History & Preservation

Our farm team is busy

Turning lemons into lemonade in the New Mexico desert

At Los Poblanos we dig deep, literally, as we turn the soil and plant seeds that will nurture us into the future. In their own words, here's a glimpse of what our farm team is up to.

History Spotlight: Ruth Hanna McCormick

A peek into Los Poblanos history

Before marrying Albert Simms and building Los Poblanos Ranch in the early 1930s, Ruth Hanna McCormick had established herself as a nationally-known leader in the women's suffrage movement. Following the first wave of the movement in the mid-19th century (led by activists Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton), Ruth and her colleagues picked up the cause in the 1910s. As a young mother and staunch believer in progressive reform, Ruth realized that women needed to vote in order to legislate change. She was particularly concerned with improving matters of public health, working conditions and childcare. As Kristie Miller writes in her biography of Ruth, "with her developing skills as a charismatic political leader, [Ruth] was in the forefront of the fight on the ballot."

Beekeeping on the farm

A rich agricultural history

Our farm has been a site of rich agricultural activity since the very beginning. In the 1930s and 1940s, Los Poblanos was a model experimental farm that grew sugar beets, alfalfa, oats, corn and barley. The farm boasted one of the finest purebred herds of Guernsey and Holstein cows, and purebred rams were raised with the intention of helping sheep herders in the state improve their flocks. The historic greenhouse was used as a laboratory for growing new varieties of roses and chrysanthemums commercially. 

A Los Poblanos hero: Aldo Leopold

We feel very fortunate to be in New Mexico right now, with vast open spaces, fresh air and big blue skies, and are thankful for the time to walk in the Bosque or in the city's acres of Open Space. One of our heroes at Los Poblanos is the great conservationist Aldo Leopold, whose many years in New Mexico left an impressive environmental legacy on our state. His work in Albuquerque lead to the creation of the Rio Grande Valley State Park, Zoo, Botanic Gardens and Rio Grande Nature Center. In fact, the Nature Center is just down the street from our farm, and is a gateway to the Aldo Leopold Forest and Trail. 

A look back on an amazing year

2019 at Los Poblanos

As the property slows down after the holiday season, we’re taking time to look back on 2019. The year was filled with many exciting changes at Los Poblanos, from the addition of chickens and sheep to the farm to improving benefits for our growing number of employees. With a complex business, we are constantly challenging ourselves to innovate and be good stewards of the land. While we certainly faced hurdles and setbacks, we are thrilled to share some of our accomplishments from the year as we rolled up our sleeves to further our mission of sustainable agriculture, hospitality, historic preservation and community.

A new way to start the day

Fall brings crisp mornings and new seasonal offerings to the Campo breakfast menu. Begin a lovely new day in our sunny dining room and enjoy breathtaking views of the Sandia Mountains, our farm fields and the changing colors of the ancient cottonwood trees. Enjoy delicious new additions to the menu, like the savory Green Chile Breakfast Enchiladas, cozy Hot Steel-cut Oats with Chimayo red chile caramel apples and Smoked Brisket and Egg featuring corn roasted underground right on the farm. Campo's culinary team has created unforgettable dishes that are perfect for the season and just might make breakfast your favorite meal of the day.

Women of the farm

From Ruth Hanna McCormick Simms to Penny Rembe, Los Poblanos has a long history of women deeply engaged in all areas of the farm. Carrying on their strong tradition, women continue to play an integral part of the story of Los Poblanos, from the bakery to the finance office to the fields. We're pleased to introduce our female farmers and landscapers who contribute to agrarian culture at the farm, from the organic produce provided to Campo to the beautifully maintained gardens. 

Everything’s coming up roses

Relax among historic gardens

Our formal Spanish-style gardens were designed in 1932 by Rose Greely, a pioneer female landscape architect. The Greely Garden at Los Poblanos is her only known work in the Southwest and features vibrant flower beds irrigated with river water, Spanish tile fountains, rose cutting gardens and winding pathways. 

Penny and Armin honored by JCC

We're pleased to announce that this year, Los Poblanos founders and owners Penny and Armin Rembe received the JCC Common Good Investing Humanitarian Award for their preservation of the historic Los Poblanos property and for cultivating a dynamic business dedicated to sustainable agriculture. 

Here they are in the lavender fields they planted almost 20 years ago.

Recent press in Architectural Digest

We're so excited to share this Architectural Digest article that describes our recent expansion and renovation in partnership with our friends at Atkin Olshin Schade Architects. This project added 28 guest rooms and restored historic dairy barns that house our new restaurant, Campo, expanded the Farm Shop and provided more space for lavender production. Executive Director Matt Rembe says the renovation was all about "being respectful of the past while introducing new ideas and innovation.”

Partner AOS Architects is currently exhibiting their innovative architectural preservation work at the 2018 Venice Biennale Exhibit as part of the exhibition TIME SPACE EXISTENCE until November 25, 2018. We congratulate AOS and are thrilled to have collaborated with them. 

Photo courtesy of Atkin Olshin Schade Architects / Kate Russell Photography.