In this episode, we take a field trip to Cerro Vista Farm for food-growing stories with Daniel Carmona & Gaea Mcgahee. They share their personal and professional life journeys that brought them to their current collaboration through the Cultivo Project and take us on a tour of the farm.
Daniel Carmona has been working with local food access and farming in the high-altitude, short-growing-season conditions in Northern Taos County since 1977, cultivating his own seed to select the best-tasting, cold-hardiest varieties. He has been growing food commercially at Cerro Vista Farm since the mid 1990’s. Drawing on decades in local organic food systems, he believes farms like his must form close partnerships with restaurants and grocery stores to stay relevant and successful.
Gaea McGahee is a teacher, community organizer and entrepreneur in Questa who founded the Questa Farmers Market in 2016 and owns and teaches at Yoga Sala, a community space for movement arts. In 2024, she launched the Cultivo Project, a nonprofit youth farming initiative, which trains young people in sustainable agriculture while strengthening the local food system, currently through close partnership with Daniel Carmona and Cerro Vista Farm. Cultivo’s mission is “to grow food security, cultural continuity, and economic vitality in northern Taos County by inspiring, educating, and equipping the next generation.”
Cultivoproject.org
Cerrovistafarm.com
Voces de Nuestro País are monthly story gatherings celebrating local voices and culture. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience on August 22, 2026 at Cerro Vista Farm in Cerro, NM, in collaboration with Voices of the Northern Rio Grande community archive. With MC Michael Rael, these gatherings bring our community together through stories of family, community, history, love, land, work, adventures, and misadventures. Event hosting by Questa Public Library; audio recording and event coordination by Claire Coté; videography by Wyman Edwards; editing and upload by Dan Frank Digital Design (Dan Khuen); opening and closing music by Michael Rael.
Voces de Nuestro País events and podcast are made possible through the generous support of the LOR Foundation, TCF Chevron Grants for Good, and individual contributions. Thank you to everyone who attends and helps make these gatherings possible.
¡Gracias!
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