Good Things Growing at Equity Garden

Look what you’ve done!

Thanks to you and your support of Colorado Farm & Food Alliance’s Equity Garden & Incubator Plot big things have been happening.

This last weekend we put up the timber-framed classroom on the piece of land we are stewarding in Paonia, Colorado. Thanks to carpenter and craftsman Ben de Leiris and all our exceptional learners and volunteers who helped make this happen last month!

Ben does exceptional work, and we were pleased to be able to work with him to do a “barn raising” as an opportunity to teach about his craft as part of our winter - spring workshop series.

The structure itself is handcrafted with mortise and tendon joinery utilizing locally milled and sourced timber, secured with wooden pegs and set in iron footings crafted by North Fork blacksmith Ira Houseweart.

A galvanized roof completes the design for the open-walled pavilion. Next up for this summer will be the pathway made with pavers from Delta Brick & Climate – utilizing local clay from sediment taken out of Paonia Reservoir.

Ready for 2022 Season!

This season we are also welcoming our first crop of aspiring farmers on our incubator plots, and we have started seeds in the greenhouse for our Equity Garden to support area food-sharing efforts.
Plant starts will also be available for any of our “giving gardeners” who agree to grow and harvest a little extra for food-sharing as part of our Plant-a-Row project.
Folks who are interested can email Elizabeth@colofarmfood.org to sign up!
Also, we will be planting more native perennial, heritage southwest and other demonstration gardens at the site and preparing for the other planned features including an outdoor kitchen and traditional southwestern horno oven, all-accessible raised garden beds, and other outdoor learning spaces.
We hope to have much of this happening, installed or in-the-works by this Fall, when we will be hosting another series of workshops.
So again thank you for your support of this project space, and for your support of the Colorado Farm & Food Alliance.

Community makes it happen!

None of this would happen without the support of individuals and businesses from Colorado and beyond.

Over 50 people have stepped up to donate money and time to making this project a reality for the North Fork Valley and all who visit.

If you are able to help us keep this work going please consider making a contribution today and sharing this with your family, friends and colleagues who might also be interested in supporting our work.