Mountain Roots’ Philosophy
Mountain Roots’ growing spaces are highly visible, artfully designed spaces that are visited by residents and tourists of all ages. They provide space for organic food production, regenerative agriculture education, and create habitats for pollinators. Our farms and gardens bring our communities together in an outdoor setting that strengthens our connection to the earth and others.
We have two farms, three community gardens, two school gardens, and four container farms throughout Gunnison Valley. Each garden requires seeds, seedlings, soil amendments, water, fencing, season extension materials (frost cloth & cold frames), compost bins, tools, flowering annuals/perennials, harvesting hands, and packaging procedures that meet food safety requirements, and more.
Because growing food is a “lost skill” that is experiencing a renewed interest in the Valley, people who come to our gardens need our staff to provide education and guidance on a weekly basis throughout the growing season.
Mountain Roots’ focus is to approach regenerative agriculture with holistic practices, meaning we want to create healthier soil, healthier produce, and a healthier community. Our community and environment are everything to us. As we see new challenges, whether being food insecurity, environmental degradation, or food prices increase, Mountain Roots is here to maintain the balance between our food, land, and people.
Beginning Farmer Training Program
What is it?
The 2-year immersive NextGen | ReGen Beginner Farming Training program offers a combination of classroom curriculum and field experience. Topics include crop planning, living soils, harvest techniques producing for CSAs and markets managing a farm business, animal husbandry, and, of course, the large-scale production of diversified vegetable crops. Non-traditional farming topics include social justice issues in the food system, hydroponics, basic carpentry skills, medicinal plants and other topics vital for the 2023 farmer. The program is designed to enable individuals with little-to-no farming experience to become fully capable farmers or farm managers in just two years.
Where is it?
Located in the middle of the rockies our participants will farm at our two farms in the Gunnison Valley, Colorado and at neighboring farms in the area. Community Farm at ColdHarbour Institute is located 10 miles east of Gunnison. Glacier Farm is located near Crested Butte South. For more exact locations, check out this page.
What is the cost?
There is no cost to you! With support from the Colorado Department of Agriculture and local donors, Mountain Roots is able to pay the participants a stipend and provide room and board - rather than charge a tuition of sorts. The intention of this support is to eliminate barriers that exist for first generation farmers and people identifying as BIPOC and LGBTQ+ to enter the field of agriculture. All told, it takes about $58,000 to support one farmer through the program.
How do I apply?
Our 2023 cohort is full and the application period has closed. Please check back in Fall of 2023 for 2024 applications. Sign up for our monthly newsletter and follow us on social media to learn when applications open up!
Regenerative Farming
Our farm team is hard at work on the two farms we maintain, Community Farm and Glacier Farm. In 2022, both farms produced over 12,500 pounds of produce, which was distributed back into our local food economy through our CSA shares and Backyard Harvest Program.
Our farms focus on topsoil regeneration, increasing biodiversity, improving the water cycle, increasing resilience to climate change, and strengthening the health and vitality of farm soil. We hire young, passionate farmers who want to learn how to make a difference in their community by producing the most fresh, local produce to feed the Gunnison Valley, all while protecting the soil and our environment.
Our 2023 season farmer positions are full! Check out the open positions on our Healthy Futures page, and/or email farm@mountainrootsfoodproject.org to learn about upcoming opportunities.