At Two Roots Farm the hum of intention is everywhere. From soil to table, joy permeates as the crew celebrates 10 years of nourishing the community.
“This feels really bright and like the small piece in the world that I’m meant to do,” said Two Roots owner Harper Kaufman.
Situated on 22 acres in Basalt, Two Roots is a regenerative farm that grows vegetables, herbs and flowers. The crew enables biodiversity through meaningful farming practices including organic, sustainable and chemical-free, minimal tillage, crop rotation and non-invasive pest management — like using oranges to rehome pill bugs from the greenhouse to the compost.
“We really strive to be organized and efficient so that we can have a balanced and enjoyable life,” said Kaufman. “We all came here wanting to eat really good food, and we do.”
Musing over the complexities of soil life, Kaufman said that building healthy soil is foundational work. To increase soil fertility, the crew plants over-winter cover crops, minimizes soil turnover and uses compost built on-site or purchased from the Crawford-based Soil Not Dirt Farm.
“Sometimes it’s more about farming the soil than anything else. That does mean there’s a lot of physical labor involved, but we’ve always wanted to do things in a way that makes the healthiest food for the soil, farmers and our customers,” Kaufman said.
The results speak for themselves. Two Roots grows 60 crop varieties and flowers — tended by flower manager and floral design lead Marieta Bialek — that laden hundreds of tables.
“They really focus on soil health and leaving the land better than when we came across it,” said Soil Not Dirt owner Micah Ross. “Spending the money and time to build the soil and make it last and farmable without synthetic fertilizers helps farmers continue on.”
The beginnings of stewardship
“The story of Two Roots Farm is definitely a communal story,” said Kaufman, who worked on various farms, including Aspen Center for Environmental Studies at Rock Bottom Ranch (RBR) where she was the agricultural manager. At RBR, Kaufman learned the inner workings of animal production and starting vegetable gardens. Soon she was inspired to start Two Roots and leased a plot of land from Allison and Mike Spayd of Spradley Farms in Missouri Heights.
“They set me up in such an awesome way and they were so generous with their space, time and community,” Kaufman remarked.
For the Spayds the timing was impeccable. Allison had just given birth to their second child and would need help in the garden. Kaufman jumped right in growing vegetables for their CSA, local restaurants and the Aspen Saturday Market. Allison, also a former RBR employee, noted the challenges of farming and said Kaufman gracefully navigated many issues with her dynamic skill set.
“Harper really understands what the plants need, can tend to the soil and can plan. Farmers, especially at the scale she does it, have to be amazing planners and realistic,” Allison said. “She’s great with people, marketing and managing a staff. That’s a hard combination, but she does it so well.”
After two years, Kaufman secured a long-term agricultural lease on Emma Open Space through Pitkin County Open Space and Trails (OST). The opportunity was life-changing. According to Drew Walters, OST agriculture specialist, the lease is renewed every five years and provides a low-cost land option for farmers and ranchers in a fiscally difficult area. He said by supporting farmers, they can then support the community.
“I think folks are realizing that local food production is really important,” he said. “Having local food security is important for everyone.”
Today, Two Roots provides food for 200+ CSA members, local restaurants and its Friday food stand. They also share food with Lift-Up and Pitkin County Senior Center and have a sliding-scale CSA option to address food insecurity.
Through all this growth, Kaufman is humbled to do this with her crew.
Growing together
On a recent visit to Two Roots, a sense of peaceful purpose was apparent. Farm pup Murphy hopped between garlic rows, farm manager Anna Weller worked on the irrigation system while Katie Hunter, crew leader and data manager, tended to the collard greens. Nearby, laughter trilled from crew members — Emily Clausen, Payton Copeland, Haley Kasuls, Nick Owings and Jenifer Parker — prepping a new plot. Kaufman was greeting a neighbor who swung by to drop off supplies.
“I am so lucky to have so many amazing people working for me now, and so many people over the last 10 years,” said Kaufman who credited former farm manager Emma Geddes for recruitment. “I think this work attracts really smart, genuine and ambitious people.”
Clausen embodied this sentiment while sharing her farming roots.
“I wanted to help feed the world,” she said. “Harper makes this really easy … and I really like that I work for a woman.”
Owings and Kasuls — former Seed Peace and Sustainable Settings farmers, respectively — emphasized the collaborative spirit of the Valley’s farmers.
“I always knew I wanted to get into farming and I knew I wanted to work here,” said Kasuls. “Brooke and Rose [co-owners of Sustainable Settings] encouraged me to pursue my interests, and they got me in contact with the right folks.”
Overlooking the farm, Kaufman’s gratitude for the land, community and 10 years of intentional growing alongside dedicated farmers was clear.
“Like me, they see these issues with the world and they want to do something tangible and honest,” she said. “Farming is a really good answer, especially if you’re strong, hardworking and passionate.”
Two Roots Farm will reopen its farm stand this month. Be on the lookout for U-Pick Bouquets soon. Visit www.tworootsfarm.com for more details.