Events & Volunteer Opportunities

Updated by Marisa at 9:24 pm on Tuesday, August 19, 2025

LOTS of volunteer opportunities listed below (in ADDITION to my programs in Los Lunas)... 

Harvesting TOMATOES AND APPLES -- From here on up past the first frost, we'll be harvesting tomatoes every week on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Please bring boxes with you if you'd like to take some home. I'll keep a running total of harvest weights below.


🍅🍅🍅 Harvest Weights - Running total: 458 lbs.

                    July 24: 34 lbs.

                    Aug 5:    58 lbs.

                    Aug 7: 38 lbs. 

                    Aug 12: 76 lbs.

                    Aug 14: 106 lbs.

                    Aug 19: 146 lbs.

                        

Pics from the past few weeks:

Volunteers and interns — replanting failed tomatoes and moving solarization plastic on 7-17-25









Summer Fruit Tree Pruning workshop with TreeNM & volunteers on 7/10/25. 



Also - Let me know if you need a blacklight flashlight to nighthunt for hornworms on your tomato plants! I have extras to share.🐛 🔦

Carol and I found these five hornworms on her tomatoes and one was pooping when I took the pic.  📸 7-14-25. M. Thompson. 



Page contents:

  • Volunteer Info (where, when, what to bring)
  • Upcoming Events & Other Activities


Volunteer Info (where, when, what to bring)


1)    Marisa Thompson's Urban Horticulture Program (Agrivoltaics & Tomatoes in 2025)
                Where: NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Los Lunas
                1036 Miller Road
                Los Lunas, NM 87031

    • May-October - Tuesday & Thursday Mornings, 8 am - 11 am. 
      • Our volunteer mornings are at the Los Lunas Ag Science Center, meetings either in the Learning Garden or adjacent veggie rows, or pruning activities in different fruit orchards. Park in the main parking lot and follow the ORANGE TRAFFIC CONES on foot to find the group wherever we're working that day. 
      • As of July 24, tomato harvests have officially started! 
      • What to Bring: BOXES for tomatoes! and a Water bottle/canteen/vessel, Sun protection - hat, sunscreen, long sleeves/pants, Sturdy fieldwork shoes that can get muddy, Gardening gloves (we have extras, if needed), Camera! Please help me snap pics of our pruning adventures for posterity 

      • As always, you are welcome to arrive late or leave early on these days. 👍

    2)  Plant SAFFRON CROCUS corms with us NEXT WEEK at the Los Lunas Ag Science Center     - starting 8 am on Wednesday, August 27. Email me (Marisa) for details: desertblooms@nmsu.edu. And yes -- we will have some extra corms to give away. ;)

    3) Volunteer support needed for 🌶️Chile Mechanical Harvesting Trials🌶️ at the Los Lunas Ag Science Center on September 4 & 5. After assisting with mechanical chile harvest and collecting data on weights and pod health, volunteers will be welcome to take chiles home. BRING BOXES! Email me (Marisa) for details: desertblooms@nmsu.edu.

     

    Upcoming Events & Other Activities

    • Friday, Aug 22, noon - "Designing Resilient Landscapes" webinar presentation by Maria Thomas for the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Authority (part of a series! see flyer below) - https://www.abcwua.org/conservation-rebates-workshops/
    • Sunday, August 24, 11 am-3 pm - 2025 Albuquerque Tomato Fiesta! at the Abq Garden Center. Marisa to present "Tomato Successes & Flops" at noon, followed by Sandy Gomez with "Preserving the Harvest" https://abqtomatofiesta.com/
    • Monday, August 25, 6:45-7:30 pm "What Flowers, Fruit Trees, Tomatoes & Worms Have Taught Me: 8 Years at the NMSU Research Farm" at Loma Colorado Main Library in Rio Rancho for the Gardening with the Masters series. All are welcome. https://sandovalmastergardeners.org/events-calendar/?month=8&yr=2025 
    • Wednesday, August 27 - Saffron Crocus planting in Los Lunas - see details above
    • Thursday, August 28 - LOS LUNAS CHILE RESEARCH DAY at the Los Lunas Ag Science Center. Flyer with details pasted below.
    • Thursday, August 28th, 6:30 PM & Friday, August 29th, 9:00 AM: "Discover Insects!" join Dr. Joanie King, NMSU extension entomologist, as we look for and identify insects at the Los Ranchos Agri-Nature Center and the Coronado Historic Site! https://sandovalextension.nmsu.edu/yard/Discover-Insects-event.png  RSVP here: https://rsvp.aces.nmsu.edu/insects
    • September 4th & 5th - CHILE MECHANICAL HARVEST with the whole team from the Chile Pepper Institute! Email me (Marisa) for details: desertblooms@nmsu.edu.  
    • Friday, September 5, noon - "Climate-Ready Trees" webinar presentation by Marisa Thompson for the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Authority (part of a series! see flyer below)  - https://www.abcwua.org/conservation-rebates-workshops/
    • Friday, September 19, noon - "Plant Adaptations to Heat & Drought" webinar presentation by Marisa Thompson for the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Authority (part of a series! see flyer below)  - https://www.abcwua.org/conservation-rebates-workshops/
    • Tuesday, Sept. 30, Presentation by Marisa Thompson at the Farmington Public Library
    • Friday, October 10, noon - "Hose Bib Irrigation for Trees" webinar presentation by Richard Perce for the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Authority (part of a series! see flyer below)  - https://www.abcwua.org/conservation-rebates-workshops/
    • Thursday, October 16, Presentation by Marisa Thompson for NM Nursery Growers Association at Osuna Nursery
    • Friday, October 24, noon - "Passive Rainwater Harvesting" webinar presentation by Anthony Luketich & Bobby Mullin for the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Authority (part of a series! see flyer below)  - https://www.abcwua.org/conservation-rebates-workshops/

    • Have another program you'd like me to list here? Email me the details: risi@nmsu.edu


















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