Support organizations that are essential to protecting and nurturing quality of life in Colorado. Schedule an early donation to show your support for the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition to help us build our capacity to increase access to healthy local foods in the Valley. Your community donation is greatly appreciated. Share on Facebook »»
We are Grateful to Our Supporters!
Thanks to 61 donors, we raised over $4000!!! This was 2x the amount we raised last year, and we are grateful to be entering the new year with the community's support. We will work hard to make local foods a prominent economic driver in 2021, continue to support the SLV's small-scale organic farmers, and expand education programs related to agriculture, the environment, and business planning. THANK YOU!
Virtual Cooking Matters Classes Fall/Winter 2020 Series
Join us on Tuesdays & Thursdays online for our Facebook Live with Cooking Matters starting Nov. 17th thru Dec. 10th offered in English and Spanish.
Rio Grande Farm Park Events - October & November 2020
Spooky Bat-themed Halloween Volunteer Work Day - Saturday, Oct. 31st, 9am-12pm Join us for a festive celebration surrounding bats and the implementation of bat boxes at the Farm Park. We will learn why these creatures are important in our ecosystem. We may utilize your help with other tasks that need to be done in preparation for winter. Bring drinking water, a mask, and warm clothes! View Event Info »»
Boys & Girls Club Trunk or Treat - Saturday, Oct. 31st, 1pm-4pm Join us at the Farm Park for this festive event for kids! Decorate the trunk of your car, wear a costume, and hand out goodies to the kids. For more info Contact Olga at the Boys & Girls Club. View Event Flyer »»
BEETOLOGY: The Secret Life of Beets - Sunday, Nov. 1, 11am Support a local artist! Perla Kopeloff is hosting a workshop all about beets outdoors at the Rio Grande Farm Park. Learn how to use beets in art and food! he will teach us how to make paper using beet stems, provide ink made of beets, and demonstrate how to make a delicious Russian beet recipe called Borsht. Donations encouraged for this Covid-safe event. View Event Info »»
Regenerative Poultry Farming Workshop Poultry - October & December 2020
Part 1 - October 16th & 17th, 2020 - Workshop focus on raising pastured poultry for meat Part 2 - December 15th, 2020 - Worksop focus on poultry processing regulations
On December 15, Dan Waldvogle of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union led a great discussion of poultry processing options in Colorado via Zoom. A Producer who recently built a poultry processing facility was also on the call to share about his experience. This provided helpful information and context to Rio Grande Farm Park and San Luis Valley farmers who are interested in raising meatbirds. We look forward to continuing the discussion of a meatbird producer collaborative in the SLV in the new year!
Thanks to the Main Street Project for training our community in regenerative poultry! From coop design to predators to chicken health to business models, we learned so much. And we are excited to apply what we've learned. Thanks also to all of our participants, and to MoKi; Local Foods Local Places for the delicious meals! View Event Details »»
Celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day - October 12th, 2020
How you can celebrate: Learn about your local ecosystem: Most people know about the relationship between milkweed and monarch butterflies. Consider the cottonwood tree, a native tree to this region and its many uses for shade, building, firewood, drums, and medicines. Female trees produce green capsules, buds are yellow-green or olive-green, thicker than the twigs they grow from, and covered with a sticky resin. This resin is very useful in making pain healing balms.
You can also think of the impact you can have by planting native species and reconnecting the health to your yard and neighborhood to its original ecosystem. The U.S. Forest Service has all sorts of resources about gardening with native species on its website Celebrating Wildflowers. Visit US Forest website to learn more »» Take some time to learn more about the indigenous history of the San Luis Valley at the Southern Ute website »»
Financial Literacy Workshop - September 28th, 2020
Please join us Sept. 28th, 5:30-7:30pm at the Rio Grande Farm Park featuring Dan Waldvogle of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union who will be leading a training on Financial Literacy.
Attendance is free and hot drinks will be provided. If you are interested in attending, please contact Erin our Ag & Ed Coordinator via our Staff page.
LOCAL Harvest Celebration - August 30th, 2020 Rio Grande Farm Park
The SLV Local Foods Coalition hosted event was a community celebration inspired by the bounty of the agricultural harvest. This event was an opportunity to experience the tastes of the San Luis Valley, connect with farmers, and learn what local groups are doing to support local growers along with live music, food trucks, demonstrations, interviews, farm tour and more! Thank you to all attendees and participants for joining us and for making this Covid Safe event fun!!
9th Annual VEGI Kick-Off: Barn Dance - March 28th, 2020
Join us on Saturday, March 28th from 6-9pm at The Barn at La Manzanilla for a fun filled evening of dance and dinner to support the Boyd Learning Garden Project sponsored by La Puente's Valley Education Gardens Initiative. View Event Info »»Reserve Tickets »»
Creating a Compost Plan at the Rio Grande Farm Park - February 26th, 2020
Patrick O'Neill of Soil Health Services will be leading a workshop on community composting for the Rio Grande Farm Park Farmers Cooperative. It will take place at 5:30 PM on Wednesday, February 26th in the office of the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition, 412 State Ave. This workshop will be focused on creating a community composting plan for the Rio Grande Farm Park. Members of the public are welcome to attend. Spanish translation provided. More info call 719-937-2319.
Benefit & Retirement Party for Julie Mordecai! - February 21st, 2020
Join us in honoring Julie Mordecai for her devoted service to the Rio Grande Farm Park on Friday, February 21st at The Barn at La Manzanilla. There will be a Walk in the Park and Dinner with Julie. Event is free although consideration of becoming a Friend of the Farm Park to support the the building of the Greenhouse is greatly appreciated! View Event Info »»Support RGFP »»Listen to LFLP Interview with Julie »»
Visit with Commissioner Kate Greenberg - February 4th, 2020
Join Commissioner Greenberg for Happy Hour hosted by the Colorado Department of Agriculture in Monte Vista on Tuesday, February 4th, 5-7pm at the Dos Rios Restaurante. This is a great opportunity to for a meet -n- greet with the Commissioner during her visit to the Southern Rocky Mountain Ag Conference & Trade Show held in Monte Vista! View Event Info »»
UCCS Grain School Workshops & Forum by University of Colorado Springs - January 17-19th, 2020
Create - Cooperate - Sustain For the 5th consecutive year, Grain School at UCCS will, for one last time, bring experts in the science and practical applications of heritage and ancient grains to campus. From farming to baking and cooking, fermenting, malting, and milling, Grain School ignites curiosity and fires up our imagination to reintroduce whole and heritage grains at home, in institutions, and the community. At Grain School we learn from artisans, scientists, and indigenous people. Join us on UCCS' campus for an exciting 3 days of grain work! View Grain School Flyer »»View Forum Events »»
Colorado Food Summit - Open Registration - January 7th, 2020
We are excited to announce that registration is now open for the inaugural Colorado Food Summit! The event will be held on January 7th, 2020 at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Early bird tickets are $55 and include access to all speakers and sessions, breakfast, lunch and happy hour (early bird ticket sales end 11/15/2019).
The Colorado Food Summit works to build linkages that meet diverse urban food goals while creating viable market opportunities that build wealth for Colorado farmers and ranchers and rural communities.
Full and partial scholarships (including for travel) are supported by the Gateway Fund and available for:
Farmers or ranchers, especially beginning (<10 years experience)
Women, people of color, and underserved community members
CSU Extension professionals or professionals from nonprofit organization
Students
Apply for a scholarship HERE »»
All scholarship applications are due by November 21st at 5pm MST. Late applications will be considered only as funds permit. Applicants will be notified of scholarship availability via email no later than November 28th.
Virtual Cooking Matters Classes Fall/Winter 2020 Series
Rio Grande Farm Park Events - October & November 2020
Boys & Girls Club Trunk or Treat - Saturday, Oct. 31st, 1pm-4pm
On December 15, Dan Waldvogle of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union led a great discussion of poultry processing options in Colorado via Zoom. A Producer who recently built a poultry processing facility was also on the call to share about his experience. This provided helpful information and context to Rio Grande Farm Park and San Luis Valley farmers who are interested in raising meatbirds. We look forward to continuing the discussion of a meatbird producer collaborative in the SLV in the new year!
How you can celebrate:
We would like to share the live stream portion of our bi-annual Local! Festival event held at the Rio Grande Farm Park via our Facebook page. 
Join us in honoring Julie Mordecai for her devoted service to the Rio Grande Farm Park on Friday, February 21st at The Barn at La Manzanilla. There will be a Walk in the Park and Dinner with Julie. Event is free although consideration of becoming a Friend of the Farm Park to support the the building of the Greenhouse is greatly appreciated!
Visit with Commissioner Kate Greenberg - February 4th, 2020
Create - Cooperate - Sustain
We are excited to announce that registration is now open for the inaugural Colorado Food Summit! The event will be held on January 7th, 2020 at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Early bird tickets are $55 and include access to all speakers and sessions, breakfast, lunch and happy hour (early bird ticket sales end 11/15/2019).
