San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition

"Foster an equitable local food system that restores the health of the people, community, economy and ecosystem."

Cooking Matters - Summer Fun & Food Access in the San Luis Valley!

Summertime Food Resources
Summer is here, and for far too many children, this time of year can mean uncertainty about where their next meal is coming from. When school is out of session, how are our most vulnerable friends, families and neighbors ensuring they have access to healthy food for their families?

Goods news is, there are wonderful resources across our community that you can share widely!
Read all about Cooking Matters Summertime Food Resources in the San Luis Valley »»

LOCAL! Harvest Festival - Save the Date August 2018

Mark your calendars for the 6th Annual LOCAL! Harvest Festival August 25-26th.
We hope to see you at this year's LOCAL! Harvest Festival in August! Events include an Alamosa Farmers Market tour led by Cooking Matters, a LOCAL! farm tour, a Farm-to-Barbecue dinner with James Beard Award winner Adrian Miller (RSVP), and the Harvest Festival itself (free entrance!). This year's festival includes hands-on educational experiences, highlights San Luis Valley farmers, offers a variety of local foods, and is partnering with ALMA for the final Sundays at Six concert featuring Mariachi San Luis!

Department of Agriculture Farm Bill 2018

WHAT: Now that Farm Bill 2018 is really rocking and rolling (see House version just introduced HERE »») LiveWell will be working with its CO Food Policy Network partners to convene a Farm Bill Action Team! (Yes you can call it FBAT "fuh-bat"!)

The FBAT will be an action-oriented group for anyone and everyone that wants a Farm Bill that supports infrastructure for the entire seed-to-table food system, promotes the development of regional and local food systems, and prioritizes access to nutritious food with a particular focus on low-income communities and communities of color. Regular calls will provide the mechanism for LiveWell and other groups to share current messaging and regular action items (from easy to a little more involved) that you can do.

WHEN: We will host 30-minute calls every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, 12pm-12:30. Bring your lunch and see standing call-in info below here!

WHY: To keep all interested partners current on the most pressing calls-to-action related to local food systems and healthy food access in the Farm Bill.

WHO: You and anyone else you know who wants to take action to support a Farm Bill aligned with our statement above! There is no need to RSVP, just jump on the calls when you can.

WHERE: This Zoom call-in info below will be the same for every call. We will take notes and record the calls, but you will have to let us know if you miss a call but want the notes. Please calendar these calls!

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://livewellcolorado.zoom.us/j/459389354 »»
Or iPhone one-tap: US: +1 646-558-8656,459389354#
Or Telephone:
Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 646-558-8656     Meeting ID: 459 389 354

Questions?
Contact LiveWell Colorado - Wendy, Director of Food Systems »» or Terri, Director of Food Policy »»

WANTED - Kids who want to have FUN! - RMFU Summer Camp June 2018

Growing Our Fun, One By One (Newsletter Share)
Overnight camp is just around the corner, and you still have time to REGISTER »»

As a camper, you know how much fun you have while at Farmers Union Camp, so help us spread the fun by inviting others to join us! We have mailed to you and your family a packet filled with camp registration packets and flyers. We ask that you hand out the registration packets to friends and family-someone who may have an interest in attending camp. Also, the packet will contain large flyers and we hope you and your family can place the flyer on a community bulletin board, such as a local grocery store, restaurant or at your school. Also, another way you can help us by forwarding this Camp E-Newsletter to friends and family-between your parents and yourself, I am sure you can find at least 10-20 families who you can share this with. Share This Link »» Thank You!

We have found the best way to grow our camp is by personal invitation. We do not do a lot of paid advertising, but rather rely on current campers and their families sharing their experiences with friends and family. If you need more registration packets or flyers please contact us and we will mail more. Personal invites work best and hope you can help us "Grow our Fun, One by One". View Full Camp Info Event »»

Tierra Vida Farm - High Production Micro Farm Presentation 2018

Daniel Fullmer shares his insightful presentation using raised beds and compost in the Desert Southwest with emphasis on practices of minimal to no tillage, composting, cover cropping, rotational grazing, intercropping, and transplanting.
View Tierra Vida Farm Presentation »»

San Luis Valley's Farm to School Task Force hosts Harvest of the Month Events alongside Food Service Directors - January 2018

In July of 2017, the LFC and several important partners received a USDA Farm to School Support Services grant to "grease the wheels" in making healthful SLV produce more accessible and feasible for Valley schools and pre-schools to procure. Since the onset of the grant the Task Force has worked with all 14 district Food Service Directors (FSD) in the San Luis Valley to begin overcoming barriers, including changes at the VRFH to lightly process vegetables, creating a Monday delivery route for schools, training FSDs in procurement through the hub's online portal, and working with FSDs to host engaging harvest of the month events in school cafeterias.

The Farm to School Task Force is made up of the Local Foods Coalition, Cooking Matters, the Valley Educational Gardens Initiative (VEGI), and the Integrated Nutrition Education Program (INEP).

View larger press release »» of our January event in Creede, and check out the Farm to School tab in our Projects section for other press releases.

Colorado Gives - Give Where You Live

Support organizations that are essential to protecting and nurturing quality of life in Colorado. Your community donation is greatly appreciated.

Interested in getting more involved with Double Up Food Bucks?

LiveWell Colorado is actively working to transform access to nutritious food in the entire state. One of its major programs, Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB), allows SNAP recipients to receive $1 for every $1 spent on SNAP-eligible food, up to $20. These "double up food bucks" can then be used to purchase fresh Colorado-grown fruits and vegetables. DUFB was started in 2016 and has helped people bring home more healthy fruits and vegetables while supporting local farmers. LiveWell Colorado is taking DUFB to the next level and is looking to develop and increase community engagement.

In order to do this, LiveWell will be working with partners across the state to develop the Community Food Advocates program. This program works with local ambassadors to share the DUFB program with community members and organizations to increase participation.

We are actively seeking current or past recipients of SNAP and DUFB participants as Community Food Advocates. We are currently looking for Advocates in Southwest Colorado (Montezuma and La Plata Counties, with some outreach in Archuleta and Dolores Counties), Denver, Garfield County, Montrose County, and the San Luis Valley.

Community Food Advocates will partner with community members to support the DUFB program. Advocates will promote and increase community participation in the program. Stipends are provided.
For more information, please review the additional PDF page »»

Save the Date! Join us for the 6th Annual Local Harvest Festival on August 25th & 26th at the Rio Grande Farm Park in Alamosa. This year's event by the Local Foods Coalition will feature tours, educational experiences, delicious local foods, concert, and lots of fun for the whole family!

RMFU Summer Camp Come learn, lead, laugh at Camp RMFU! 2018 RMFU Cooperative Leadership Camp held in June. Farmers Union Camp is an incredibly unique camp experience for kids. Sign up today for Summer Fun! View Full Camp Info Event »»

Ag Farm Bill 2018 Now that Farm Bill 2018 is really rocking and rolling. See House version just introduced HERE »» LiveWell will be working with its CO Food Policy Network partners to convene a Farm Bill Action Team! Learn more about involvement posted above in the related Ag Farm Bill section.