San Miguel Community Foundation donates to botanical garden
September 26, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Everyone at El Charco del Ingenio, the botanical garden, would like to extend a warm thank you to the San Miguel Community Foundation for its generous matching-fund donation of US$5,000.

This money is for the costs of equipping the Bóveda, located next to the Plaza of the Four Winds, which was recently remodeled as a multi-use space. The donation covers the purchase of chairs and tables, curtains, kitchen equipment, shelving and a projector for presentations.

This new space has a seating capacity of 80, electricity, a kitchen and storage area on the side and a bathroom close by. The Bóveda will be the site of meetings, conferences, ceremonies, presentations, expositions and receptions. Currently, we have a temporary exhibit in this space called Expo Reptiles, which is well worth a visit. In addition to the activities organized by the botanical garden, the Bóveda will be available for use by the community. For more information about renting the space, email Olivia Ledon at olicharco@gmail.com. 

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Rancho Casa Luna sets a green standard
By Beverly Russell
Photos by Jeannie Schnakenberg

Hatters in the garden at Rancho Casa Luna

Question: When does red turn green? Answer: when the San Miguel Red Hatters, a chapter of the International Red Hat Society, travel to Rancho Casa Luna in La Cieneguita. A group of 20 members of the chapter carpooled their way out to Dianne Kushner’s inspirational “farmette” (her word) to see how she does organic gardening and traditional farming. After a tour of the stunning hacienda and garden, which is available for private parties, weddings, banquets and all manner of fiestas, Kushner led a trek around her 20-acre rancho, where she is going green in a big way.

Greenhouse at Rancho Casa Luna

The first stop was at the greenhouses, where various types of tomatoes, calabasas, lettuce and other vegetables are grown in raised beds under translucent plastic, along with a selection of herbs including cilantro, basil, mint, oregano and rosemary. Rows and rows of green plants towered above the red-hatted visitors, their yellow flowers in full bloom about to transcend into luscious heirloom tomatoes.

Then it was on to the worm farm, where these earthy creatures are being groomed for starring roles in the compost heap, turning waste from the kitchens and other garden basura such as grass clippings and dead leaves into mulch. When the mulch is rich and ready, it will be spread around the vegetables to ensure succulent produce for Kushner’s kitchens. 

Kushner’s farmette is home to rabbits (and eventually chickens, ducks and goats), in addition to the nine burros already on the property that efficiently keep down the overgrowth. The aim is to demonstrate how intelligent twenty-first-century homesteading can lead to independence from supermarket produce in tandem with a healthier lifestyle.

Red Hatters looking at organic produce

Rancho Casa Luna has three demonstration kitchens and will launch a cooking school program supervised by Kirsten West, formerly of Sazón, in the fall. A day at the Rancho (11am–4pm) includes hands-on cooking with organic produce led by top culinary experts. Participants get to taste the results of their own efforts at a convivial comida at the end of the classes.

Beverly Russell is an author of several books on design and the arts, including the bestselling Women of Taste: Recipes and Profiles of Famous Women Chefs with an introduction by Julia Child. She has written articles for numerous publications, including The New York Times.








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