High Desert Foods
Partners: Bill Manning, Tom Hafnor, Jessie Wilmes, Lance Becker, Karin Rhodes, David Kuntz, Marti Kuntz, Fritz Geisler, Christina Ertezek, Deborah McMillan, and Heather Liggett
Most people easily can recognize that sustainability means taking care of and respecting the land. But, for us, sustainability also means forging relationships between those who produce the food and the people who consume it. We hope that, as people experience the vibrant flavors from the rainbow of what we have to offer – fresh vegetables and fruit, meat, prepared foods, and our many shelf stable farm products, they will also share our appreciation for nature at its best and our mission to thoughtfully contribute to it's health and well being no less than our own. We hope everyone who buys and enjoys High Desert products feels connected to the spectacular land we all live in and those around us we share it with -- a feedback loop that replaces isolation from one another with a true sense of community.
Throughout the world, people are struggling to establish a “sustainable” relationship with the land. But the challenge to small scale farmers is to use "sustainable" farming practices in a way that's economically viable in today's cash economy. Big corporate farms -- primarily conventional but also large organic farms -- may feed much of the world, but they break our hearts in their insensitivity to the land and people they are intended to serve. Their products are seen simply as commodities, the aliveness squeezed out them, sitting on grocery store shelves nearly indistinguishable from the garishly packaged processed foods that surround them. Small farms are the last remnant of a time when food production was part of the fabric of our communities -- not just a way of sustaining life; but also a ritual that nurtured hearts and minds. Can you remember the last time you had these kinds of feelings walking the aisles of a grocery store?
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Flippin Eggs
Hello, my name is Tia Flippin. I started Flippin Eggs as a FFA project in my freshman year. With much help and support from my parents and Ag. Advisor, I have been able to start selling to local stores. I raise chickens predominantly, but occasionally have a handful of turkeys. Throughout this experience I have learned many life lessons and have developed many unique skills. This past year has been pleasant as well as challenging, in my pursuit of being an accomplished young lady with a small business and a bit of income. One of the most important things I have learned in managing a flock is that the most important aspect is proper nutrition for the birds. All my feed is all natural; there is no genetically altered ingredients. True, I do NOT advertise as organic. The reason being I cannot guarantee everything the birds find while scavenging is certified organic, for example our compost. That is the draw back to free range birds. I feel that ethical management and honest business are the most important keys. I strive to build this business honestly and humanely. Furthermore if you have ANY questions or comments please feel free to call (970) 882-3240. I am usually home after 4:00 on week days (after school). I would truly love to hear from you. Also anyone is welcome to come see my operation, meet the chickens, or to get or give advice. I am located at 28801 CR P, Dolores, CO 81323. So bring the kids or your own curiosity and come meet our family. Children are always welcome. Thanks!
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Fox Fire Farms
Fox Fire Farms has been in the farming and ranching business in South West Colorado since 1913. We are a family farm that produces, USDA Certified Organic, Beef, Lamb, Goat, Pork, and soy free, free range chicken eggs. All of our livestock are never administered growth hormones, pesticides, chemicals, antibiotics, never fed grain, or additives, and treated humane. In addition to our organic meats and eggs, we exclusively harvest and hand select our own Copper River Salmon, and Pacific Halibut. We are dedicated to producing the healthiest food possible for families around the world. Fox Fire Farms is your source of Food You Can Trust™. All products with the exception of the seafood are grown on our farm.
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San Juan Basin Research Center
The San Juan Basin Research Center 's mission is to serve the agricultural community in the inter-mountain, high altitude regions of the Four Corners, an area including parts of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. It is located 5 miles South of Hesperus at the site of the “Old Fort” campus. The 6500 acre facility is operated by Colorado State University's Agricultural Experiment Station system. Its' 7600' elevation has allowed it to do high altitude grain research as well as studying brisket disease in cattle. Historical research has included Hereford cattle, Composite cattle, oakbrush control, along with range and weed plots. To meet the changing needs of the agricultural population in the Four Corners and address small acreage issues, several projects have been started. One of them is to develop a Hands-On Organic Weed Management Learning Center specializing in market gardens. Beginning in May of 2008, they will offer workshops and develop a 1 acre market garden area that will include demonstration and education plots. Students from Fort Lewis College will be using the market garden for internship and hands-on learning opportunities.
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Seven Meadows Farm
Seven Meadows Farm is a 70 acre Certified Naturally
Grown family farm on Summit Ridge outside of Mancos. Our greenhouse and outdoor market gardens are full of salad crops and specialty vegetables and fruit, we raise Suffolk sheep for market, and we hay about 65 acres for our livestock. Some of our field work is done with draft horses, and we maintain 15 acres of native land for habitat. We believe that our sustainable practices result in some of the most flavorful produce and meat around. Thank you for supporting local agriculture! Rusty and Laurie Hall
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Sunnyside Meats
Karen and Jerry Zink founded Sunnyside Meats in 2002 on the principle of sustaining local agriculture and maintaining a healthy food supply for the community. Since the early 1900's the Zink and Short families have been farming and ranching in the Sunnyside area. The Zinks maintain their agricultural heritage by offering an innovative approach to safe and healthy food for the community. Sunnyside Meats provides a link between local livestock producers who are dedicated to the long-term sustainability of their ranching heritage and communities and consumers looking for healthy food and a viable community. Our business is managed to benefit our community, environment and employees.
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Arriola Sunshine Farm
Arriola Sunshine Farm was established in 1987 by Cindy Dvergsten and Mike Rich. We harvest solar energy to generate real wealth! We manage for bio-diversity & sustainability. We conserve heritage breeds and plant varieties. We allow the cycles of nature to operate to their full capacity creating a natural fertility and balance of life forms. When you purchase produce from our farm you are contributing to your health and quality of life in a big way while also helping to create healthy land, habitat for wildlife, and a strong economy. We believe in safe, humane handling of animals. Our Navajo Churro Sheep, Bourbon Red turkeys and laying hens have access to pasture everyday and are rotated frequently for their health and the health of the land. We also offer registered Navajo Churro breeding stock and wool. Our website is www.arriolasunshinefarm.com Our e-mail is sunshine@gobrainstorm.net
Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy
Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy has been producing award winning fresh and aged goat cheeses in Colorado for 15 years. Our farmstead raw-milk cheeses are produced at our farm just outside of Boulder, from milk supplied by our mixed herd of goats. We make fresh chèvres and fresh ripened cheeses at our Longmont creamery. Haystack is committed to contributing to the local community and to conducting our business in a sustainable manner. A key aspect of our mission is to educate the general public about goat cheese, animal husbandry and artisanal food production. For more information visit www.haystackgoatcheese.com.
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Rancho Durazno
We are land stewards, committed to organic farming and living in harmony with the needs of our land. What does Rancho Durazno mean? It means "Peach Farm" in Spanish. Pretty straight forward, but hard to spell and pronounce, so our farm is called "The Cameron Place." "Cameron" because it's the name we share, "Place" because it's more than an orchard, more than a farm. We are surrounded by wild lands-desert cliffs and slopes no one should farm. They are part of every view, and define the place we live and farm, and make this one of the best sites in a valley famous for its peaches.
Our peaches, plums, sweet cherries and apricots grow organically, nourished with compost, flowering cover crops and the intense Colorado sunshine, and are sustained with just enough irrigation water from the Colorado River . Here in Palisade, at 4775 feet elevation, in a desert climate, we receive intense sunlight, and enjoy cool nights in the growing season. Fruit that ripens in these conditions has a special concentration of sugars.
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Rocking W Dairy
The family has been in the Montrose area since the late 1800s, and opened Webb Dairy and Farm in 1965. With farmers and ranchers selling and moving on every day, the Webb family is proud they are striving to provide their children with agricultural opportunities. In turn, they hope to sustain a business that has been in the family for decades and find a niche in the cheese world for their future generations. Rocking W Dairy is entering the specialty cheese market in an effort to produce high quality, all natural, farm fresh, artisan cheeses.
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Rohwer's Farm
Since farming has always been a way of life here at our farm, my daughter and I have decided to make it our living. There is nothing more satisfying than to plant bare ground and watch it erupt with miraculous color and vegetation. We are a 12 acre farm located on a high spot in Pleasant View. We started with a 3/4 acre garden but because of the support of our friends and neighbors we now have a 9 acre garden. We love to plant odd varieties and old heirloom veggies. We like to experiment with something new every year. But not everything we touch turns into veggies. Having farm animals we are able to supply our own manure and are as self sustainable as possible. Since people and eating go hand in hand we will be happy to help you with your next meal .
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Sunny Breeze Farm
Rolling Hills …rugged landscape. Such is the northwestern Colorado country we call home. For neighbors, we have ranchers with cattle and sheep that graze thousands of acres, and backyard pronghorn, mule deer, and especially elk. Our location is beautiful, but limited precipitation (14 inches annually) and cold winters at an elevation of 6,300 feet make farming a unique challenge. In this country and climate, Sunny Breeze Farm uses 259 acres with grasses, alfalfa, and several ponds to support our Friesian ewes. Sunny Breeze Farm is family-operated. We have seven children involved in various ways in operating the farm, and our goal is to together keep the small family farm alive while providing you with your favorite specially sheep cheeses. —Joel & Joanne Petre and family
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