When my friend Melissa, a serious organic gardener in Taos, New Mexico, came to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, six years ago, she wasn’t interested in rushing to see the usual sights. Yes, the Jardin and Parroquia, the Instituto and Bellas Artes, the Biblioteca and Fabrica la Aurora (and so much more!) were all worth seeing, Melissa knew. But at the top of her list, the must-see-first-and-above-all-else, was the Vía Orgánica farm and ranch in the beautiful Jalpa Valley, just a half-hour’s drive outside of town.
Somehow Melissa knew what I didn’t know — even though I’d been living in San Miguel for over a year by then – that, as their website states, the Rancho Ecológico de Vía Orgánica is “an educational model in regenerative organic agricultural production and sustainable living” that serves as a training center and network for farmers, families and activists worldwide. (www.viaorganica.org )
That visit to the Vía Orgánica ranch, in November 2016, was my first. And this weekend was my second. What immense improvements they’ve made in the intervening years! Melissa and everyone else who hasn’t been there in a while – as well, of course, as those who’ve never been — should make a point of going as soon as possible.
This visit was an outing with the San Miguel de Allende chapter of the International Watercolor Society (IWS), led by local artist and teacher Linda Whynman. Since last November, thanks to Linda’s and others’ efforts, San Miguel has been a branch of IWS’s “Globe Art Network,” which has more than one hundred branches throughout the world. And this coming November the IWS Plein Air Festival will be held in San Miguel for the first time. “Spots are filling fast,” Linda says, “so if you plan to register, do so quickly!” (Go to IWSSMA.org for more information.)
Our group of ten fanned out on the glorious grounds of the ranch to do plein air (French for “open air”) paintings of the scenes and vistas that spoke to us individually. Here are some photos of our day together:
Then we gathered together at a lovely harvest table for a delicious farm-to-table lunch at the Vía Orgánica restaurant, which prides itself on serving local, natural and organic dishes, each accompanied by a fresh salad harvested minutes before from their gardens.
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~ If you’re in the area and are interested in joining SMA’s IWS group and learning about the many benefits of membership, contact Linda Whynman, one of the local founders, at vellum1@mac.com .
~ If you live elsewhere in the world, go to the International Watercolor Society’s website to learn about the IWS group nearest you (https://iwsglobe.org/about-us/ ).
~ If you’d like to learn more about plein air landscape watercolor painting, be sure to watch British artist Oliver Pyle’s excellent instructional videos on YouTube, such as this recent one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHZK1enVdXc .
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Such beautiful sights and happy people!
Enjoy Vía Orgánica restaurant!
Gracias, querida Te. Yes, we were all SO happy to be there! It was a joy-filled day in an exquisite setting.
Fabulous post! I was there with friends pre-covid on a cool day. We were brought wool blankets to wrap ourselves in to stay cozy while enjoying our delicious meal. A great place to visit!
Thanks so much for sharing your experience there, dear Barb. Yes, I wish everyone who can possibly visit Via Organica will do so — and bring the children, who will love seeing the happy farm animals — chickens, rabbits, peacocks, and more!
Love this! Can’t wait to visit there myself.
Wonderful! I’ll go with you, if you’d like. I’d go again and again and again! (In fact, I fantasize about pitching a tent and living there. 🙂 )
Dear Bon,
What a lovely place to paint and just breathe in the beauty of nature. How can you not be inspired by a vista like that!
Love,
Paul
Oh, and the birdsong, and the chickens clucking, and the peacock sounding off! There was live (creature) music everywhere. 🙂
What a lovely post, Bonnie. You’ve just added another “must do” to my list for my SMA visit this fall.
Thanks, Alice dear! Yes, you must do it the next time you’re here; and if you’d like company, I’d be happy to go again. 🙂
Wonderful Bonnie, putting this on the top of my list! By the way, I went to the Pyramids today finally — amazing! I loved Albert Coffee too. xoxoxo
Perfecto, querida Kim! So glad you got to Canada de la Virgen; and when you go to Via Organica, I’d love to tag along. 🙂
So glad I got to paint that day at the Jardin with you and this group, BonnieDear. Thanks again for taking me that day and giving me the little lesson. Next time I come, we’ll have to visit the Rancho! xoxo
We painted with the Urban Sketchers group, Be; but, yes, next time you come we must visit Via Organica together! You’ll love it. — xx
Cesar’s painting of Linda painting is so cool! Thank you Bonnie for another very interesting article.
Yes, I thought so, too, Lyn! You’re so welcome. It’s more than a pleasure for me; it’s my joy.