Healthy Archuleta (HA) is planning several events in the next couple of months that focus on advancing local food production. These activities build on our efforts in 2023, which included educational activities for youth and adults through the Seed to Supper Program and partnership with the Pagosa Springs High School and San Juan Mountain School. Other activities have included supporting local growers to donate extra produce to the Food Distribution Center (FDC) to share with the seven food pantries and local food purchases from farmers and ranchers that also support our neighbors who access food through a local food pantry.
As part of our community education efforts, regular Growers & Producers Forums help with a dual function; it provides our local food growers and producers with a venue where they can share their vision and their successes and challenges while at the same time educating consumers of local food with information regarding what is available and where it is to be found. The next gathering of the Growers and Producers Forum will be held in late February/early March. This gathering will feature a presentation by farmer Chris Frederics as he discusses the successes and opportunities he has experienced with his Terra Walk farm and the unique partnership he has with the owner of the land that he works so productively. All are invited to attend, more information will be shared shortly.
Additionally, HA has begun to ramp up preparations for its next bi-annual Food Summit on Saturday, May 11. Save the Date! The Food Summit of 2022 was attended by just over 100 participants and generated great interest in the offerings of the event as well as in making it a reoccurring event. Stay tuned for more specifics as planning progresses.
Finally, as part of HA’s Compost Committee, HA and its partners have been exploring ways to offer composting to residents of Archuleta County to help reduce food waste that ends up at the landfill. A county plan involving a Table to Farm Compost Kiosk (drop-off) at the Archuleta Transfer Station for community use is under consideration. An initial step by the County in this process is to determine the degree of community interest through a household survey. The survey – Archuleta County Public Survey: Table to Farm Composting – Would your household participate? – was just recently distributed by the PLPOA to its members. For those who are not members of the PLPOA, a visit to the County Office will provide a copy of the survey. The results will be critical to this community-driven effort to relieve pressure on our landfill and reduce food waste. HA encourages all interested residents to fill out the survey.
To learn more about the efforts of Healthy Archuleta and for more information, please visit our website, https://www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org/ or send us an email at fsfearchuleta@gmail.com.
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