Acequia Madre – The Neighborhoods of Santa Fe, New Mexico
My regular Saturday morning walk through the neighborhoods of Santa Fe takes me not only through the secretive streets and old burro alleys but also through the four seasons of the high desert. With the warming, dry breeze that blows over the rooftops in early spring I walk along the Acequia Madre, (Mother Ditch) on the historic Eastside. I couldn’t help but stop and take this photo because this year the snow melt has allowed us to have the acequia and the Santa Fe River flow everyday through downtown. It’s the third oldest irrigation ditch in the United States. Except for tribes and Pueblos, ditch member have the oldest water rights in the state. The annual ditch clean-up is in April and the whole town is always eager to participate. I look forward to seeing you in the neighborhood.
Be sure to take a look at 
Homes For Sale On Acequia Madre
This week I want to let you know Neal Frank, owner of Santa Fe Pens has a new website!
Santa Fe Pens is proud to announce the creation of their website at www.santafepens.com
Continued success,
Michael Umphrey
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Let’s conjure up an image of arguably one of the most magical streets in Santa Fe. Acequia Madre means “mother ditch” and if you’ve seen the film “Milagro Bean Field War” you know the importance of the culture and livelihood of any neighborhood in New Mexico blessed by flowing waters. Located in the Historic East Side the narrow street was meant for burros carrying firewood down from the mountains and to accommodate the horse-drawn carriages of inhabitants of adobe homes hidden along its alleyways, invisible to the world. If you explore any of its walking paths and listen to the murmur of the water you may feel that time seems to stop. The Downtown Subscription is a coffeehouse and favorite meeting place for the locals. As you step into the café you’ll breathe in that perfume of coffee and magic that strangely no one thought of bottling. You can buy practically any periodical you can think of from around the world and, of course, The New York Times. The Garcia Street Bookstore is just next door with its outdoor display of treasure for sale.
A smart home is a green home. One of the most important trends in modern home design is incorporating environmentally friendly amenities. Here’s a look at the green housing trends that will not only bring an older home to a new millennium, but also attract younger buyers when it’s time to sell. Copper roofs tolerate inclement weather and will last 100 years and can be completely recycled. Low-emittance windows, doors and skylights block the sun’s UV rays and reduce energy consumption. LED lighting contains no hazardous chemicals, uses 80 percent less energy and can last up to 20 years. Green toilets conserve water (which can save you 30 to 50 percent on your annual water bill). Induction cook top coils release their energy directly to the pot or pan and its contents so that less energy is diffused. Reclaimed wood and fast-growing plants such as bamboo and unused pre-cut wood find new life as gorgeous, affordable countertops. Cork flooring is a great alternative to hardwood because it is extremely durable yet inexpensive. To keep indoor air clean and cut down on landfill pollutants, use paints that don’t contain toxic, volatile organic components (VOCs). The planet (and your wallet) will thank you.
