The Acequia Institute
The Acequia Institute fulfills the philanthropic vision of our benefactor, the late Alfonso Carlos Peña, who donated the funding for acquisition of the farm land and creation of an endowment to support grant making and other program activities.
The farm is located on traditional Caputa Ute homeland territory and is part of the historic long-lot (vara strip) granted to Dario Diego Gallegos, the founder of La Plaza de San Luis de la Culebra on the 1844 Sangre de Cristo land grant. It is irrigated by two community acequias, the San Luis Peoples Ditch and the Robert Allen Ditch, hence the name of the farm, Almunyah de la Dos Acequias. The Almunyah is a rare supplier of artisan-produced chicos del horno, the famous adobe oven-roasted white flint maize listed on the Slow Food USA Ark of Taste as an endangered and disappearing heritage food.
Our Work
San Luis Peoples Market The Acequia Institute plans to turn the old R&R Market - the oldest grocery store in Colorado - into a worker-led co-op, and make it a cultural and community health hub that could help rejuvenate one of the state’s earliest and most unique Spanish-influenced communities, and provide a roadmap for other rural communities looking to build self-sufficiency.
As a cooperative, the San Luis Peoples Market will be dedicated to providing high-quality products and services to its members while supporting the local community. Members of the cooperative will have the opportunity to actively participate in the decision-making process of the store, including voting on important issues and electing our Board of Directors. Members will also have access to a wide variety of high-quality products, including fresh produce, dairy, meats, and specialty items.
Next Generation Farmers In partnership with the Colorado Dept. of Natural Resources, the Acequia Institute is addressing the diabetes and obesity crises in Southern Costilla County. By linking the San Luis Food Soverignty Initiative to a program of agricultural heritage internships with acequia farmers designed to produce.
Learn more about our Program Areas.
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