History
'Acequias are one of the most enduring examples of human-made commons in North America. Their roots extend back thousands of years to people living in the arid lands of present-day India and the Middle East. The word acequia is of Arabic origin meaning 'bearer of water' or 'that which quenches thirst'. The acequias of the present-day Southwest combine Moorish traditions with Native American irrigation and agricultural techniques. They have shaped the landscape, culture, and communities of mestizos, genizaros, and mexicanos (collectively referred to as the Indo-Hispanic people).
In the United States, acequias are unique to New Mexico and southern Colorado, although remnants can be found in other areas of the Southwest. Their resilience in this area can be explained in part by the fact that acequias continue to be vital to the spiritual and material existence of communities in the region. Thousands of families continue to derive all or part of their livelihood from ranchitos, or small-scale farms and ranches. Even more important, acequias continue because of people’s attachment to the place they live, to the miracles made possible with water, and to a cultural longing to continue ancestral practices and pass them on to future generations.'
Paula Garcia, executive director of the New Mexico Acequia Association, discusses the past, present and future of this essential commons. *This essay first appeared in Sustainable Santa Fe: A Resource Guide and was reprinted in On the Commons’ book 'All That We Share: A Field Guide to the Commons'.
The Story
In April 2023, I found a small window in my cross-country travels that aligned perfectly with the tail end of Cornerstones' month-long acequia restoration project at Rael Ranch in La Cienega, New Mexico. The crew had handled the lion's share of the heavy lifting before my arrival (repairing sections of stone walls, hauling tools, and clearing miles of seasonal dirt and debris from the acequia path), and I was happy to help with the work that remained.
The team spent the final days of the project rebuilding/reinforcing the remaining sections of the earthen banks, and clearing (raking) the water of debris as the gate opened, allowing the water to flow freely from the river to the farm fields below.
The experience of walking the water down the hillside - both alongside and within the water's snaking pathway - was a mystical, ancestral trail akin to that of a shepherdess roaming the countryside in days gone by. One with nature, thoughts swirling in suspended time, following only the movement of the sheep. It was incredible (and quite beyond words), tending one of the earth's most powerful natural forces in such a gentle, kindred way.
A blessing and a wish : May we all find these sacred moments of service, guidance, and alignment with tradition.
During our time at the ranch, I could feel a song bubbling up in my being. I had booked a little hideaway at a beautiful farm nearby and after some much needed rest and many slow, spring walks around the land, I sat down with my guitar and let the beauty of the experience flow like a tiny river through the night. (Recording coming soon...)
Acequia Song
You - flowing light, a tiny river
Racing down to the fields
Snakin' - sensing every curve & meadow
In the silence of your breath
Feelin' out - falling as your water breaks
Into the channels lateral.
(ooo, ooo)
Wading down - over pasture, under trees
Let the sunlight greet your leaves
You're singing now - tiny river racin' down
Bringin' life into the ground.
(ooo, ooo)
Lyrics by Lindsay Appel
