December 30, 2021
Prospero Año Nuevo
We hope you are carrying forth the good stuff from 2021 and finding the resilience to deal with everything else. Wherever you are on your journey, may 2022 bring you more local foods, more joy, and a strong sense of community.
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Header photo depicts Liz Breckbill at the local charcuterie table at the
2021 Farm-To-Table Shindig hosted by Valley Roots Food Hub.
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Highlights
- 2021 in Review
- RGFP Volunteers Dedicated 2,800+ Hours in 2021
- Winter Fresh Box from Valley Roots Food Hub
- Apply to be a Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Fellow
- Jan 31 Deadline for 0% Interest Loans for Farmers & Ranchers
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2021 – A Journey Through Photos
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To Liza Marron & the SLVLFC Community
I would like to personally thank our fearless leader Liza Marron, who actually has super powers… she has a vision, she makes a plan, then she makes it happen. It’s truly amazing to witness. Liza, thank you for your dedication and thoughtfulness in building a just, healthy food system in the San Luis Valley. Your belief that we can do it is contagious, and it works. Shoutout to our incredible Development Director Amber Middleton, and to the rest of the staff, board, and volunteers who helped to manifest the vision in 2021. As an inside witness, I can attest that everyone who is involved here cares tremendously about community, food, health, the economy, and the Earth. Surrounding myself with these people makes me more intentional, more action-oriented, and more loving. I am looking forward to more of that in the new year.
-Ally Jean Arnold, Outreach Coordinator
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The Rio Grande Farm Park celebrated its 5th Anniversary! The land was officially purchased on Leap Year – Feb 29, 2016 – with help from the Trust for Public Land and individual community donors. We are happy that the fertile land is enjoyed by visitors, locals, and all sorts of wildlife; in 2022, we hope to see new and familiar faces in the Education Center and out in the plots.
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The 4th Edition Local Roots Guide was published! Stay tuned for the digital version, which will be uploaded on our brand new website, launching soon! The guide lists local farms and businesses where you can buy local foods or other local products.
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The Education Center was constructed by professional craftsman (Miller Construction), and many volunteers contributed to the sanding and polishing of the side boards. What a project!!
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Local Foods Local Places partnered with Mountain Roots Food Hub in Gunnison, Guidestone in Chaffee County, the Good Food Collective in La Plata County and FarmRunners in Hotchkiss – in the USDA Local Foods Promotion Program Hub and Node Connection planning project. Pictured: Holly Conn Director of Mountain Roots Food Hub in Gunnison at our August gathering, photo by Liza Marron.
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The Rio Grande Farm Park had live chickens for the first time. The poultry were taken care of by dedicated staff and volunteers. Farmers who were interested in poultry processing then had the opportunity to learn how to humanely and safely process the animals for fresh meat.
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Nora McBride collaborated with the community to design and execute the beautiful interactive art installation at the Rio Grande Farm Park.
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Gloria, Abe, and Trinity made an excellent MoKi Team this year, taking on events like the Rio Trio, the Climbing Fest, and nights at the Colorado Farm Brewery. Their passion for cooking comes through in the meals; you can practically taste the love. Thank you MoKi team for feeding us! Photo courtesy of Western State Center.
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In 2021, the Valley Roots Food Hub sold 120 Summer CSA Shares; customers received 13 weekly boxes of fresh produce…WOW! (It is not too late to order a Winter Fresh Box to be delivered on Jan 14th. See below.) Photo copyright 2021 Will Widmer, courtesy of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
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The Valley Roots Food Hub Staff Retreat at Zapata Ranch was very gourmet; Chef Chase served a 5-star meal using local ingredients.
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Hundreds of youth volunteered at the Farm Park this year through programs like YouthWorks and Alpine Achievers. Thank you for all your help! Special shoutout to our Farm Manager Assistant Brayan Flores, and Education Coordinators Liz Breckbill & Christina Riccardo, for helping behind the scenes. Photo by Seth Armentrout.
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LOCAL! Harvest Fest was held on a camel dairy farm!!! Major thanks to Meghan & Matt Stalzer of Mudita Camel Dairy for hosting us, and for all the vendors who showed us that eating local is possible even in rural Conejos County. If you want to see the camels, consider booking the Mudita Camel yurt for an overnight stay! (Pictured: Our fearless leader Liza Marron.) Photo by Holly Thompson.
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Classes went virtual during the pandemic, but our Cooking Matters Team still went above and beyond their outreach goals in 2021. They gave helpful cooking tips to parents of young kids, empowered kids to make their own healthy snacks, and helped people on a tight budget access inexpensive, healthy meals. Great work, Lois & Zoila! Photo copyright Will Widmer 2021, courtesy of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
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The community showed up from near and far to celebrate the new Education Center. We appreciate our Gen Wild partners and our powerful community speakers for putting on a memorable event. View Livestream Video>>> Photo by Christi Bode Skeie.
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The Farm-To-Table Shindig in Salida brought farmers from our region together for delicious local eats prepared by Gosar Natural Foods and the VRFH Team. Thanks to Nick Chambers for leading the charge, to the rest of the team for making it happen, and to farmers & customers for believing in the work.
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9 Commercial Farmers grew at the RGFP this year, providing $24,000 worth of produce to the Food Bank Network of the SLV (Pictured: Antonio Garcia). We welcomed Mauricio as a new grower at RGFP, Eulalia moved from the family plots to the commercial plots, and 4 Jr. Incubator Farmers from the Boys & Girls Club invested their time from seed-to-sale. See 2021 Brochure>>> Photo copyright 2021 Will Widmer, courtesy of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
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Barn Cats Horchata and Limonata were adorable additions in 2021, as well as the RGFP Program Co-Directors Val Valdez & Seth Armentrout. Jesus Flores & Kris Steinberg have been doing a great job caring for the cats…our volunteers built them a cozy winter bed so they can stay warm.
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Valley Roots Food Hub added a refrigerated van and another Semi Truck to the fleet. These trucks allow the drivers to keep produce fresh as they go from farm-to-farm. In 2021, VRFH also accepted SNAP and partnered with the South-Central Colorado Senior Center.
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That’s a Wrap!! “Another Year Over, and a New One’s Just Begun”
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RGFP Volunteers 2,817+ Hours in 2021
Homemade food, stories, and laughs were shared at the 2021 Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. Marty Jones played music for us and Charlotte Ledonne made apple sauce from the Rio Grande Farm Park apple trees that she helps care for. Our volunteers are truly incredible…we are so thankful for the joyful spirit they bring, as well as their collective 2,817 hours put in this year! Pictured: Kris Steinberg, Salai Taylor, & Charlotte Ledonne (above); Dr. Bill Brinton, Paul Wolfram, & Marty Jones; the whole group; homemade apple pies baked by Kris Steinberg; Roxy, Erin, Liz, Connor, & Simon.
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Winter Fresh Box, $50
Valley Roots Food Hub is curating 2 Winter CSA boxes, each valued at $50! The 1st one happened earlier this month, but there is still time to order the 2nd one. You can pay with SNAP at the warehouse in Mosca! We deliver all the way up to Denver, out to Creede, down to Alamosa, and even up to Buena Vista. (Photo of Eliza Grace, Summer Working Share. Copyright 2021 Will Widmer, courtesy of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)
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Apply to be a Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Fellow
Vision: “To be the resource network of trained leaders who will serve all aspects of agriculture and rural communities for Farmers Union and beyond.”
Applications are due Jan 3! (Must be at least 21 years old and live in Colorado, New Mexico, or Wyoming.)
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Jan 31 Deadline for 0% Loan Applications for Farmers & Ranchers
Receive a no interest loan for your food entrepreneur business!
Visit SOILsangredecristo.org for more info>>>
Email: soilsangredecristo@gmail.com
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“As an inside witness, I can attest that everyone who is involved with the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition cares tremendously about community, food, health, the economy, and the Earth. Surrounding myself with these people makes me more intentional, more action-oriented, and more loving. I am looking forward to more of that in the new year.” – Ally Jean Arnold, Outreach Coordinator
Sincerely,
The SLVLFC Team
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EN 
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