So, for me, as the founder of the Colorado Farm & Food Alliance, it could have had no greater cause than to do good in its time, and then to be the chrysalis for new things.

With news of the completion of Colorado Farm and Food Alliance’s organization as I had come to know it came a wave of emotions: curiosity, tenderness and gratitude, a tinge of relief. I have evolved so much as a person as a result of my time there and the creation of the Just Good Food program and Mariposa Ascendente. A flood of memories reminds me of the workshops where I learned so much about regenerative agriculture and the people who believe in it through action and brave experimentation.

“Heal the farmer; heal the farm,” read a slide from the Regenerative Ag Conference my colleague Sarsa attended recently. This statement speaks strongly to the behavioral health side of our mission at Mariposa Ascendente (Butterfly Rising), AKA the Mariposa Project. Not long after that, the inverse came to mind as I listened to a presentation by a successful regenerative cattle rancher: “Heal the farm; heal the farmer.”

As I wrap up my AmeriCorps service term with the Colorado Farm and Food Alliance, I’ve been reflecting on the many conversations and stories that shaped this work. My service position came through the Mountain Roots Healthy Futures project out of Gunnison, Colorado.  Many thanks to Mountain Roots for supporting stronger food networks and farms in the Gunnison region. The interviewing and listening process was central to my role. One truth surfaced again and again: farmers and rural communities are deeply resilient, yet often navigate systems that do not adequately support their well-being.

There’s an abundance of financial resources available to farmers and food-related small businesses in Colorado. Some are offered through federal funding such as U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), Colorado State University (CSU) related grants, etc. Others are offered through businesses, independent foundations, non-profits, rural development organizations. Some grants are offered an annual, others on a rolling basis and others, and sometimes one-time grants are available.  

I want to apply the word “organic” to this garden project in the expanded sense of “something that happens or develops naturally… something that is real, unforced, and comes from within.” - By Amber Van Cleave

Amber Van Cleave is now working to care for the garden with Sarsa, read about her springtime adventures, and join us for evenings in the garden this summer on Wednesdays from 5 to 7:30 PM.

As Elizabeth moves on from COFFA, Sarsa will be taking over the demonstration garden.

On April 26th Sam Kaup from Zephyros Farm and Wild Plum Nursery presented a workshop on plant propagation at the Coffa demonstration garden and classroom! He spoke about tips and tricks for how to create many plants from a parent plant, including techniques such as: division, suckering, layering, stooling, root cuttings, stem cuttings, semi hardwood cuttings, and hardwood cuttings. Read on to learn more about each of these techniques. 

Winter stirs a quiet inspiration that is kindled by the fireside through stories of what has been and all that can be. As the butterfly garden slumbers, the Colorado Farm and Food Alliance team dreamed up a fire pit for winter gatherings and a warm, cozy space to share stories of our agricultural roots and envision what we can grow. With the help of the Arbol Farm crew, we have installed a southwest-inspired sunken firepit where community members can gather to share stories and inspiration

This Fall we partnered up with The Learning Council and Western Slope Conservation Center to bring regeneration to life on local North Fork Valley farms and at our regenerative gardens and classroom, Mariposa Ascendente.

The butterfly is emerging at Mariposa Ascendente, a new regenerative agriculture demonstration garden and classroom. Designed by Elizabeth Agee, the walking garden features many aspects of regenerative agriculture that can be incorporated into a farm or garden that wishes to become more drought resilient, less fertilizer dependent, pollinator friendly and water wise.