Growing season is upon us, and it’s time to consider which CSA programs will inspire your meal-time plans. A CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture, is when a consumer purchases a portion of a farmer’s harvest in exchange for a regular delivery. Shares can include seasonal produce, herbs, flowers, meat, eggs and so much more. When you support a CSA program, you can try new and exciting foods, provide farmers with early season financial assistance and strengthen local food systems.
The Roaring Fork Valley is fortunate to have an expansive constellation of dedicated ranchers, farmers and growers; and while this list contains many CSA programs, it is not all-encompassing. Be sure to check out your local farmers’ market to meet new and familiar suppliers.
Single source
Dooley Creek Farm
Contact: 970-618-4396, dooleycreekfarm@gmail.com
Months of service: Year round
Pricing: $117 monthly or $1400 annually
Delivery: To any doorstep within 40 miles of the farm.
Growing practices: Regenerative and humanely raised with no pesticides, herbicides or hormones
Offerings: 100% grass fed/finished beef, non-GMO pastured pork and organically fed pastured chicken. There’s also an option to add organic pastured eggs.
Tidbit: Dooley Creek Farm is the fulfilled dream of a rebel registered dietitian nutritionist, who learned that animal fats are good for you, and a reformed conventional alfalfa farmer. “We decided to raise the food that we wanted our children to eat and are now in our eighth season of growing food for our family and the greater Roaring Fork community on our little family farm in the Crystal River Valley,”said co-owner Mollie Shipman
Highwater Farm
Contact: 716-248-0525, becca@highwaterfarm.org
Dates: June through October
Pricing: $775 for a full share, or $575 for a half share
Pick up: Tuesdays in Glenwood Springs from 4 to 7pm or in Carbondale from 4:30 to 8pm. Boxes can also be picked up at Highwater Farm in Silt on Thursdays (4 to 6pm) or Saturdays (8 to 10am).
Growing practices: Regenerative and chemical-free farming
Offerings: Diversified produce
Tidbit: Customers can use SNAP benefits for on-farm pick-up. “We also run a summer job training program for local teens, ages 14-17,” said Becca Gourlay, farm manager. “Your support as a CSA member contributes to our mission of providing competitive pay for local teens to work with us.”
Juniper Farm
Contact: 518-487-1573, juniperfarminfo@gmail.com
Dates: July 9 to Oct. 1
Pricing: $30 a week, with biweekly and monthly options available
Pick up: Carbondale or on farm near Willits
Growing practices: No spray, chemical free, minimal tillage and with a focus on growing soil.
Offerings: Seasonal flowers
Tidbit: Juniper Farm has been growing flowers in the Valley for six years. “We are a female run business focused on cut flower production and floral design,” said owner Abby Zlotnick.
modern west floral co.
Contact: 614-307-4451, vanessa@modernwestfloral.com
Dates: June-October
Pricing: $35/week available weekly or bi-weekly delivery
Pick up: in Silt or Carbondale
Growing practices: Low-till, organically grown flowers with lots of love!
Offerings: A delightful mix of heirloom and hard-to-find annual and perennial flowers and foliage, as well as dried florals.
Tidbit: We are building a diverse flock of birds to help with pest control. We have quail, bantam chickens, guinea fowl and laying hens. It’s so fun seeing the birds dart between the flowers eating grasshoppers, earwigs and other yummy treats.
Rock Bottom Ranch (ACES)
www.aspennature.org/locations/rock-bottom-ranch
Contact: 970-927-6760
Dates: June 4 to Oct. 1
Pricing: $675 seasonally, with sliding scale and payment plans available
Pick up: Wednesdays from 2 to 6pm at the ranch
Growing practices: Regenerative
Offerings: Seasonal crops. Eggs and meat available for purchase at RBR.
Tidbit: The folks keeping the wheels spinning at Aspen Center for Environmental Studies’ Rock Bottom Ranch are land stewards first, farmers second. “We use all regenerative farming practices both in our vegetable production and ranching,” said a spokesperson from the ranch. “We also offer a six-month apprenticeship program.”
Two Roots Farm
Contact: 970-376-6039, farmers@tworootsfarm.com
Dates: May 26 to Oct. 17
Pricing: $755 for alternating weeks or $1390 weekly
Pick up: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 5:30pm at the farm. Non-CSA members can enjoy the Friday farm stand from 9am to 1pm, located at the farm.
Growing practices: regenerative, no-tilling and chemical free
Offerings: Vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruits, eggs, mushrooms and meat
Tidbit: 2025 is Two Roots Farm’s 10th year of growing vegetables for the Valley! “We are partnering with local ranchers and producers to offer everything from local flour to pasture raised meats,” said owner Harper Kaufman. “We also have a you-pick flower garden.”
Wild Mountain Seeds
Contact: info@wildmountainseeds.com
Dates: June 12 to Oct. 9
Pricing: $495 bi-weekly or $855 weekly
Pick up: Thursdays from 3pm to 6:15pm at Sunfire Ranch situated at 6333 Highway 133
Growing practices: Regenerative
Offerings: Seasonal vegetables and the option for pick-your-own bouquets when available. Add Dooley Creek Farm eggs for an additional cost.
Tidbit: Wild Mountain Seeds is “a pioneering seed breeding and food production research farm,” said the team. They are “renowned for breeding resilient, vigorous seeds and growing exceptional produce at 6,300 feet.” Committed to fostering a relationship between land, community and farmers, CSA members can participate in Thursday volunteer days to get dirty and enjoy access to exclusive u-pick produce.
Multi source
Farm Runners
Contact: 970-872-9633, csa@farmrunners.com
Dates: June 11 to Nov. 6
Pricing: Prices vary
Pick up: Wednesdays in Roaring Fork Valley
Growing practices: Organic or naturally grown
Offerings: Fruits and vegetables with add on options from a large product list, including meat, dairy and eggs.
Tidbit: Farm Runners has a Hotchkiss storefront with a locally sourced deli, while also distributing to wholesale and its CSA customers.
Paonia Food Movement
Contact: 720-263-0852, sarah@paoniafoodmovement.com
Dates: Year round
Pricing: Prices vary based on customized boxes
Pick up: Fridays in the Valley
Growing practices: Organic, chemical-free and regenerative
Offerings: Free-range meat, organic and free-range eggs, produce, tea, organic coffee, honey, spice, herb blends and so much more!
Tidbit: The Paonia Food Movement is a mobile farmers market that delivers local organic food from North Fork Valley farmers. “We focus on supporting farmers, building resilience into our local food supply and providing customers with high-quality, nutrient dense local food,” said owner Sarah Peterson.
