Workshops: Pick Fresh, Create Fun, Hands-On Experiences
Our workshops invite you into the field to pick fresh, local ingredients and create something fun, like salsa, floral arrangements, and red chile ristras, along with winter workshops celebrating New Mexico’s holiday traditions.
Cooking on the farm
A Farm-to-Table Series at Big Jim Farms with Chef John LeTard
Experience the magic of farm-to-table cooking series in a unique collaboration between Big Jim Farms and Chef John LeTard of The Unseen Chef. Each class begins with a walk through the fields, where participants harvest fresh, seasonal ingredients before heading to our outdoor kitchen to transform them into elevated dishes that celebrate both New Mexican tradition and global flavors.
This isn’t a single class — it’s a culinary journey. Each week spotlights a new theme and menu, so you can join one class for a taste, or all five for the full seasonal experience. By the end, you’ll not only have new recipes and techniques, but also the memory of creating meals from scratch in the very place they were grown.
✨ The Series Menu ✨
- September 6 – Green Chile Rellenos with Handmade Flour Tortillas
Roast green chile straight from the fields, stuff them with cheese, and fry to golden perfection — paired with warm, hand-rolled tortillas made from scratch. - September 13 – Orecchiette Pasta with Farm Herbs & Vegetables
Learn the art of shaping fresh pasta by hand, tossed with a sauce of seasonal herbs, squash, and tomatoes picked that day. - September 20 – Global Eggplant
Explore eggplant’s versatility across cultures: smoky Middle Eastern baba ghanoush, rustic Italian caponata, an Asian-inspired stir-fry, and a New Mexican twist with chile. - October 4 – Harvest-to-Table Vegetarian Feast
Celebrate the autumn harvest with a colorful New Mexican succotash of corn, squash, peppers, and beans, paired with a bright tomato–herb salad, and finished with warm, grilled flatbread made in our outdoor kitchen. - October 11 – Red Chile Enchiladas with Calabacitas
Build classic stacked enchiladas layered with rich red chile sauce made from scratch using our farm-grown red chile, alongside calabacitas prepared with squash, corn, and local herbs.
About the Chef
Chef John LeTard, founder of The Unseen Chef, offers private culinary experiences that blend comfort, flavor, and a touch of surprise. A graduate of CNM Culinary School, he built his career at Four Hills Country Club and Hyatt Regency Tamaya — working at both The Corn Maiden and Santa Ana Café — and now serves as an Event Chef at Campo at Los Poblanos. His background includes award-winning competition experience and years of banquet and fine-dining work, shaping his precise yet approachable style.
Join us for one class, or the entire series — each week offers a new flavor, a new story, and a new way to connect with the land, the food, and each other.
Schedule: September 6, 13, 20 | October 4, 11 ~ 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Price: $70 per person (single class)
$125 for 2 classes
$280 for the full 5-class series
Pickling Workshop
Step into the fields and experience the joy of farm-to-jar pickling!
Begin your class by harvesting fresh vegetables straight from the fields, then head to our outdoor kitchen where you’ll learn the art of pickling in a special collaboration with Chef John of The Unseen Chef and Big Jim Farms.
Pickling is more than just delicious—it’s a healthy, natural way to preserve your harvest, packed with probiotics and nutrients that support gut health. Plus, you’ll gain a timeless skill you can use year-round to create flavorful sides, snacks, and gifts.
About the Instructor
Chef John LeTard, founder of The Unseen Chef, offers private culinary experiences that blend comfort, flavor, and a touch of surprise. A graduate of CNM Culinary School, he built his career at Four Hills Country Club and Hyatt Regency Tamaya—working at both The Corn Maiden and Santa Ana Café—and now serves as an Event Chef at Campo at Los Poblanos. His background includes award-winning competition experience and years of banquet and fine-dining work, shaping his precise yet approachable style.
Schedule: September 13th or 20th at 1pm-2pm
Price: $35 per person
Includes all supplies, instruction, and mason jar of pickles to take home
Southwest Autumn Ornamentals Workshop
Celebrate the beauty of fall in New Mexico with our Southwest Autumn Ornamentals Workshop!
Step into the fields at Big Jim Farms to harvest colorful corn, sunflowers, chiles, and natural materials straight from the farm. With guided instruction, you’ll create your very own festive fall ornament—perfect for bringing a touch of Southwestern charm into your home.
This hands-on workshop includes all supplies, materials, and instruction. Whether you’re looking for a fun seasonal activity, a unique handmade decoration, or just a chance to soak up autumn on the farm, this class is the perfect way to enjoy the season.
Schedule: Saturdays & Sundays 12 pm & 2 pm
Price: $35 per person
Includes all supplies, instruction, and arrangement to take home.
Flower Arranging Workshop
Pick sunflowers, zinnias, marigold, cosmos, and local wildflowers!
Join us for a unique experience where you pick your own flowers from our field to use in a guided workshop that teaches the art of flower arranging. Begin by picking vibrant sunflowers, zinnias, marigolds, and cosmos. Then, choose a container to embellish or use craft paper and ribbon to create a classic bouquet. We will also provide additional fillers to complement your bouquet design.
This is a perfect opportunity to learn the fundamentals of floral design and composition. We also use this as an opportunity to guide you through growing these various flowers in New Mexico and harvesting techniques.
Our picturesque fields provide excellent photo opportunities with stunning views of farm fields and the Sandia Mountains. Whether you are on a solo adventure, with friends, a date, as a group activity, or for family fun, this class offers something for everyone. The session will last approximately an hour and includes all necessary supplies, guidance, and a floral arrangement to take home.
Schedule: Saturdays & Sundays 11 am & 1 pm
Price: $35 per person
Includes all supplies, instruction, and flower arrangement to take home.
Chips & Salsa making workshop
Learn how to make your own chips salsa from scratch!
Pick ingredients from our fields to make your own chips and salsa! Learn to prepare both from scratch in outdoor kitchen. Embark on a unique experience at Big Jim Farms where you can delve into our fields to handpick fresh ingredients for creating your own chips and salsa from scratch.
Harvest everything you need including tomatoes, peppers, cilantro, blue corn, and more. After picking everything from our fields you will then head to our outdoor kitchen to craft your personalized creation. Whether you prefer your salsa spicy or mild, roasted, blended, or chopped, the choice is yours. Not only will you make your own salsa, you will also make your own chips by using the blue corn picked and grinding it to flour to make blue corn tortilla chips.
For just $35, you'll receive all ingredients, necessary supplies, guidance, and the delicious chips and salsa in a mason jar to take home. Immerse yourself in the fields where the produce was grown and turn it into something special.
Nestled in the picturesque Rio Grande Valley with the stunning Sandia Mountains and flourishing farms as your scenic backdrop, this experience is suitable for all ages, families, groups, team-building activities, and more.
Schedule: Saturdays 9am, 11am, & 1pm
Price: $35 per person
Includes all supplies, instruction, and jar of salsa to take home.
Red Chile Ristra Making Workshop
Learn how to make your own Red Chile Ristra at Big Jim Farms!
At Big Jim Farms, we have been growing the best green and red chile for over a century. We opened up our U-Pick experience as a place where the community can come together and see where it all comes from, how it is grown, and a chance to do it themselves.
We love to see the traditions of our New Mexican heritage continued through the U-Pick experience and are proud to offer an extension of this through our Red Chile Ristra workshop. Learn about the history of the Red Chile Ristra, Chile in New Mexico, and how to make your own start to finish. You get to take home your beautiful creation at the end of your class and many memories too.
Schedule: Saturdays & Sundays 11 am & 1 pm
Price: $40 per person
Includes all supplies, instruction, and ristra to take home
Farm Dinner Series: Chef Domonick Campos & Sheehan Winery
Dine in the fields where your food is grown.
You're invited to a magical evening at Big Jim Farms for our Farm Dinner Series, a one-of-a-kind farm-to-table experience featuring Chef Domonick Campos. Enjoy a beautifully curated four-course dinner crafted with fresh, locally sourced ingredients straight from our fields. Each course is perfectly paired with wines from the award-winning Sheehan Winery, enhancing every bite with a touch of local flavor.
As part of your evening, you’ll also get to create your own sunflower bouquet with a complimentary U-Pick experience in our vibrant sunflower fields. This unique dinner event offers more than just a meal, it’s an immersive celebration of food, community, and the beauty of summer and fall on the farm.
Dinner dates are Saturday, August 2nd • Saturday, September 13th • Saturday, September 27th • Saturday, October 4th.
Tickets are $125 per person and include everything: a 4-course dinner, wine pairings, sunflower bouquet, and an unforgettable evening on the farm. Seating is limited and advance reservations are required.
This series is expected to sell out quickly
Saturday, August 2nd • Saturday, September 13th • Saturday, September 27th • Saturday, October 4th
Price: $125 per person and include everything: a 4-course dinner, wine pairings, and sunflower bouquet.
Sunflower Photoshoots Hillary Christina Photography
Step into a field of blooms and capture golden-hour magic with a sunflower photoshoot
Experience the magic of sunflower season with a photoshoot in the vibrant sunflower field at Big Jim Farms. For just $75, work with the talented Hillary Christina Photography, who brings years of experience capturing stunning images of families, couples, and individuals of all ages. Whether you have shy little ones or a big group, Hillary’s skill and warmth will make everyone feel comfortable and look their best.
These sessions are perfect for celebrating any special occasion—graduations, engagements, weddings, new babies, or simply capturing a beautiful moment in time. Your package includes everything: the picturesque location, professional photography, and a selection of 10 high-quality digital images delivered within a week. Just come dressed and ready to enjoy—you’ll leave with gorgeous photos and no hassle.
Your photoshoot takes place at Big Jim Farms, a family-owned u-pick farm in the Rio Grande Valley. Here you’ll find beautiful sunflowers alongside zinnias, marigolds, green chile fields, pumpkins, friendly farm animals, and much more. It’s the perfect colorful, natural backdrop to make your photos truly special.
Whether you’re bringing your whole family or celebrating a milestone, these photoshoots are a fun and effortless way to create lasting memories.
Space is limited and spots fill up fast—reserve your session today and let your summer bloom in full color.
Photo sessions must be reserved in advance and include 10 edited images delivered through an online gallery. Additional images can be purchased for $10 each once you have access to the gallery. Each photoshoot will last 10 minutes. Admission to Big Jim Farms is included, and a sunflower U-pick bouquet can be purchased onsite.
Schedule: Weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays during the timeframe 6:00 pm to 7:45pm
Price: $75 per person. Includes location, professional photographer and 10 edited photos.