Farmhands Announce Education Program for Spring/Summer 2009

As spring emerges, Farmhands education programs are getting underway! April 11th marks our first program, hosting the Chaffee County Mentors for a tour and fun on the farm. Youth In Action will also be participating in a farm-based program a few days later. There are many unique learning opportunities available to groups through Farmhands. To schedule a Farmhands program, please call Andrea Earley Coen at (970)309-3175.

Kid’s Summer Programs at Weathervane Farm
Farmhands is expanding its summer programming! Join Farmhands Education staff for one or many of these fun, hands-on programs based at The Meadows at Cottonwood Creek in Buena Vista. Designed for children ages 5-11, all programs are interactive, educational, and exciting opportunities to experience a working farm, meet the farm animals, assist with farm projects and explore the surrounding natural habitat. Local producers Weathervane Farm and Cottonwood Creek Dairy provide the hands-on “classroom.” Some of the class titles include:

- Farm & Wilderness Camp
- Chicken & the Egg
- Kids N’ Kids
- Little Sprouts
- Fun with Fleece
- Tracks & Signs – Who Lives Here?
- Diggin’ for Decomposers
- Farmer’s Helpers

Pre-registration is required for all programs. To register or for more information, please call Andrea Earley Coen at (970)309-3175.

** Farmhands, Guidestone's youth education program, gives children and school groups an opportunity to learn about their food source and what it takes to provide a safe, healthy food supply.

Cultivating Relationships with Land and People

By: Caitlin Roberts

As we fold brochures and finish website updates, the green grass begins to push through the brown carpet of winter and the perennial plants display emerald crowns of new growth. A new garden season is upon us. With seeds started in the greenhouse, baby chicks on order, and a season of field plantings on the schedule, we set the course on a new farming adventure.

This season marks our tenth year working on farms and our third as business owners of Weathervane Farm. In our first year here we grew a small garden for farmers market sales and worked with a West Slope fruit grower to provide fruit CSA shares. We also started egg production. Last year we expanded our operation to include vegetable CSA shares from our garden, wholesale accounts, pasture raised poultry, and lacto-fermented vegetables.

Our direct and local marketing provides us with great opportunities to cultivate relationships within our community. It is a pleasure for us to feel connected to the folks eating the food we grow.

When food dollars go to support local agriculture, there are many positive outcomes. Where shopping at the grocery store can be a detached and anonymous process, eating locally is about cultivating relationships with food, people, and land.

When we know the biological roots of our food and can connect with the source, there is more opportunity to learn about and be involved with the farming practices that directly impact us. Visits to the farm to pick-up shares, volunteer, or attend farm events, are activities that aid in connecting members to the land and food producers.

The Asian Palate, Mother’s Bistro, Simple Foods, Nature’s Pantry and Colorado Grown also help keep you close to the source by incorporating our products into their offerings.

Fruit and garden shares are still available. For more information about our farm and products visit our website at www.weathervanefarmbv.com.

Caitlin Roberts and her husband, Seth own and operate Weathervane Farm in Buena Vista, CO.

Guidestone Seeks New Board Members, Advisors, and Volunteers

Buena Vista, Colorado - Guidestone, a local non-profit devoted to supporting a sustainable future for the bioregion of the Upper Arkansas River Valley currently has positions open for new board members. In addition, Guidestone is looking for interested participants to serve as advisors and volunteers as the organization will be expanding the scope of its work in supporting the local food economy, farm based education, and local agricultural resource preservation in the coming months.

More information about Guidestone can be found at www.GuidestoneColorado.org and at www.GuidestoneCO.blogspot.com. Residents of the Upper Arkansas River Valley who are interested in becoming involved with Guidestone in any of these capacities are requested to send an email to guidestoneco[at]gmail[dot]com.