Bounty 2015 - Harvest

HARVEST 2015

LOCAL FOOD AND FARM GUIDE

NORTHERN COLORADO FOOD CLUSTER Growing Strong

Many Reasons

TO EAT LOCAL LAND ACCESS FOR

Farms & Ranches

RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT: FARM DIRECTORY

The Kitchen

....................................

CORN MAZES AND

PUMPKIN PATCHES ....................................

FALL & WINTER

WORKSHOPS & EVENTS

Poetry of THE GROWING PROJECT

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The 120 acre farm provides local, sustainable, certified organic herbs for Motherlove’s products, as well as traditional organic grains and vegetables for our tables and other’s.

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HELPING WITH THE HARVEST TABLE OF CONTENTS WHY DO YOU WANT TO EAT LOCAL?. . . . . . 4 Farming Fort Collins author and Pig & Plow founder Erica Gagne Glaze provides plenty of reasons

GROWING NOCO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Food Cluster Executive Director Sandra Greenway looks at the success of 2015

RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 A conversation with The Kitchen Chef Joel Ryan and The Kitchen Community

POETRY OF THE GROWING PROJECT. . . . . . 10 Executive Director Dana Guber waxes poetic about the food revolution

LISTING OF LOCAL PRODUCERS. . . . . . . . . . 12 Find a local farm near you

LISTING OF FARMERS MARKETS. . . . . . . . . 14 Local markets abound. Take advantage of our nearly year-round access

LISTING OF FARM STANDS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 A perfect way to get fresh, local goodness to your table

CORN MAZES & PUMPKIN PATCHES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

“IN SEED TIME learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.” William Blake With this harvest issue of Bounty, comes some melancholy and relief.

Feelings of melancholy because the long days of summer sunshine and work and play outside are shortening and feelings of relief not only from the heat, but also from the lessons and labors of summer. It is a wholesome time of completion and celebration of our labors as we harvest and preserve summer’s bounty for the coming winter months.

There is much to do in the coming months and many opportunities to take advantage of and help with our bountiful regional harvest. Eat local, just picked fresh summer produce. Get to know your farmers. Attend one of our Fortified farm dinners that feature all local produce prepared by local chefs, paired with local brews, presented family style at long community tables on the farm. Visit a farmers market or one of the many farm stands to finish up your summer CSA. Pick your own berries at Garden Sweet.

Join one of the new winter CSA offerings. Volunteer with The Growing Project, at the farm or farmers’ market, attend a workshop, learn to make Kim chi, can some salsa, make pickles, go to the pumpkin patch, ride your bike, plant garlic, tuck-in your garden beds, listen to some local music, chop some wood, help with the harvest!

Within the pages of Bounty, you’ll find a complete listing of local farms, food producers, farmers markets, farm stands, pumpkin patches and corn mazes, and a calendar full of events, workshops and celebrations around local food and farms throughout the fall and winter. As you’ll read in our articles, there are many ways and reasons to support local food. Relationships are everything when it comes to creating menus, memes and community that truly support a vibrant local food economy. This publication is one step toward that shared future.

Enjoy the Bounty,

Kristina and Malia Fortified Collaborations

Plenty of farm fun this autumn!

BOUNTY CALENDAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Keep warm and active with workshops and events through the winter

WHERE WILL WE GROW OUR FOOD. . . . . . . 22 Exploring the issue of land access for local farms and ranches

Bounty Local Food and Farm Guide 2015 is a special publication of Fortified Collaborations and Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. Publisher: Kristina Cash; Editors: Kristina Cash; Malia Ruchti; Creative Director: Emily Zaynard; Contributing Photographer: Cheri Schonfeld; Copyright 2015 Fortified Collaborations, Fort Collins, CO. All rights reserved. Reproduction without express written permission is prohibited.

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WHY DO YOU WANT TO EAT LOCAL? A Bounty of Reasons

BY ERICA GAGNE GLAZE

LIVING ON THE FRONT RANGE of Colorado, especially Northern Colorado, you have access to some seriously good local food. The perfect time to eat fresh is now. No excuses.

One way to overcome obstacles to eating local is knowing why you want to. Prioritizing why you want to make changes is a great first step in following through on change. Do you want to improve your health or lose weight? Do you want to support local businesses?

Do you care about the environment and the humane treatment of what you are eating? Do you want to save money? All of these are great reasons to eat local.

The next question is, where do you start?

Let’s look at some of the reasons above and see what changes can be made relatively simply.

IMPROVING HEALTH AND LOSING WEIGHT

I’ve read a lot of research on the benefits of a plant based diet for improving health, reversing disease, and improving weight-loss. You don’t have to make a big leap into vegetarianism or veganism. Just reduce your protein and increase your plant based intake. You can find great local produce through a CSA Membership, farmer’s markets and local farm stands. A

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few times a week swap out those fries for a salad or vegetable side dish.

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES

When you support large corporations or non-local businesses, your money goes outside of your community. Sure, wages are paid to local people who work there, but a big portion of that money never stays inside the community. And those wages aren’t always a living wage.

By supporting local, more of your income stays in your community. It’s also a great feeling to support your neighbors in doing something they care about.

Small farmers and ranchers are necessary for a thriving and healthy community. Eating local supports this.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMANE TREATMENT

When you look at the majority of the farmers and ranchers in Northern Colorado, you will find they are strong advocates of sustainable growing practices and humane treatment of their livestock. They want to take care of their backyard. Go and see for yourself! You can’t do that with a corporate farm. Buying local also reduces the environmental impact of transporting food for long distances. We can get most of our food within a 100 mile radius year long.

SAVING MONEY

Some folks think buying in season, organic and from small farmers is expensive. That’s not necessarily true. If you’re willing to set aside some time for preparing and cooking food, eating this way can be cost effective for anyone. Some tricks? Reduce your meat consumption and buy in bulk when possible. Increase your fresh produce, and again, buying in bulk or through a CSA spreads your dollars further. Split the cost of bulk purchases with friends or family. Grow some of it in your window or in your yard. Freeze, can and preserve.

Now, if eating local appeals to you, take the time to make some small changes now. Over time it will just be a part of what you do!

Erica Gagne Glaze owns a small farmstead in Northern Colorado with the vision of becoming sustainable in her food production. Aside from an off-farm day job, she writes the regional blog Farming Fort Collins, which covers all things food related from farmer profiles to how to grow your own, and is launching an online farm and ranch directory, The Pig and the Plow, this fall.

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GROWING NOCO

Community Grows Northern Colorado Food Cluster in 2015

PHOTO BY CHERI SCHONFELD

BY SANDRA GREENWAY

COMMUNITY MEMBERS including farmers, consumers, distributors, farmers markets, municipalities, businesses and schools created a recipe for growth for the Northern Colorado region’s start-up food cluster. Building on the strong foundation that was created in 2013 and 2014, the food cluster established itself as a mechanism to grow Northern Colorado’s footprint of the overall connection to local food. This connection is both a community builder and an economic engine for the region.

As a cluster, the community has spent the last year building its capacity in order to move from establishment to smart growth. NCFC balanced three types of goals simultaneously: 1) short-term goals like providing promotional support for area farmers markets; 2) intermediate goal of cre-

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ating a cohesive and credible voice on food system matters on the local, state and national level; 3) and, legacy goals like building a sustainable market for local food sales.

The Northern Colorado Food Cluster exists to strengthen the community and as such receives and depends on the financial and volunteer support of many, many people in the region. Please visit www.nocofoodcluster.com to see a list of those dedicated individuals, organizations, businesses and municipalities that spurred the cluster’s growth. Much of the success in 2015 is built upon a long-standing support of local food in this region. The cluster has been able to grow because of a foundation created before anyone used the word “cluster”. A debt of gratitude is

owed to all of those who came before.

Next up, the cluster will be continuing to expand its positive impact on the local food system building on the pilot programs created in 2015 and making strategic decisions about what to pursue in one year, two – three years and the next decade. The community is encouraged to participate in the future direction of the cluster. Subscribe to the community newsletter. Volunteer. Become a member. Become a partner and join the advisory council. Donate to the food cluster on Colorado Gives Day in December.

Much has been done, but there is still a ton to do. In the words of Dr. Suess, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

There are lots of things you can do to help sustain and grow Northern Colorado’s local food system. Here are a few:

• P urchase a CSA share. With dozens to choose from, you can

sample what different farms have and tailor your selection to the needs of your family.

• Patronize your local farmers markets and the restaurants that buy food from local farmers

• Take your kids to the farm. Many farms welcome visitors and

The Food School offers agricultural experiences for kids and adults.

Visit edibleshcoolyard.org

• Join Living Soil Investments. For a $5,100 investment, you can become part of this group of co-investors making critical microloans to local farmers and producers.

Visit livingsoilinvestments.wordpress.com

• Support The Growing Project, a nonprofit that promotes the value of a strong, diverse and just local food system through a variety of initiatives and services. Visit thegrowingproject.org

• Attend a farm dinner • K now your farmer and know the source of your food.

SUPPORT OUR LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM

HOW YOU CAN HELP

2015-2016 Markets NOVEMBER 14, 21, 28 ...............

DECEMBER 12, 19, 26

FARMERS MARKET

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JANUARY 2, 16, 30 ...............

FEBRUARY 13, 27 ...............

MARCH 12, 26 ...............

APRIL 9, 23

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SUPPORTING LOCAL, ONE RELATIONSHIP AT A TIME

SALAD PARTY AT RICE ELEMENTARY

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Relationships, Chef Joel Ryan will tell you, are at the heart of what

The Kitchen is all about.

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WITH A FOCUS ON DEVELOPING LONG-TERM, mutually beneficial partnerships with farmers, ranchers and other producers coast-to-coast, The Kitchen strives to make significant and lasting impacts on local food systems.

In the summer months, Ryan estimates that 80% of The Kitchen’s menu is sourced from Colorado farmers and ranchers.

Local farms Garden Sweet, Native Hill, Revive and Spring Kite are among the partners of The Kitchen, providing a variety of fresh produce such as baby artichokes, wild arugula, eggplant and much more. Ryan and the farmers sat down together this last winter to look at seed catalogues and make a planting plan that allowed both parties to experiment with new varieties while also maintaining standard crops for the restaurant. “We always get surprises throughout the season too”, says Ryan, “with a creative team in the kitchen we’re able to be flexible with our menu and take advantage of those surprise harvests”.

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CHEF JOEL RYAN

Even in winter, a time of year when it can be easy to forget about local, The Kitchen is making use of as many local products as they can. They stock up on root vegetables and squashes in the autumn and store them for use as long into the winter as possible. Preservation of local foods helps extend the local menu, especially through pickling. Season extension growing techniques by farmers also draws out the availability of local produce; Native Hill is able to supply greens for most of the year thanks to their greenhouses. The Kitchen sources local meats year-round; the beef, lamb and chicken all come from small Colorado producers.

For those products that can’t be sourced locally – such as oysters and salmon, for instance – The Kitchen still develops relationships with producers who meet their strict sourcing guidelines. Executive Chef Kyle Mendenhall travels the country developing and sustaining partnerships with producers. Ryan describes a visit to an oyster farm in Maine. “We got to meet the divers and the families who are part of our partnership. It helps me to feel good about what we’re serving to our customers when I know that it’s built on meaningful relationships.”

Ryan believes the potential impact restaurants could have on local food systems is enormous. With fairly steady volumes and purchasing patterns, if each of the more than 400 restaurants in Fort Collins alone committed to sourcing just one ingredient locally for as much of the year as it’s available, it would help stabilize local farms.

He shares something Native Hill owners Nic and Katie told him after working with The Kitchen for some time. “They told me they were able to grow their business model thanks to our relationship. This is exactly the impact restaurants can have.”

He admits that this won’t be easy for many restaurants to do, as it requires a dramatic change in the traditional restaurant ordering model. The simplicity of one order, one delivery and one invoice is what many restaurants rely on to keep operations streamlined and profitable. At The Kitchen, however, they’re showing that a restaurant can be very successful despite the extra work required to source from multiple suppliers.

Ryan processed 40 separate invoices for the restaurant last week. But it’s worth the extra work, he explains, knowing that each of those invoices represents a long-term relationship.

Fort Collins boasts a wealth of innovative farmers eager to diversify their business models. Contracting with

restaurants is one way for them to do this. Ryan highlights Lakeridge Farms, whose owners work at The Kitchen.

“They’re supplying to restaurants in Denver and Boulder because those restaurants can’t find sources closer to them. Meanwhile, we have all these restaurants in Fort Collins who could be taking advantage of these amazing products right in their backyard.”

While Ryan holds The Kitchen restaurant accountable to high food purchasing standards and supporting local producers, The Kitchen Community, The Kitchen’s non profit organization, is working hard to provide K-12 students with access to gardens at their schools.

Madeleine Nelson, Colorado Development Manager for The Kitchen Community, describes the success they’ve had with Poudre School District. With three gardens built since Spring 2014 and two more planned for Fall 2015, she sees great potential to get gardens into every school in the district. Any school can submit an application for a garden at any time; all information is online at www.thekitchencommunity.org. The key ingredient for a successful school garden, Nelson says, is the involvement of the teachers. “Bauder Elementary has great buy-in from every single staff member and Rice Elementary was able to use the gardens all summer thanks to summer programming.” Not only do the students get access to fresh food from the school garden, but the garden becomes a teaching space. “We’ve seen the gardens used for science and math classes” says Nelson. “They’re really great experiential learning spaces”.

The Kitchen and The Kitchen Community are setting the bar high for support of local food. As Ryan says, “I’m not in this for competition, but for collaboration.” He’s eager to share his lessons and help other restaurants to shift some of their purchasing to local producers.

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POETRY OF THE GOOD FOOD REVOLUTION

BY DANA GUBER

IT IS EASY TO get caught up in the clichés of the local food movement. It is a hopeful, dirty and righteous subject.

We wax poetic about long, hot days in the sun, about watching the light in a child’s eye when they pull up their first carrot, and about bountiful bins of cucumbers, kohlrabi, and kale.

We paint pictures of our community in the color of vegetables. We mix splashes of yellow squash, purple eggplant, and deep shades of red tomato.

We recite the pensive and promising poetry of the good food revolution.

At The Growing Project, the local food movement is different. Not only do we speak poetry though working with the earth and through the mud on our boots, but we get real. We can’t pretend that local food is just for the privileged. We can’t pretend that it is ok that our government subsidizes the production of commodity crops for the benefit of big corporations to turn unrecognizable cobs of corn into a sugary sludge of soda pop and Skittles. We

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can’t pretend our farmers aren’t forced to charge higher prices for their local luxuries due to these subsidies.

At The Growing Project, we get real food to real people. Regardless of age, race, income, gender, and everything else that makes us so similar and so different from each other, we know that all people have the right to REAL food.

And through our poetic desires to reconnect with the earth and each other, real things happen. As we finish our 7th growing season with an imaginative intensity that only a grassroots nonprofit can possess, we find ourselves wading through rows of squash at our community gardens, running through ten foot tall corn with kids from The Boys and Girls Club, and biking hundreds of pounds of produce to the food bank.

There is nothing more real than a garden. There is nothing more real than the taste of a sungold cherry tomato or the feeling of luging yet another 10 pound zucchini out of its prickly prison.

And as we have realized after the long

days and after the sun starts to set, that our community, particularly our youth, need something real.

There is nothing more real than seeing a teenager enjoy completing their community service in the garden. There is nothing more real than seeing a 6 yearold stuff his face full of snap peas. There is nothing more real than a family getting excited about the first hot peppers of the season. And there is nothing more real than roasting eggplant and zucchini over the fire with co-workers and volunteers after a long day in the garden.

We realize, as we gaze over the rows of rainbow roots and the contours of colorful cabbages, that the real local food movement we have created in Fort Collins is growing. Please plant, grow, eat, and share with The Growing Project. Donate or get involved in feeding yourself and your community by visiting us at www.thegrowingproject.org.

Dana Guber is the Executive Director of The Growing Project

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LOCAL PRODUCER LISTINGS Find a local farm near you FISH

MUTTON

BEEF

DAIRY

PORK

POULTRY

2 R’s Farm 19361 Hwy. 61 Platteville (970) 737-2689

Blue Sky Farm Windsor www.blueskyfarmcolorado.com

Amy & Ellen’s Grass Fed Beef 181 Lazy D Ranch Rd. Bellvue, www.barncatservices.com

Bracewell Produce 30951 County Rd. 27, Greeley

Anders Farm 8443 Hwy. 85, Fort Lupton Bartels Farm 3424 E. Douglas Rd. Fort Collins www.thebartelsfarm.com Bayberry Fresh Year-round CSA bayberryherbs@gmail.com 719-580-3236, greens & herbs Bee Squared Apiaries Berthoud www.bethsbees.com Big Willy’s Farm 300 42nd St SW Loveland www.bigwillysfarm.com Blue Barrel Farm CSA, Fort Collins www.bluebarrelfarm.com Blue Bench Farms 33772 State Highway 257 Windsor www.bluebenchfarms.com

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Bucking Horse Farm CSA, Fort Collins C&R Farms Palisade, www.candrfarms.com peaches Carrie’s Clucks CSA, 37477 County Rd. 21 Windsor, offering tours www.carriesclucks.com Clarks Honey Farm Evans Colorado Honey Co. Fort Collins www.beeyondthehive.com Colorado Wise Acres Farm 8695 County Rd. 29 1/2 Fort Lupton coloradowiseacresfarm.com ColoState CSA CSA, Fort Collins, www.facebook. com/ColoStateCSA Copia Community 1601 N. Shields Fort Collins

EGGS

FLOWERS & HERBS

HONEY

PRODUCE

MUSHROOMS

Copoco’s Honey 2020 N. College Ave. Fort Collins www.copocoshoney.com

Ewe Bet Ranch 1850 E. Hwy. 60 Loveland www. ewebetranch.com Sales by appointment only

Craig Angus Ranch 3785 Mount Flora St. Fort Collins www.craigangusranch.com

Fair Eliza’s Flowers CSA, Fort Collins www.fairelizasflowers.com

Cresset Farm CSA, 5609 E. County Rd. 52/ Richards Lake Rd. Fort Collins www.cressetfarm.com Croft Family Farm CSA, Kersey www.croftfamilyfarm.com D&H Farms CSA, Ault www.dhfarms2000.com D-L Cattle Co Estes Park, (970) 690-0150 Donoma Farms CSA, 10018 Weld County Rd. 110 Carr, www.donomafarms.com Ela Family Farms Hotchkiss, www.elafamilyfarms.com tree fruit

Foco F.R.E.S.H. Farm 2225 W. Vine Dr., Fort Collins Fossil Creek Farms CSA, 7100 Silver Mist Ln. Fort Collins www.fossilcreekfarmsllc.com Friendly Critters Farm 3915 N. County Rd. 19, Fort Collins www.friendlycrittersfarm.com pork, poultry, goat & rabbit Front Range Apiaries 4130 Hayes Ave. Wellington Gaia’s Farm and Gardens CSA, 4328 W. County Rd. 54G LaPorte, www.gaiascsa.com Garden Sweet CSA, 719 W. Willox Ln. Fort Collins www.gardensweet.com Ginger’s Farm CSA, 12037 County Rd. 74, Eaton Gingersfarm15@yahoo.com 970-631-3631

Grant Farms CSA, Wellington www.grantfarms.com

LaVida Greens CSA, Fort Collins www.lavidagreens.com

Motherlove Organic Farm 503 S. County Rd. 1, Johnstown www.motherlove.com

Sixdog Farms Wellington www.sixdogfarms.com

Grassmere Farm CSA, Fort Collins www.grassmerefarm.com

Lazy Bee Ranch 2503 County Rd. 47 Hudson www.lazybeeranch.com

Native Hill Farm CSA, 2100 CR 54G Ft. Collins www.nativehillfarm.com

Spring Kite Farm CSA, 3000 S. Taft Hill Rd. Fort Collins www.springkitefarm.com

Green Dog Farm CSA, 3005 Ross Dr. Fort Collins www.greendogfarmcsa.com

Leffler Family Farm & Local Motion CSA, CSA, Eaton www.lefflerfarms.com

Ole Dern Farm CSA, Fort Collins

Happy Heart Farm CSA, 2820 W. Elizabeth St. Fort Collins www.happyheartfarmcsa.com

Lindenmeier Farm CSA, Fort Collins www.lindenmeierfarm.com

Harvest Farm CSA, Wellington www.harvestfarm.net Hazel Dell Mushrooms 3925 Carpenter Rd. Fort Collins www.hazeldellmushrooms.com h-Beef Platteville, www.h-beef.com Heritage Lavender 4809 Foothills Dr. Berthoud www.heritagelavender.com High Altitude Organics CSA, 25572 Weld County Rd. 32 La Salle, www.highaltitudeorganics.com beef, pork, lamb, goat, poultry, turkey

Living Water Ranch Livermore www.livingwaterranch colorado.com grassfed & finished beef & lamb Long Shadow Farm CSA, 101 Bothun Rd. Berthoud www.longshadowfarm.com Lukens Farm 9378 County Rd. 78, Fort Collins (303) 579-2668 Lyons Farmette CSA, 4121 Ute Highway, Lyons www.lyonsfarmette.com Masonville Orchards Masonville www.masonvilleorchard.com apples & pears

Highchair Farms 914 Cottonwood Dr. Fort Collins www.highchairfarms.com farm fresh baby food purees

Mazzotti Farms 2628 Weld County Rd. 49, Hudson www.mazzottifarms.com

Jodar Farms CSA, 5100 E. County Rd. 48 Fort Collins www.jodarfarms.com

Meadowmaid Foods 1333 Road 50, Yoder WY www.meadowmaidfoods.com

Kiowa Valley Organics Roggen, www.kiowavalleyorganics.com organic beef Lakeridge Farms CSA, Fort Collins www.lakeridgefarms.org

Miller Farms CSA, 13912 County Rd. 19 Platteville www.millerfarms.net Monroe Organic Farm CSA, 25525 Weld County Rd. 48, Kersey www.monroefarm.com

On the Vine at Richmond Farms CSA, 3611 Richmond Dr. Fort Collins www.onthevine atrichmondfarms.com Quatrix Aquaponics LaPorte, www.quatrix.us Raindrop Retreat CSA, 6410 Placer Ct. Bellvue www.raindropretreat.com Raisin Roots Farm CSA, 901 S. County Rd. 31 Berthoud Raspberry Hill Farm CSA, Wellington www.raspberryhill.farm

Sunny Daze 901 S. County Rd. 5, Fort Collins www.SunnydazeGardens.com Sunray Natural CSA, Fort Collins www.sunraynatural.farm Sunrise Ranch CSA, 100 Sunrise Ranch Rd. Loveland www.sunriseranch.org Sunspot Urban Farm 1008 Sunset Ave. (970)556-5942 Sylvan Dale Ranch Loveland, www.sylvandale.com The Growing Project at Hope Farms 1601 N. Shields Fort Collins www.thegrowingproject.org

Red Dog Expressions Fort Collins www.reddogexpressions. wordpress.com

The Old Fence Farm Berthoud www.theoldfencefarm.com

Revive Gardens CSA, 1413 W. 57th Ave. Loveland www.farmfortcollins.com

Tigges Farm 12404 WCR 64 ½, Greeley tiggesfarm.com

Rock Ridge Ranch 8851 W. US Hwy 34 Loveland www.rockridgebeef.com

Top Notch All Natural Meats Pierce, topnotchmeats.com

Rock Soup Ranch 2420 E. County Rd. 68 Wellington www.rocksoupranch.com Sauer Family Beef 6681 County Road 50 Johnstown www.sauerfamilybeef.com Scarecrow Gardens 2235 N. 47th Ave.Greeley www.scarecrowgardens.com

Von Trotha-Firestien Farm at Bracewell 30951 County Road 27, Greeley bracewellfarm.com Westbridge Farms 1225 Blue Spruce Dr. Fort Collins westbridgefarms.com WiseAcres Greenhouse 3545 W. O St. Greeley facebook.com/ WiseAcres-Greenhouse

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FARMSTANDS

On the Vine at Richmond Farms-3611 Richmond Dr., Fort Collins Revive Gardens-1413 W 57th St, Loveland, Tues. 4-7

Anders Farm -8443 Hwy 85, Fort Lupton Bartels Farm-3424 E. Douglas Rd, Fort Collins Big Willy’s Farm-300 42nd St SW Loveland Blue Bench Farm-33772 State Highway 257, Windsor, Tues-Sun 10-6 Bracewell Produce- 30951 County Road 27, Greeley Carrie’s Clucks-37477 CR 21 Windsor, 7 days a week, 10-5, 970-213-4902 Copia Community Farm Stand-Odell Brewing Company, 800 E Lincoln, Fort Collins Sundays, Noon-6 Cresset Farm-5609 E CR 52/Richards Lake Road Fort Collins www.cressetfarm.com/red-barn-farm-store Croft Family Farm -Centerplace of Greeley, June-October, Tues.-Fri. 1-6, Sat. 10-6 FoCo F.R.E.S.H. Farm-2225 W. Vine Drive, Fort Collins, dawn to dusk daily self serve Garden Sweet-719 W. Willox St, Fort Collins, May-October, Tues-Fri 10-6, Sat & Sun 10-3 Ginger’s Farm-12037 County Road 74 Eaton, 7 days a week Good Grin Farm-2925 W. Mulberry St. Fort Collins Fri 4-7, Sat 10-1 Happy Heart Farm-2820 W. Elizabeth St. Fort Collins Hazel Dell Mushrooms-3925 E County Rd 32, Fort Collins, Mon.-Fri. 8:30-4:30 Heritage Lavender-4809 Foothills Drive Berthoud High Altitude Organics-25572 Weld County Road 32 La Salle Jake’s Farm-3620 E. Eisenhower Blvd. Loveland Jodar Farms -5100 E County Road 48, Fort Collins, Sun. 11-1 Long Shadow Farm-101 Bothun Rd, Berthoud Native Hill Farm-2100 County Road 54G, Fort Collins, self serve Native Hill at Beaver’s Market-1100 W. Mountain Ave. Fort Collins, Wed 4-7

Spring Kite Farm-2917 S. Taft Hill Rd, Fort Collins, MWF 3-7 thru October Sunny Daze-901 S County Rd 5 Fort Collins, contact for hours 970-223-7008 Tigges Farm-12404 WCR 64 ½, Greeley, 80631, August-October

FARMERS MARKETS

CAMC Fort Collins Farmers Market Harmony & Lemay, Ace parking lot, May-Oct. Sun. & Weds. 11-3 CAMC Loveland Farmers Market Garfield & 33rd St., Hobby Lobby/Arc parking lot, May-October Tues. 11-3 Downtown Mead Farmers’ Market- Mead Town Park, June 7-August 30, Sun. 12-4 Drake Road Farmers’ Market- 802 W. Drake Rd. April-October, Sat. 10-1 Estes Valley Farmers Market- 1209 Manford Avenue, Estes Park, summer, Thurs. mornings Greeley Farmers Market- 902 7th Ave., May-October Sat. 7:30-noon; July-Sept. Weds. 3-6 Jessup Artisan Village Farmers’ Market Blackbird Dr. & Timberline, Fort Collins, June 4-October 15, Thurs. 4-7 Larimer County Farmers’ Market Larimer County Building, Fort Collins, May 16-October 24 Sat. 8-12 Loveland Farmers Market at Fairgrounds Park Fairgrounds Park, 700 S. Railroad Ave., June 28-September 27 Sun. 9-1:30 Northern Colorado Farmers Market- 3522 West County Rd. 54G, LaPorte May-October. Sun. 10-2 Wellington Farmers Market- Centennial Park, Wellington, June-October 4-8 /dusk Winter Market – Opera Galleria, 123 N. College Ave. Fort Collins, NovApr 9-1, nocofoodcluster.com/winter-markets

CORN MAZES & PUMPKIN PATCHES

Harvest Farm 4240 E. County Rd. 66 Wellington harvestfarm.net Anderson Farms 6728 County Rd. 3 ¼ Erie andersonfarms.com

Miller Farm 13912 County Rd. 19 Platteville millerfarms.net

Bartels Farm 3424 E. Douglas Rd. Fort Collins thebartelsfarm.com

Northern Colorado Corn Maze 2318 S. County Rd. 5 Fort Collins nococornmaze.com

Fritzler Corn Maze 20861 County Rd. 33 La Salle fritzlermaze.com

Something From the Farm 8020 S. Timberline Rd. Fort Collins Somethingfromthefarm.com Tigges Farm 12404 WCR 64 ½ Greeley Tiggesfarm.com

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Help Pig and Bee find the words below to celebrate this year’s harvest season!

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2015-2016 CALENDAR of

SEPTEMBER

Hunger Action Month Join the Food Bank for Larimer County this September as we band together with Feeding America’s nationwide network of food banks to take action to end hunger in our nation. Hunger Action Month™ is your opportunity to get involved and make a lasting impact. Whether it’s by activating, advocating, donating or volunteering, you can find a way to make a difference this September! More info at www.foodbanklarimer.org

SEPTEMBER 3

Hunger Action Day This is the kick-off to Hunger Action Month.

Everyone in the community is encouraged to wear orange, the color of hunger awareness and to take action in some way. As part of the kick off, we will be hosting 3 tours of the Food Bank facility in Fort Collins. Come see our 30,000 square foot operation in action and learn what it takes to distribute food to 36,000 neighbors who need assistance in making ends meet. Tour schedule at www.foodbanklarimer. org/event/hunger-action-day-2

SEPTEMBER 11

Hunger Action Month Open Volunteer Day 12:30-3, Food Bank for Larimer County.

Take action this September and volunteer at the Food Bank! We are offering a one day opportunity to learn more about volunteering with us! The volunteer project will include a tour of our facility to learn more about what we do and a hands-on project that will directly impact people in need right here in our community. The total time will be 2 1/2 hours

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EVENTS

and this is a great way to get involved with a good cause! Invite your friends and family too! Sign up http://www.signupgenius.com/ go/10c0b4fa9ab2ca7f58-hunger2.

Spoontember at Ben & Jerry’s Stop by Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop to kick off Spoontember, a fun and interactive way to raise hunger awareness during Hunger Action Month!

Pick up an orange spoon, take a “spoon selfie”, post it on social media and challenge your friends to do the same!

SEPTEMBER 12

Potato Day 10-4, Centennial Village Museum, Greeley. Old time fun and historic activities celebrate the great and plentiful potato! Enjoy living history demonstrations, musical entertainment, a tasty baked potato and more. Admission is $7/ person (ages 3+).

SEPTEMBER 15

CSU Twilight Garden Series 6-7:30, CSU Horticulture Center 1707 Centre Ave. See the new Horticulture Center and learn about fall color shade trees and digging & planting bulbs. $10 on-site registration starting at 5:30. More info http://source.colostate.edu/ fall-gardening-seminars-begin-aug-18/

SEPTEMBER 16

Foraging Fruits & Seeds: Buckwheats & Wild Cherries 6-7:30 pm, www.thegrowingproject.org for location and RSVP. Learn about foraging fruits and seeds in Fort Collins. $10.

SEPTEMBER 17

Eat in Season Local Chef Cooking Series with Amelia Mouton, 415 6-8 p.m. Cooking School at Whole Foods Market Fort Collins. Learn from the best chefs how to eat in season using local produce and meat every other Thursday evening beginning July 9th. Each class will consist of the freshest in season produce straight from the farm to our kitchen. The menu will be developed weekly based on what is coming out of the fields.

Please note that this class is put together as a learning experience, not necessarily a hands on cooking class. You will pick up some great tips along the way and eat some delicious bites! $30 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ eat-in-season-local-chef-cooking-seriestickets-17372815559

SEPTEMBER 19-20

Slow Money Harvest Weekend Carbondale, Colorado. A two-day regional event featuring workshops, talks, on-farm tours and a celebratory Harvest Dinner and Dance. https://slowmoney.org/harvest-weekend/

SEPTEMBER 19

Dinner on the Bayou 5-10, Grant Farms. Featuring Chef Liz, wine tastings by Vintages and live music by Cary Morin and Paul VanderTop. $95 tickets at http:// www.grantfarms.com/farm/events.

Fall Fiesta 11-1, Bath Garden Center. Hot end-of-season sales and delicious tamales!

Growing Medicinal & Culinary Herbs 9-11, Gardens on Spring Creek. A multitude of herbs can easily be grown in Colorado – take this opportunity to learn the most popular varieties and their common uses. We will also discuss how to grow herbs (yes, perennial varieties can be successfully planted now) including garden design ideas, soil preparation, planting techniques and special conditions some might need.

Instructor: Natalie Shrewsbury, HTA, Horticulture Therapist. $18; $3 member discount. https://webformsrig01bo3. blackbaudhosting.com/46613/GrowingMedicinal-and-Culinary-Herbs Chocolate Tasting 1-3, Nuance Chocolate. Join Toby Gadd, founder of Nuance Chocolate and certified chocoholic, to explore the chemistry, flavors and mysteries of making small-batch chocolate. The Gadds’ fascination with chocolate has blossomed into one of the very few true bean-to-bar chocolate making enterprises in the United States. Go on a “show and smell – and taste!” tour of how Nuance makes chocolate from raw beans, roasted and ground in Old Town Fort Collins. $25; $4 member discount. https://webformsrig01bo3. blackbaudhosting.com/46613/Chocolate-Tasting

SEPTEMBER 20

Classic Fairy Gardening 1:30-3:30, Fort Collins Nursery. Make something ordinary extraordinary! With just a few houseplants, a miniature patio set, a pebble stone path and a little imagination, you can have your very own miniature fantasy world!

Choose from common miniature plants including foliage and succulent varieties combined with a selection of mini garden accessories and materials to create your ideal tiny wonderland. These indoor gardens are perfect for anyone, young and old, looking for a touch of magic to add to their home. $35 register http://fortcollinsnursery.com/event/ classic-fairy-gardening-21/

SEPTEMBER 21-22

Foraged Fork Dinner 6:00 at Fish Restaurant. Celebrate the Autumn Equinox with locally foraged foods, hand crafted brews and fish so fresh someone might get slapped! $70 tickets available at Fish and Equinox Brewing. Proceeds benefit The Growing Project.

SEPTEMBER 23

Pressure Canning 6-8:30 pm, Larimer County Extension Office. Learn how a pressure canner works as we walk through each step involved in safely canning vegetables, meats and seafood. Includes free pressure canner dial gauge test ($10 value) - bring your canner lid or just the dial gauge if you have one. $25 register online http://www.signupgenius.com/ go/10c0a4fabab2baafc1-food

SEPTEMBER 26

Harvest Moon Salmon Bake 6-9, Fossil Creek Farms. Watch the full moon rise at Fossil Creek Farm while enjoying a dinner featuring salmon, local vegetables and pairings by Horse & Dragon Brewery. Fortified Collaborations and Jax Fish House presents this unique evening to benefit The Growing Project. $85 tickets http://fortifiedcollaborations.com/ purchase-tickets/ Pioneer Living Day 10-4, Bee Family Centennial Farm, Fort Collins.

See what life was like 100 years ago, with demonstrations on farming, bee keeping, quilting, blacksmithing and more! Ice cream for sale and free lemonade.

SEPTEMBER 30

Saving Seeds in Your Backyard and Around Town 6-7:30 pm, TGP Educational Garden at Shire CSA. Learn about saving seeds and why it’s important. $10 www.thegrowingproject.org.

Fermenting Vegetables 6-8:30 pm, Larimer County Extension Office.

Natural fermentation is one of the oldest means of food preservation. Learn the science of preparing and storing sauerkraut, kimchi and other fermented vegetables safely in this hands-on workshop. $25 registration online http://www.signupgenius.com/ go/10c0a4fabab2baafc1-food

OCTOBER 3-4

HARVESTIVAL Grant Farms. Two fun filled days of activities for the whole family! Hay rides, live music, kid’s zone, Vendor Village, and educational workshops! Check our website for updated and additional information. www.grantfarms.com

OCTOBER 3

Bring in the Birds 9:30-11, Gardens on Spring Creek. Attracting birds to your yard can bring much viewing pleasure as well as provide pest-control as they feast on your garden insects. Learn the best ways to provide food, water and shelter for your feathered friends while making your yard more sustainable and improving your landscape. Plants that naturally provide food for birds will also be discussed. Instructors: Lauren De Rosa, Wild Birds Unlimited and Bryan Fischer. $12; $3 member discount. https://webformsrig01bo3.blackbaudhosting. com/46613/Bring-in-the-Birds

OCTOBER 4

Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off 10-3, Fort Collins Nursery. Fort Collins Nursery is now registered with the *Great Pumpkin Commonwealth as a sanctioned weigh-off spot. Growers will compete for cash prizes and Awards in multiple prize categories. Festivities include face painting, pumpkin bowling and food trucks.

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Locally Grown: A Musical Feast 12 p.m. Fort Collins Country Club. Celebrate the harvest season with a gourmet farm-to-table dinner & musical selections from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! Harvest & harmony meet as local farmers showcase the fruits of their labor in auction baskets. All proceeds will benefit the Opera Fort Collins general operating budget. $65 http://www.lctix.com/ Locally-Grown---A-Harvest-Dinner

OCTOBER 6

Whole Grain Bread Making 6-8:30 pm, Larimer County Extension Office.

Discover how simple and economical it is to make healthy whole grain breads from safely stored high-moisture dough. The workshop includes samples, recipes and tips for whole grain baking at altitude. Bring a 3-4 quart container for mixing dough to take home. $25 registration online http://www.signupgenius. com/go/10c0a4fabab2baafc1-food

OCTOBER 7

Roots and Medicine Making: Burdock 5:30-7, www.thegrowingproject.org for location and to RSVP. Learn about the burdock root and making medicine. $10.

OCTOBER 10

Care for the Caregiver Gardens and plants can provide stress relief and opportunities for social engagement for those who might be feeling a little overwhelmed by the needs of caregiving. This workshop will honor you by offering gardenrelated ideas for self-care that nurture the soul and engage the senses. You will also get suggestions for activities you can do with those you care for; all materials for activities will be provided. Instructor: Natalie Shrewsbury, HTA, Horticulture Therapist. $25; $3 member discount. https://webformsrig01bo3.blackbaudhosting. com/46613/Care-for-the-Caregiver

OCTOBER 15

Basic Cheese Making 6-8:30 pm, River Rock Commons Community House. The job of the cheesemaker is to convert milk into cheese. The milk may be from a cow, goat, sheep or buffalo, although worldwide cow’s milk is most commonly used. The cheesemaker applies craft and skill to the practice of cheesemaking, intending to produce a product with specific characteristics that are consistent every time it is made. This is not to say, of course, there is no room for variety or innovation, but a particular cheese needs to be made a particular way.

Learn the craft with us, and then make your favorite varieties at home. Class by Josh Beck of MouCo Cheese. $30 registration at http://sustainablelivingassociation.org/ workshops/

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OCTOBER 18

Spooky Fairy Gardening 11-12:30 & 1:30-3, Fort Collins Nursery. Add some fright for your fairies! We have a great selection of Halloween-themed accessories to make a delightfully frightful fairy garden, just in time for Halloween! With just a few houseplants, a gravestone, a ghost, and a little imagination, you can have your very own miniature haunted world! Choose from common miniature plants including foliage and succulent varieties combined with a selection of mini garden accessories and materials to create your ideal tiny wonderland.

These indoor gardens are perfect for anyone, young and old, looking for a touch of magic to add to their home. $35 registration http:// fortcollinsnursery.com/event/spooky-fairygardening/

OCTOBER 21

Making Soft Cheeses 6-8:30 pm, Larimer County Extension Office. Learn how easy it is to make mozzarella and ricotta in your home kitchen without specialized equipment. The workshop covers milk quality, food safety concerns, ingredients and techniques for making soft cheeses. Includes step-by-step instructions, demonstration and tasting. $25 registration online http://www.signupgenius. com/go/10c0a4fabab2baafc1-food

OCTOBER 24 & 25

Howl-O-Ween 4-8, Centennial Village Museum, Greeley.

Don your best costume and head to Centennial Village for tricks and treats as you stop at each of our historic structures for candy. Try your hand at Halloween carnival games and participate in the costume contest. Enjoy the autumn twilight and a few haunts and spooks like the “haunted Hall House” and the mysterious fortune teller “Boot Hill”. Other spooks are in store as you peruse our pumpkin patch. $1 children, $2 adults.

OCTOBER 24

Sheet Composting 10-12, Gardens on Spring Creek. Learn how to use this easy layering method of composting to suppress weeds and create better soil.

The instructor has used this method in her own yard to reclaim flood-damaged areas that were buried in silt and thick with weeds.

Sheet composting uses grass clippings, fall leaves and organic garden waste to create wonderful, rich compost. Save your materials for use after the class! Weather permitting, part of this class will be hands-on in our garden, so please dress appropriately. Instructor: Jeannette Fitzgerald. $18; $3 member discount. https://webformsrig01bo3.blackbaudhosting. com/46613/Sheet-composting

OCTOBER 27

Whole Grain Bread Making 6-8:30 pm, Larimer County Extension Office.

Discover how simple and economical it is to make healthy whole grain breads from safely stored high-moisture dough. The workshop includes samples, recipes and tips for whole grain baking at altitude.

Bring a 3-4 quart container for mixing dough to take home. $30 registration at http://sustainablelivingassociation.org/ workshops/

NOVEMBER 14

Winter Market 9-1, Opera Galleria Fort Collins.

Administered by the Northern Colorado Food Cluster, the mission of the Fort Collins Winter Farmers Market is to support local food producers, provide an outlet for direct sales to consumers, encourage season extension, increase the supply of fresh produce and whole foods in the region, and educate consumers about the variety of local foods produced during the fall, winter, and early spring.

Spice Up Your Life 2-3, Savory Spice Shop. Are you an accomplished cook or just a master of making toast? Do you wonder about the difference between a spice and an herb? Are you interested in learning more about why saffron is so expensive and what the differences are among the varieties of cinnamon? If so, please join us to learn more about the wonderful world of spices! Be prepared to smell and taste some intriguing flavors. Instructor: Susan Kirkpatrick, Owner/Manager, Savory Spice Shop. $14; $2 member discount https://webformsrig01bo3.blackbaudhosting. com/46613/Spice-Up-Your-Life

NOVEMBER 15

Classic Fairy Gardening 1:30-3:30, Fort Collins Nursery. Make something ordinary extraordinary! With just a few houseplants, a miniature patio set, a pebble stone path and a little imagination, you can have your very own miniature fantasy world!

Choose from common miniature plants including foliage and succulent varieties combined with a selection of mini garden accessories and materials to create your ideal tiny wonderland. These indoor gardens are perfect for anyone, young and old, looking for a touch of magic to add to their home. $35 register http://fortcollinsnursery.com/event/ classic-fairy-gardening-22/

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NOVEMBER 21

Winter Market 9-1, Opera Galleria Fort Collins. Administered by the Northern Colorado Food Cluster. To support local food producers, provide an outlet for direct sales to consumers, encourage season extension, increase the supply of fresh produce and whole foods in the region, and educate consumers about the variety of local foods produced during the fall, winter, and early spring.

Holiday Open House 10-3, Fort Collins Nursery. Join Fort Collins Nursery for our annual Holiday Open House, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21. Enjoy holiday music and treats as you shop for the perfect live or fresh-cut tree, unique decorations, ornaments and more. Santa will be available for tykes with toy lists throughout the event (bring your camera for photos).

NOVEMBER 28

Winter Market 9-1, Opera Galleria Fort Collins. Administered by the Northern Colorado Food Cluster. To support local food producers, provide an outlet for direct sales to consumers, encourage season extension, increase the supply of fresh produce and whole foods in the region, and educate consumers about the variety of local foods produced during the fall, winter, and early spring.

DECEMBER 12

Winter Market 9-1, Opera Galleria Fort Collins. Administered by the Northern Colorado Food Cluster. To support local food producers, provide an outlet for direct sales to consumers, encourage season extension, increase the supply of fresh produce and whole foods in the region, and educate consumers about the variety of local foods produced during the fall, winter, and early spring.

DECEMBER 19

Winter Market 9-1, Opera Galleria Fort Collins. Administered by the Northern Colorado Food Cluster. To support local food producers, provide an outlet for direct sales to consumers, encourage season extension, increase the supply of fresh produce and whole foods in the region, and educate consumers about the variety of local foods produced during the fall, winter, and early spring.

DECEMBER 20

Holiday Fairy Gardening 11-12:30 & 1:30-3, Fort Collins Nursery. Fairies love the Holidays! Choose from a variety of holiday themed accessories to bring some cheer to your mini garden this winter. With just a few houseplants, a gingerbread house, and a little imagination, you can have your very own miniature winter wonderland! Choose from common miniature plants including foliage and succulent varieties combined with a selection of mini garden accessories and materials to create your ideal holiday scene. These indoor gardens are perfect for anyone, young and old, looking

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for a touch of magic to add to their home. $35 registration http://fortcollinsnursery.com/event/ holiday-fairy-gardening/

DECEMBER 26

Winter Market 9-1, Opera Galleria Fort Collins. Administered by the Northern Colorado Food Cluster. To support local food producers, provide an outlet for direct sales to consumers, encourage season extension, increase the supply of fresh produce and whole foods in the region, and educate consumers about the variety of local foods produced during the fall, winter, and early spring.

JANUARY 1

Winter Market 9-1, Opera Galleria Fort Collins. Administered by the Northern Colorado Food Cluster. To support local food producers, provide an outlet for direct sales to consumers, encourage season extension, increase the supply of fresh produce and whole foods in the region, and educate consumers about the variety of local foods produced during the fall, winter, and early spring.

JANUARY 16

Winter Market 9-1, Opera Galleria Fort Collins. Administered by the Northern Colorado Food Cluster. To support local food producers, provide an outlet for direct sales to consumers, encourage season extension, increase the supply of fresh produce and whole foods in the region, and educate consumers about the variety of local foods produced during the fall, winter, and early spring.

JANUARY 30

Winter Market 9-1, Opera Galleria Fort Collins. Administered by the Northern Colorado Food Cluster. To support local food producers, provide an outlet for direct sales to consumers, encourage season extension, increase the supply of fresh produce and whole foods in the region, and educate consumers about the variety of local foods produced during the fall, winter, and early spring.

FEBRUARY 13

Winter Market 9-1, Opera Galleria Fort Collins. Administered by the Northern Colorado Food Cluster. To support local food producers, provide an outlet for direct sales to consumers, encourage season extension, increase the supply of fresh produce and whole foods in the region, and educate consumers about the variety of local foods produced during the fall, winter, and early spring.

FEBRUARY 27

Winter Market 9-1, Opera Galleria Fort Collins. Administered by the Northern Colorado Food Cluster. To support local food producers, provide an outlet for direct sales to consumers, encourage season extension, increase the supply of fresh produce and whole foods in the region, and educate consumers about the variety of local foods produced during the fall, winter, and early spring.

MARCH 12

APRIL 9

Winter Market 9-1, Opera Galleria Fort Collins.

Administered by the Northern Colorado Food Cluster, the mission of the Fort Collins Winter Farmers Market is to support local food producers, provide an outlet for direct sales to consumers, encourage season extension, increase the supply of fresh produce and whole foods in the region, and educate consumers about the variety of local foods produced during the fall, winter, and early spring.

Winter Market 9-1, Opera Galleria Fort Collins. Administered by the Northern Colorado Food Cluster. To support local food producers, provide an outlet for direct sales to consumers, encourage season extension, increase the supply of fresh produce and whole foods in the region, and educate consumers about the variety of local foods produced during the fall, winter, and early spring.

MARCH 26

Winter Market 9-1, Opera Galleria Fort Collins. Administered by the Northern Colorado Food Cluster, the mission of the Fort Collins Winter Farmers Market is to support local food producers, provide an outlet for direct sales to consumers, encourage season extension, increase the supply of fresh produce and whole foods in the region, and educate consumers about the variety of local foods produced during the fall, winter, and early spring.

Winter Market 9-1, Opera Galleria Fort Collins.

Administered by the Northern Colorado Food Cluster, the mission of the Fort Collins Winter Farmers Market is to support local food producers, provide an outlet for direct sales to consumers, encourage season extension, increase the supply of fresh produce and whole foods in the region, and educate consumers about the variety of local foods produced during the fall, winter, and early spring.

APRIL 23

O

ur local food system helps protect our health and the health of our community and stimulates our local economy. Bounty Local Food and Farm Guide celebrates the local farms, producers and distributers that are part of an increasingly vibrant and resilient regional food hub.

ADVERTISE IN BOUNTY LOCAL FOOD AND FARM GUIDE!

The Guide includes:

• A comprehensive listing of local farms, ranches, food producers, farmers markets and farm stands • Coverage of current topics on our regional food system • A calendar of upcoming events around local food

20,000 Copies Distributed in northern Colorado For information, contact Kristina Cash 970-217-8786 kristina@fortifiedcollaborations.com

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WHERE WILL WE GROW OUR LOCAL FOOD? Land access is a root issue for local food farms and ranches

BY POUDRE VALLEY COMMUNITY FARMS, A LAND COOPERATIVE

NEXT TIME YOU INSPECT an heirloom tomato at the farmers’ market, take a bite of meat at a farm-to-table restaurant, or enjoy your community-supported agriculture (CSA) share, imagine the soil and water that grew your food. Does the farmer own the land? Will the farmer still have access in five years?

Unfortunately, long-term access to land with good soils and water rights in Northern Colorado is hard to come by. Leases to rent land are usually short term in nature (year to year or less than three years), and purchasing land close to urban centers is increasingly difficult because of land prices driven by the latest “cash crops”- houses, gravel, oil and gas. While farming farther from population centers can mean lower land prices, it makes the direct-to-consumer model (e.g. farmers’ markets, CSA programs) that many small food farms rely on that much more challenging. These “short chain” farms also depend upon a strong community of consumers and access to working members, both of which are difficult to maintain at increasing distances.

With an estimated 70 percent of

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U.S. farmland changing hands in the next 20 years, according to the USDA, we as a nation are poised to lose a lot of our farmland to uses that don’t produce foods for adjacent communities. Local food farming is, by its very nature, a challenging and tenuous business and it cannot compete with development or investment-driven land prices.

Long-term farmland access, which includes secure tenure and affordable rental rates, is vital for any farm but, for a local food farm, it creates stability that helps farmers connect to and reinvest in their community. Today, keeping land in local agriculture means making longterm, community-based investments that will provide both land and water for local food production, leading to a more robust local food economy.

Inspired by similar successes around th country, we are initiating Poudre Valley Community Farms, A Land Cooperative (PVCF) as one solution to the land access problem. By harnessing the power of member-ownership and combining it with innovative financing and land protection techniques, Slow Money

strategies, and community stewardship, the PVCF Cooperative will buy and own farmland, offering long-term leases (2030 years) at competitive market rates to local farmers and ranchers.

The farmer or rancher will gain secure and affordable access to land. The member-owners will enjoy: (1) peaceof-mind knowing that the land will be forever protected and productive, (2) preferred access to products and services from the farm, (3) pride of ownership in the land, (4) invitations to farm community events, and (5) potential dividends based on their farm patronage. Through the Cooperative, the very community that a farm nurtures and relies on for its consumers - individuals, households, restaurants, and institutions - can also own the land on which the farm operates.

Poudre Valley Community Farms is currently organizing the membership drive for its pilot farmland purchase. We are taking pledges now and memberships are available starting in October 2015. Visit www.farmland.coop to learn more about joining this vital effort.

Strengthening our local food economy and enhancing soil fertility by making

• Become a co-investor • Discuss a loan • Learn about community strategies • Visit - LivingSoilInvestments.wordpress.com • Contact - LivingSoilInvestments@gmail.com

microloans - SLOW terms. FAIR RATES. -

to farms, ranches, and the food businesses that help them thrive.

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Fortified Farm Dinners 24 |

OCTOBER 10

th

4

L A U N N A

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5-10 pm

COURSES

BREWERIES AND CHEFS

ALL LOCAL ...................

COMMUNITY STYLE DINING ..................

ABUNDANT SILENT AUCTION ...................

LIVE MUSIC ...................

FREE SHUTTLE FROM OLD TOWN AND MID TOWN ...................

To Benefit The Growing Project inside the greenhouse at Jordan’s Floral Gardens

900 N Taft, Fort Collins, CO 80521 For tickets and more information, visit:

fortifiedcollaborations.com/purchase-tickets