This week’s harvest: tomatoes (cherry and big), basil, leeks, onions, carrots, peppers (serrano, jalepeno, sweet), daikon radish, chard, kale, cauliflower or cabbage, zucchini, eggplant, cucumbers.

Today we hosted a Fort Lewis College class on our 32^nd St. farm. The theme was “why hasn’t the local food system succeeded yet in Durango.” There are places around the country where local food systems are thriving, but why not here yet? I was so impressed with the students who seemed so motivated to solve what to me seems like a very complex problem.

We discussed the fact that the cool and short growing season causes a surplus of local produce for only two months of the year. But, the cold state of Vermont has a thriving local food system so that can’t be the only thing holding us back. Other students brought up the lack of a local distribution system (go SWFF, we need you), the price of land with water rights (YES!!), and a lack of training and support for beginning farmers for farming in this region (for sure!).

Despite these set backs, the students were impressed with the poundage that our farm produces on just 3 acres making it seem possible to feed the town of Durango pesticide-free produce in the acreage around the Animas river. If only we as a community could figure out how to get there!

Interactions on the farm with the community are the highlight of farming for me. Durango is full of intelligence, passion, and people ready to act! How lucky we are to live where community, health, and place matter.

Enjoy the harvest and see you tomorrow.

Linley, Peter, Reid, Charlie, Tim