Visiting

Cell phone and GPS: The red pin on the map above is correct. Cell phone access is unreliable once you leave the freeways. If needed, ask for Katherine at the Villanueva General Store (and buy a great burrito!). Google Maps (on your smart phone) knows us; search for "Villanueva Fields."

From Santa Fe: "North" on I-25 for 40 miles (you actually travel southeast), then south at Exit 323 on Hwy 3 for 12 miles. As you enter the village of Villanueva, stay on Hwy 3 to the right (don’t take the left fork to Villanueva State Park).  Go through the village, past the store, past milepost 60, and across the Pecos River bridge. About 1/4 mile further, as you are starting to climb out of the valley, turn right onto the gravel County Road B29C (don't take the turnoffs for CR B29B or B29D). 

From Albuquerque: East on I-40 for 70 miles, then north at Exit 230 on Highway 3 for 20 miles. As you drop into the Pecos River valley, turn left on CR B29C and follow the directions above.

Once you are on CR B29C, drop down the hill, and take the very first hard right through the red gate (it usually has a faded "Welcome" sign on it) past the red "10" on the gatepost.  Follow the drive across the acequia down the hill to the house.

Be comfortable by being prepared: Bring a sun hat; whatever footware seems appropriate to you (rubber boots are nice for irrigating, and river sandals for wading); and whatever you need to keep comfortable if it's sunny, windy, cold, or mosquito-y. Consider work gloves and whatever tools seem appropriate. Bring some food contribution. You are welcome to camp out at night.  Sunscreen, insect repellent, swimming/wading clothes may all be useful depending on the time of year.

Facilities: 

• The house is an older mobile home, with electricity; a bathroom with hot water, a tub and a septic system; a kitchen with small refrigerator, freezer, and gas range; a wood stove and electric space heaters; fans and a swamp cooler; and two small bedrooms (a queen and a twin bed). 

• The yurt is an authentic Mongolian yurt, built and shipped from Mongolia and assembled here at the farm in the summer of 2020. Depending on current activities, the yurt may be configured for dormitory space, meeting space, or classroom.

• Cell phone coverage is spotty, but we can usually offer WiFi. There is plenty of parking and lots of good campsites. The Villanueva General Store a half mile away is pretty well stocked and is open every day but Tuesday. Come with a full gas tank: the nearest gasoline is along I-25 at Exit 319, and along I-40 at Clines Corners at Exit 218.

Food: I try to always have ingredients on hand for Saturday lunch burritos, Saturday dinner pasta, and Sunday breakfast French toast. Contribute as you wish, food or money.

Critters: This is a good place for kids and decently-behaved dogs to run around. Sometimes there are goats or cattle here; other times no. I've seen lots of different species of birds and other wildlife; it's a "birding hot spot" on the Cornell ebird site. People fish in the river.

Seasonal concerns:

• February and March: early spring allergy season (juniper pollen). As a sufferer, I take Allegra and use a dust mask, and when I come inside I use a neti pot, shower, and change into fresh clothes. 

• April: pretty perfect; often windy.

• May and June: might be hot. There is a swamp cooler in the trailer house. Some mosquitoes. The river is good for wading and inner tubes.

• July and August: definitely hot. We often cool down by wading / sitting in the river. Mosquitoes can be fierce, especially in mornings and evenings. When that's the case I keep the vegetation mowed near the house, and head for the uplands when I'm outside in those evening hours, and wear long sleeves and pants at such times too. During lightning storms, I stay off the big fields. Late summer allergy season.

• September and October: pretty perfect; few mosquitoes left. 

Record-keeping: I use blogs on this website to make a record for myself, as well as to communicate with our community, and will use your first name from time to time, or your first initial if you prefer, and will post occasional pictures--unless you tell me otherwise.