Green Jeans Farmery, the unique plaza made out of repurposed shipping containers featuing a gym, restaurants and a brewery located just off I-40 and Carlisle, is currently still in its first year of operation.
Amari Anaya, a vendor at Zeus’ Juice and Nutrition at the complex, said Green Jeans is meant to generate a fun, relaxed environment in which everyone feels welcomed and comfortable, as well as to promote values of community health and betterment.
“The vibe is cool, chill, everybody’s just hanging out, it’s fun to be here,” she said. “Or people come when they’re trying to (diet), or trying to cleanse their body, or trying to feel better, healthier.”
Anaya said she hopes the attitudes and practices being implemented at Green Jeans permeate throughout the community-at-large.
“It’s just a cool place to hang out, bring your kids, there’s (something) to do, there’s food, beer, (everything is) local,” she said, “Trying to keep it local, family (oriented), I think that’s what (we’re) going for, people can come hang out with their family, not just only drink beer (with) friends,”
Gabe Zambello has been bartending at the Santa Fe Brewing Company for about three weeks and said his initial impression of the business has been positive and progressive.
“I live in this area, and I think it’s a very positive, new (idea) that’s trying to bring a new image to this area, and to the neighborhood essentially, and I love that it’s on the bike path. I bike that way to school almost every day when it’s nice out,” he said.
The general mission of Green Jeans speaks to a healthy regard for the ecosystem, Zambello said, although the community can always do more to convey concern for our ecosystem.
“Maybe a little more encouragement to bike, I’d love to see some form of discount for bikers,” he said. “It’s my first job in the service-industry, and it’s tough to get into, but everyone seems to be pretty welcoming, and the brewing is really interesting. It’s a different angle, and I guess it kind of just brings a little bit of Sante Fe down to Albuquerque.”
Even since before he was employed by Green Jeans, Zambello said he never encountered any adversity at the Farmery, and he’s only ever witnessed pleasant community interaction within the establishment.
“Now seeing it from an employee’s view, it’s getting very busy, very popular. I’d like to see a few changes, but they just opened, you know, so the changes will come,” he said. “Having a little more room will definitely benefit everyone,”
An open willingness to change is also at the heart of the Green Jeans Farmery mission, Zambello said. Looking at the ways we use shipping containers is a key first step.
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“I think Green Jeans has really changed our ideas (surrounding) architecture, and the way we see Albuquerque. Things are changing, they’re becoming newer, repurposed,” he said.
Brooklyn Kyng said going to work at the Farmery gives her a sense of community responsibility, and that the level of kindness exhibited by owners and staff is rivaled only by that of patrons. She said that, by keeping it local, Green Jeans is contributing to a greater, more global cause.
“Almost everything is reused from different restaurants that may have closed, like these tables and the chairs outside. Everything’s recycled basically, all of the appliances, even these lights are LED,” she said. “Just go for it, do it. Try to save everything, save the world, (or) at least clean up Albuquerque because it’s dirty.”
Recycling is a central tenant at Green Jeans Farmery, and every member of the community is encouraged to contribute, Salias said.
“Our patrons, they recycle. We have a ton of recycling, there’s a big, giant, (metal) bin out there,” she said.
Inclusivity is also an important aspect of the Farmery.
“It’s gay-friendly, trans-friendly over here (at Green Jeans), (even I’m) trans,” she said, “It is a very welcoming place.”
The reason inclusivity is such an important tenet at the establishment is because anyone can help, and everyone is invited, Salias said.
“Because everybody likes to recycle, it’s in everybody’s nature to repurpose and recycle,” she said. “It’s human nature to look out for each other, and we already do look out for each other (at Green Jeans), but in the long run, more businesses might learn and see how well it runs.”
Johnny Vizcaino is a staff reporter at the Daily Lobo. Contact him at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @thedailyjohnnyv.
