Short Version of what we plan to do
- "Build a network of CSAs and farms to help make this valley independent from national and international food supply chains, starting with a working CSA and market farm in Carbondale, Ute City Farms in Woody Creek, and including the already established Peach Valley Farm CSA in Silt."
- "These farms will serve as the campuses for a CSA farm school, which will supply the valley and greater area with farmers, farm workers, and knowledgeable citizen gardeners."
- "The nursery, located on site, will also provide the area with fruit trees and edible landscaping plants to help people start growing in their own backyards."
Why this needs to happen now
"Through a perfect storm of energy cost increases, global food and fertilizer shortages, and a growing global population... we are at a crucial juncture in human history, especially as regards food. The creation of a strong food infrastructure that does not rely entirely on outside sources of supply is the best step we as a community can take to ensure our safety, security, and survival..."
They plan to have 10 acres in vegetables, and 5 acres for orchard, plant nursery, and greenhouses. They have a number of partner organizations, and significant seed money to make this happen. I'm impressed!!
I see no reason why we can't do something similar in Weld and Larimer Counties. We already have a nucleus of wonderful CSAs, dairies, and livestock growers. If the Carbondale people can keep orchards in the mountains near Aspen, we can certainly keep orchards here. In fact, Loveland used to be a big cherry growing area, and with climate change, we have gained a whole zone in plant hardiness (previously 4/5 to 5/6 now).
What would it take to bring Larimer and Weld people together for a local and sustainable food system? With the costs of transportation skyrocketing, food from other continents will become more and more expensive. If we want food security in the future, we need to build a partnership of interested farmers and community organizations, with the clear intention of becoming 80% food-sustainable (and working toward 95%).
Please, if you read this post, respond with some ideas for putting something like this together. If Carbondale can do it, we can do it!
4 comments:
A start might be to have people grow what they can grow well on their land, and trade it with others? I mean... it would be great to have a separate lot and buildings nad such for such a venture... but it could be started through a garden sharing co-op, where others strive to grow more than they can eat with the idea of sharing with others.
For example, I have two apple trees and a cherry tree in my backyard that if properly taken care of (and we are trying this year) would create way more apples than we could use (and agood deal of cherries). Our lot is VERY shady and not conducive to tomatoes or peppers... (although a recent tree pruning hopefully has helped that) I would love to trade apples for such things.
We are getting our "share" from Peach Valley. Such a lovely family and nice to know who we are supporting.
Jane in Vail
I'm not sure what altitude you are but here in Blackforest (7500 feet) I'm having real issues with fruit trees. One of my cherries seems to have set fruit wonderfully this year and only one apple tree bloomed (ellison's orange), but the other apples, they do look happy and healthy but are just not blooming! My peach has lice this year, ugh....
Jennifer, I like your idea. Maybe we can make it happen around here.
Jane: glad to know that you subscribe to Peach Valley and are participating in this project.
Etha: We're at 5500 feet, and our apples did practically NOTHING this year. I don't know why. Peaches and plums down a lot. Cherries just mediocre. Last year we were up to our ears in fruit.
I don't know if it was the dry spring or the lack of pollinators. But I'm concerned about it.
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