“Farming is a dedication of your body, to the land… and to people.”
~Christa Barfield, urban farmer & entrepreneur
All over the Valley, water is flowing and things are going into the ground. We’ll be fed, nourished, and delighted with flavor in the coming months because of the time, effort, and dedication of our farmers and producers. For this, we are grateful.
We hope you’ll take time this Saturday to pick up organic seed starts at the Alamosa Community Greenhouse, volunteer at the Farm Park, and join Aaron for a bee workshop afterwards (what better way to celebrate World Bee Day?!). Read on for more..
May 20th | Plant Sale | Alamosa Community Greenhouse May 20th | CSU Extension Cottage Food Training | Online May 20th | Volunteer Workday | Rio Grande Farm Park May 20th | Bee Workshop | Rio Grande Farm Park May 20th | Boyd Garden Kickoff, VEGI La Puente | State Ave. in between 11th & 12th May 26th | National Young Farmers Coalition Mixer | Spare Keg Brewery, Alamosa June 12th | Project Stewards Meeting & Appreciation Dinner | RGFP Ed. Center June 12th | #SLVFoodProject PhotoVoice Exhibition | RGFP Ed. Center
Pictured: scenes from our Tree Pruning and our Anaerobic Digestion Workshops at the Farm Park, and volunteers at the RMSER Community Food Pantry at 1619 State Ave, coordinating diaper distribution with community partners.
April 20th | MoKi & Music/Ancient Valley Open Mic | Rio Grande Farm Park April 22nd | Kites for Kids (FREE KITES) on Earth Day | Rio Grande Farm Park April 23rd | Compost Extraction Workshop | Rio Grande Farm Park April 25th | Cooking Matters Workshop | Online April 29th | Volunteer Workday | Rio Grande Farm Park April 29th | Generosity on Tap, La Puente | Colorado Farm Brewery May 2nd | Cooking Matters Workshop | Online May 3rd | Farm/Park Rx Public Group Walk with SLV Great Outdoors | Rio Grande Farm Park
Rio Grande Farm Park: Greenhouse Update / Rio Grande Farm Park: actualización de efecto invernadero
Bilingual Resource Guide / Guía de recursos bilingüe
Food Hub: storage crops, fall fruits, & turkey pre-orders / Centro de alimentos: cultivos de almacenamiento, frutas de otoño y pedidos anticipados de pavo
Photo Voice Campaign / Campaña Foto Voz
Food & Ag Surveys – win $50 dollars! / Encuestas sobre alimentos y agricultura: ¡gane $ 50 dólares!
SLV Federal Bankers Opportunity / Oportunidad para Banqueros Federales SLV
Conejos & Saguache County Summits / Cumbres de los condados de Conejos y Saguache
Colorado Gives Day / Colorado da el día
Colorado Food Summit / Cumbre de Alimentos de Colorado
Carrot Lentil Chili Recipe / Receta De Chile De Lentejas Y Zanahoria
A word from SLV Local Foods Coalition Director, Liza Marron / Una palabra de la directora de la Coalición de Alimentos Locales de SLV, Liza Marron:
Election Night Reporting is Complete for Saguache County and due to my win, Saguache County will have its first majority-woman board of commissioners ever. Thank you to my honorable competitor Jeff Phillips for a fine race. I will start out my tenure as commissioner as a learner and listener. I want to be the best steward of county government and Saguache County constituents’ resources as I can be – along with my two more seasoned commissioners.
Los informes de la noche de las elecciones están completos para el condado de Saguache y, debido a mi victoria, el condado de Saguache tendrá su primera junta de comisionados mayoritariamente femenina. Gracias a mi honorable competidor Jeff Phillips por una excelente carrera. Comenzaré mi mandato como comisionado como aprendiz y oyente. Quiero ser el mejor administrador posible de los recursos del gobierno del condado y de los electores del condado de Saguache, junto con mis dos comisionados más experimentados.
This is a bittersweet honor in my life as I have to let go of the leadership of the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition. We all want this organization to thrive into the future and towards that end, our board and staff with the support of Civic Canopy are working diligently on our transition leadership plan.
Este es un honor agridulce en mi vida ya que tengo que dejar el liderazgo de la Coalición de Alimentos Locales del Valle de San Luis. Todos queremos que esta organización prospere en el futuro y, con ese fin, nuestra junta y el personal, con el apoyo de Civic Canopy, están trabajando diligentemente en nuestro plan de liderazgo de transición.
I am feeling gratitude for the vote of confidence for a new chapter in my life serving closer to home. I am feeling equal gratitude for the amazing people of the SLV who have worked in partnership to foster an equitable local food system here.
Siento gratitud por el voto de confianza para un nuevo capítulo en mi vida sirviendo más cerca de casa. Siento la misma gratitud por las increíbles personas del SLV que han trabajado en asociación para fomentar un sistema alimentario local equitativo aquí.
In Local Food We Trust / En Comida Local Confiamos
Zapata Ranch’s Chef Ivan prepares a meal for the Valley Roots Food Hub crew at their annual staff dinner. Zapata Ranch is one of the Food Hub’s biggest customers. Photo by Al Stone.
Photo of The Dish Chili Cook-off event in Center, CO on July 9th by Liza Marron.
Dear community,
I am continually astounded by the movers and shakers who are making fresh food more accessible here in this dry, rural landscape. It takes skill and effort to cultivate food in this climate. The route of farming and ranching is a grueling test of persistence and care, yet I have spoken to growers who are committed because something in their soul is called to the work and they cannot imagine a different lifestyle. They inspire me, along with the many others who are working each day to feed our community in an ethical, loving, just, and healthy way. To all who are invested in a more resilient local food system – thank you for raging against the status quo. It matters.