Santa Fe Living Treasures – Elder Stories
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Barbara GoedeIn 1988 Barbara Goede sold her organic apple orchard in Illinois and moved to Santa Fe where she established the Barbara Goede Foundation and began to fulfill her philanthropic dreams. Some beneficiaries of her generosity include the Museum of NM Foundation, the Spanish Colonial Arts Society, The Georgia O’Keefe Museum’s Research Center Garden The Trust for Public Land, Warehouse 21 Teen Arts Center,The Railyard Park and Plaza, The NM Environmental Center. The Santa Fe Farmers’ Market was helped by Barbara’s donations, in fact, the market was a major factor in her decision to move to Santa Fe. She grew up on a farm and feels strongly about buying direct from the grower. When people ask what church she goes to, her reply is “I don’t go to church, but I go to the Farmer’s Market every Saturday.”
Equally important to her financial support of numerous community causes Barbara gives her heart, sweat, and time to many of the best public access places in Santa Fe. As a conservation-minded master gardner Barbara enhanced the gardens at the Georgia O’Keefe Research Center on Grant Avenue planting trees and flowers that were the subjects of Georgia’s paintings. She has been a driving force in the Santa Fe Botanical Garden, serving as photo-journalist for their publications, organizing volunteer appreciation efforts, and has made the absolutely fabulous Goede Family Orchard at the orchard garden in the new Botanical Garden at Museum Hill a reality. Barbara has served for 20 plus years as a docent and tour guide at El Rancho Golondrinas giving her the opportunity to teach all ages our history and culture which is so dear to her.
Always curious and thirsty for knowledge the depth and breath of Barbara’s interests and talents extend to art, film, photography, and literature. She loves animals, and takes her beloved daschund Leibschen to to visit at schools and nursing homes.
To quote friends, “ Barb is a very caring, and thoughtful person....She is loving, gracious, generous, has a great sense of humor, and is knowledgeable in many areas...she has been a teacher to me. Barb has helped me to realize my potential as an individual by introducing me to the cultural, artistic and opportunities to volunteer in Santa Fe’s many treasures...her enthusiastic energy has influenced my life in every way.”
How fortunate we are that Barbara decided many years ago to make Santa Fe her home, and has consistently given back to a place she loves.
Story by Nancy Dahl Photo © 2013 by Genevieve Russell |
