Events & Volunteer Opportunities

Updated by Marisa at 9:20 am on Mon, July 28, 2025 

NO VOLUNTEER HOURS this week (July 29 or July 31).  Elda and I will be attending the American Society for Horticultural Science conference in New Orleans. 🎊

🍅🍅🍅 Our first tomatoes harvest of 2025 was on July 24 with a total of 34 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 this afternoon! 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)


            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. 👍
     
     

    Upcoming Events & Other Activities

    • Friday, Aug 8, noon - "Creating Drought-Tolerant Refuges" webinar presentation by Laurel Ladwig for the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Authority (part of a series! see flyer below) - https://www.abcwua.org/conservation-rebates-workshops/
    • JUJUBE GRAFTING WORKSHOPS - Saturday, August 9 in Los Lunas (am) and Alcalde (pm). Details from Dr. Yao:
        • This is the first time I offer the workshop at two locations at the same day: 9-10:30 am at Los Lunas and 3:00-4:30pm at Alcalde.
        • Please spread the word for us to those are interested in grafting. Please bring a small sharp grafting knife with you for the hands-on session. We will mainly practice budding and I can demonstrate whatever kind of grafting techniques you like. We do charge $10/person for this workshop and each site is limited to 15 attendees. 
        • To register at Los Lunas site, please contact Candace/Cathy at 505-865-7340 or email at sala1210@nmsu.edu
        • For Alcalde site, please contact Elena at 505-852-4241 or email at eare@nmsu.edu
        • See flyer below
    • Wed., August 20, 9:30 am - "Trees for Albuquerque" presentation by Marisa Thompson for Uptown Garden Club
    • Wed., August 20, 3pm-4pm - Ready, Set, GROW! Webinar - "Grow a refuge for yourself and wildlife!" with Laurel Ladwig, ABQ Backyard Refuge Program Director 
    • 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 
    • Thursday, August 28 - CHILE RESEARCH DAY at the Los Lunas Ag Science Center. Save-the-date announcement 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
    • 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/
    • 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/
    • 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/
    • 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/
    • Wed, October 31, 6pm - "" 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/




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
















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