LOCAL HEROES
Red Tractor Farm
BEST FARM: AN INTERVIEW WITH THREE FARMING WOMEN
From left to right: Nerissa Muus, Dory Wegryzn, and Casey Holland.
Red Tractor Farm is a women-owned, small farm based in Albuquerque’s South Valley. Together with the support of CSA volunteers, Dory Wegryzn, Nerissa Muus, and Casey Holland grow a variety of fresh vegetables, herbs, and flowers using organic (not yet certified) and non-pesticide practices. As participants in the local foodshed, they bring folks both fresh produce and the opportunity to learn about being stewards of land and water. These gals love to get down and dirty at the Downtown Growers Market, where they encourage you to stop by and talk tomatoes anytime.
Over the past six years, she has played a role in each of Downtown
Outside of the farm, this team works hard to make Albuquerque a better place. Wegryzn has worked with nonprofit organizations as an urban planner and affordable housing developer for twenty-five years.
Holland: I love Albuquerque's community surrounding local food. I
12
edible Santa Fe | EARLY SUMMER 2016
Albuquerque's five affordable apartment developments (all LEED certified) with a focus on access to transit, healthy foods, and services. In addition to responsibilities as farm manager, Muus, Wegryzn’s partner in all things, is an engineer for a mechanical, piping, and electrical engineering firm. Holland is on the boards of the Agri-cultura Cooperative Network and the Rio Grande Farmers Coalition.
What do each of you love most about local food? Why? have met so many wonderful people through my involvement. I am incredibly excited to see where else it takes me.