Growing New Farmers &Land Stewards
All four 1/8th of an acre Incubator plots were claimed early Spring of 2022. Eager aspiring farmers prepared their soil, pulled weeds and tended the beds with fresh cut oat straw and aged sheep compost. In the evenings, they prepared garden and business plans, anticipating a full growing season and dreaming of potential budding businesses to share their harvests.
After two seasons of tending the soil, planting cover crops, spreading manure and learning all of the slopes and microclimates of the farm, we were excited and ready to welcome our first crop of farmers to the plot this season.
Make it stand out
Colorado Farm & Food Alliance’s Incubator Program Creates Space for Landless Farmers to Grow and Develop Farm Businesses
The premise of the program is that aspiring farmers receive a holistically managed 1/8th acre plot with good water rights and access to greenhouse space and free workshops. Incubators also have the option of participating in Valley Food Partnership’s award-winning Cultivating Farmers and Ranchers that Thrive program.
This program provides the opportunity to participate in Holistic Management training, CSU farm, cottage law and food classes, farm tours and several conferences including the Western Colorado Food and Farm Forum.
Good things growing at the Equity Garden & Incubator Plots
The Incubators find themselves sipping coffee on pre-Fall cool mornings, looking out on the plots, preparing to weed and harvest the crops that were just dreams in early April. Plantings at the plot range from kale and tomatoes to interesting medicinal herbs like spilanthes and chamomile.
The new farmers are experimenting with products like edible flowers for catering events and fermented herbs and vegetables. Participants also join the community for regular workshops on regenerative agriculture and natural building at our timber frame outdoor classroom.
At the conclusion of the growing season, the Incubators will receive support from Colorado Farm & Food Alliance and Valley Food Partnership (with support through a third partnership with Landlink/Guidestone) to access more long-term agreements with farm land and help negotiate contracts so that the agreement is beneficial to both the farmers and the land owners.
Incubating New Farmers
Two of the participants have already worked out agreements with local landowners to farm their land next season! We are very excited to see the program support aspiring farmers on their path to land stewardship and eventual ownership.
Please continue to follow our work to see what we and the Incubator farmers are up to next! We are also accepting emails of interest for rental of Incubator plots for the 2023 season. Please email Elizabeth@colofarmfood.org with any questions and interest!
And if you like this work and would like to see it continue in the Valley, please consider a donation to Colorado Farm and Food Alliance.
