www.sustainableways.orgLOCAL FOODSHED FOCUS GROUP
Purpose: Slide 3
To inspire, facilitate, and support the ability of Wet Mountain Valley residents to sustainably grow and distribute healthful pesticide-free food sufficient to supply the needs of all residents and visitors while protecting and enhancing the health of the Valley’s eco-system.
What we do:
We work together to
- provide educational opportunities for the general public through Sustainable Ways Educational Forums
- demonstrate dryland farming
- research and record how old-timers sustained themselves without input from outside the valley
- encourage and enable local residents to develop local business opportunities based on local eco-friendly food production and distribution
Community Garden:
The Cliffs Park: A Community Garden
Farmers' Market:
The
Farmers' Market is a project of The Wet Mountain Valley Food Cooperative
which was created by members of Sustainable Way's Local Foodshed Focus
Group as an essential element of achieving sustainability in our Valley.
The 2010 Farmers' Market will begin June 17th and run every Thursday
from 3:30-6:00pm through September at Vimont Park, 315 Main Street,
Westcliffe. For more information or to learn how to sell your products
at the Westcliffe Farmers' Market please visit: www.wmvfcoop.org or
contact Buffy Lenth at 719-783-4833 or 
.
Community Shared Agriculture
In 2010 Valley residents have a CSA
opportunity available to them offered by Javernick Family Farms, out of Canon City. CSA share pick-ups will be on Thursday afternoons on Main Street in Westcliffe at the site of the 2010 Farmers Market begining on the last Thursday in May 28th and continue every Thursday
through October. The Javernicks are a long time Wet Mountain Valley family, although this farm is in Canon City where the growing season is longer.
To sign-up for the CSA or to learn
more:
Javernick Farms CSA: T. 719.371.3241
E. javernickfamilyfarms@yahoo.com
Local gardening experts Cord and Penn Parmenter share their high altitude gardening expertise through lectures and garden tours. See Calendar of Events and/or click here: Parmenter 2010 gardening and greenhouse class schedule
Permaculture... and high altitude vegetable gardening
We are fortunate in our Valley to have people involved with permaculture. One of our Sustainable Ways members, Sue Pitman, has worked hard to earn her certification as a qualified Permaculturist., as has Ayesha. In 2008 Sue hosted members of the Pikes Peak Permaculture organization, and as part of their Valley visit they conducted an analysis of the beautiful garden, farm, and overall phenomenal place created by Cord and Penn Parmenter. Sustainable Ways was able to obtain permission from the author (Judith Rice-Jones) and the Parmenters of the report prepared on the Parmenter visit to make it available for everyone through our website. For a copy of this interesting and insightful report just click here: Permaculture Report on the Parmenter's successful high altitude garden.
Sustainable Ways is sponsoring an exciting 2 week official Permaculture Design Certification Course (co-sponsored by Pikes Peak Permaculture). Led by Marco Lam the course is from July 26 to August 7, 2010. This Course is expected to attract people from all over the country who wish to be certified in Permaculture Design and spend two weeks in our gorgeous valley. One of the design projects is expected to be the new Community Garden in Westcliffe.
Local scholarships are available.
For more information see 2010 PDC flyer Scholarship Application
Rainwater use research
There are various opinions on whether or not it is legal to use the rainwater from the downspouts on home gutters to water vegetable gardens. In February 2009 the Denver Botanical Gardens held a seminar on the use of rainwater in landscaping. The seminar was attended by Local Food Shed Chair, Sue Pitman. See her notes about how to legally use rainwater: Legal use of rainwater in Colorado BeesEncouraging and caring for honey bees is an essential element of sustainability. For information about Natural Beekeeping in the Wet Mountain Valley see Mikes Bee Talk
Starting a Bee Club is in the works.
Proposed Community Children's Garden
We are seeking volunteers to design (and ultimately build) a community children's garden at the Custer 2020 site just East of the High School Stadium.
The purpose of the garden is to educate school children and
their parents about where food comes from, how good it tastes when it is fresh,
and how to grow food at home in our harsh environment at little or no cost. One
potential goal is to grow food to serve in the school cafeteria. More information and how to volunteer
Dryland Farming Demonstrations
Jim McMahon grew some wonderful tasting Yukon Gold potatoes on his property this past summer, and he shared them with a lot of his friends. He is hoping for an even larger and diverse crop this summer. Look for him at this year's Farmer's Market in Westcliffe.
Mike Anaya grew sunflowers and buckwheat for his bees and potatoes for his family and friends in 2008 without ever watering them.
For more information, please contact Sue Pitman at 371-3685 or e-mail at sue.pitman@gmail.com
Sustainable Ways - PO Box 672 - Westcliffe, CO 81252
A Non-Profit Colorado Organization