This article originated from Sol del Valle and has been translated for English-language readers.
Highwater Farm was founded in 2020 and has since made its mark along a dirt road outside of Silt that leads to a space full of life and connection to the land. From the soil to the table, the farm has grown over 133,000 pounds of fresh produce.
To date, 314 volunteers have contributed more than 1,800 hours of service and around 14 students from five local high schools have participated in its youth program. Add to this the constant dedication of its team and the active participation of 460 families in its community supported agriculture (CSA) program.
The goal of the CSA program is to connect families with fresh, locally-grown food while supporting the work of community farms. The program runs for approximately 18 weeks, from mid-June to mid-October, during which time families receive produce directly from the gardens.
On Wednesday, July 9, Highwater Farm held its annual community lunch, prepared by Tiffany and Joey from The Farmer & Chef along with the youth program participants. The day began with guided farm tours where the young farmers shared interesting facts about their agricultural practices.
During the tour, one of the youth program participants explained the use of caterpillar tunnels, structures that help simulate warmer climates and protect crops from extreme conditions. They also highlighted the use of wobbler sprinklers, ideal for evenly watering vegetable crops.
María, a student at Coal Ridge High School, was one of the guides during the tour for the Sol del Valle team. “I’ve learned so much being here,” she shared during lunch. Her peer from Rifle High School, Sebastián, agreed. “It’s a great place to learn.” And their fellow participant Xavier added, “I’ve come to realize this is more than a farm, it’s actually a community.”
Highwater Farm invites youth between the ages of 14 and 17 to join as youth crew workers, a team that works on the farm during the summer and fall. Participants in this program commit to maintaining high work standards and to growing both personally and professionally.
This program is ideal for those who want to learn new skills, work outdoors, have a positive impact on their community, explore the world of agriculture or simply gain work experience and earn pay for their efforts.
Barbarita San Pedro, the Latino community outreach coordinator and an agricultural technician at Highwater Farm, shared that farm work “is very hard,” but also enriching. She invites the community to get involved, especially parents, encouraging them to “motivate your teens to join the youth program.” She added, “Everything grown here is fresh and organic, cultivated locally in Garfield County.”
Barbarita concluded, “Come visit Highwater. We speak Spanish and everyone is welcome.”
The farm is located at 7001 County Road 346 in Silt, along the dirt road that also leads to the Silt River Preserve.
For more information, visit www.highwaterfarm.org