Getting started farming is extremely difficult. Before anything else, you need a place to farm and, if you don’t have land in the family, that means a down payment and mortgage. Acreage is expensive close to cities so often farms end up several miles out of town. Next an investment in infrastructure is required, including irrigation and fencing. In Durango, with an average of only 90 frost-free days, hoop-houses and greenhouses are also needed to extend the growing season. In addition, Durango has clay soils with a very high pH (the pH is around 8 in most places). Most crops like lighter soils and a pH of around 6.5 so organic matter, such as composted manure, hay, and peat, need to be added to the soil. Tools such as drills, saws, roto-tillers, and shovels are a necessity. Vegetables need to be cleaned, packaged and kept cold until market requiring cleaning stations, salad spinners, and refrigeration. Every year an investment in plants, seed, trays, and potting soil is required. In addition there are fees for permits, organic certification, farmers market attendance, and insurance. No wonder there are not enough small, organic farms to support our local food economy.

The start up cost is one reason why the average age of the American farmer is 55. The good news is that there are a lot of young people that want to farm, and many of us are getting creative in order to make it possible. Adobe House Farm only exists because we are farming on a friend’s land. For us, starting a farm along with a mortgage and down payment would have been impossible. This type of arrangement is becoming more common nation wide and not only allows landless farmers to get started, but also allows for food production right in town. Another farmer at the Durango farmers market is growing in 3 different yards in town and is providing the landowners free produce (yourbackyardharvest.net). Landowners willing to allow landless farmers growing space are promoting a more sustainable form of agriculture and helping the next generation of farmers get started.