acre, our soil, drip irrigation and intensive farming methods make it produce abundantly. In 2019 we produced 31,000 lbs of vegetables and fruit. In addition we grew spinach and salads for our home use.
We are proud to supply our local Community Supported Agriculture organization, Beneficial Farms, Squashblossom, the La Montanita Coop, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Whole Foods and the Downtown Grocers Market in Albuquerque, the Santa Fe Farmers Market, and our local Cerrillos market.
- Beets (red)
- Kale (dino, curly and red russian)
- Collard Greens (champion)
- Yellow Summer squash (yellow straighneck and crookneck)
- Carrots (rainbow, Chantenay, Nantes)
- Zuchinni (Romanesco, cocozelle, green)
- Cucumbers (Marketmore, Armenian)
- Parsley (Italian flathead)
- Jerusalem Artichokes (red and white)
- Swiss Chard (ruby red)
Come and see us at the Farmer’s Market in Santa Fe.
Or, contact us to arrange a delivery!
Orchard Fruit and Farm Produce Inquiries
If you’re interested in learning more about our fruit or vegetables, please contact the following people:
For fruit sales or orchard inquiries, call Mark Nelson at (505) 470-0239 or email.
For vegetable sales or organic garden inquiries, call Jacob Aman at (360) 870-9434 or email.