Cholla cactus in Historic Fairview Cemetery.
On Saturday, April 3, you have the opportunity to help transplant native cholla cactus in Historic Fairview Cemetery. There are several spots along the cemetery walls where trespassers are tearing down blocks to more easily climb over. Planting prickly cholla at these spots will help discourage this activity and, we hope, improve security at the cemetery.
This is part of the regular first Saturday volunteer clean up. Sign up on the Historic Fairview Cemetery Facebook Page.
If you’d like to participate in the Cholla Challenge, bring a shovel, wheelbarrow, lopper, and long tongs. Cholla can be transplanted by cutting branches and planting them in the soil. We need to use tools and great care to prevent getting stuck by its thorns.
You can focus on clean up activities if you prefer. Gardening/weeding is great exercise, with built-in social distancing. Help clean up Historic Fairview Cemetery and learn a bit of local history in the process!
Wear sunscreen, a face mask, a hat, long sleeves and sturdy shoes. Bring work gloves and tools such as a weed whacker, hoe, rake, and garden clippers if you have them. Water and trash bags will be provided. We will start at 9:00 a.m. Access the entrance to the historic section inside Fairview Memorial Park.
Historic Fairview Cemetery is located at 700 Yale Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM. Enter through the gates of Fairview Memorial Park, near the intersection with Avenida Cesar Chavez. Proceed east to the cemetery office, turn left and continue north into the historic cemetery area.
Historic Fairview Cemetery is maintained by a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its mission is to preserve the cemetery and share the history of Albuquerque and New Mexico through the lives of the people buried there. Gail Rubin is the President, and she welcomes people to get involved as Directors on the Board. If you would like to learn more, send an email to Gail [at] agoodgoodbye.com.