Have a craving for asparagus, peas and tender green onions? Seasonal eating just feels right this time of year, and one of the best ways to lean into it is through a CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture, program. In a CSA model, customers buy shares of a local farm’s harvest in advance, then receive regular […]
farming
Posted inNonprofits
Cultivating community, connection and fresh food at Highwater Farm
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 […]
Posted inColumns
CVEPA Views: Some thoughts about Eugene Grubb, Charles McClure and Casey Piscura
Since the time of initial European settlement, our valley has attracted the attention of some brilliant agrarians. These visionaries are sometimes called “bioneers.” One such man was Eugene Grubb, who in 1912 characterized the Valley’s fertility as follows: “No part of the world is better fitted by nature for growing potatoes than the mountain districts […]
Posted inObituaries
Obituary: Casey James Piscura
September 10, 1985 – February 2, 2025 Casey Piscura passed away on Feb. 2 in Carbondale. Born on Sept. 10, 1985, in Pulaski, Virginia, Casey grew up in Draper, Virginia, where he spent much of his childhood enjoying the beauty of Claytor Lake. A gifted athlete, Casey excelled in every sport he pursued. He played […]
Posted inFiction
Works in Progress
EarthboundBy Katie Brimm For Casey, and all farmers lost to suicide. Rootless he leaves The earth bound Now to another Dimension. Gone Where we cannot follow, cannot Feast upon the earthly delights He has always grown For us, he bred Tomatoes that survive frostThat grow Above six thousand feet His feet will never touch The ground where His hands Plunged into the rich loam Whose […]
Posted inNews
Rest in peace, Casey Piscura
The Sopris Sun is sad to announce the passing of Casey Piscura. A pillar of our local agriculture movement, Casey stewarded the fields at Sunfire Ranch for nearly a decade. His seed-breeding company, Wild Mountain Seeds, gained international prestige with original varieties of tomato, squash and more. Casey also founded the nonprofit Seed Peace with […]
Posted inBusiness
Local food knows no season (sort of)
“Vote for what you want with your dollars,” encouraged Matthew Kottenstette, co-founder of Farm Runners, a business based in Hotchkiss that transports local food year-round to restaurants and grocers in the Roaring Fork, Crystal, Gunnison and Grand valleys.Kottenstette and his wife, Emma, came to the North Fork Valley working for small farms and founded Farm […]
Posted inColumns, Uncategorized
Branching Out: Striving and stretching
Grunting, I doubled into the fence stretcher, pulling barb wire taut again. Mouth full of galvanized staples, I spit one out, both hands occupied. Didn’t know how others did it, so I did it my way and may have looked foolish. Working alone for days on end, I could care less. The work felt purposeful, […]
Posted inNews, Uncategorized
Robotics meets farming in Silt
On tour with Spring Born Director of Marketing and Sales Danielle Davis, the building is permeated with the dank stench of nutrient-dense peat. The recently-built, 3.5-acre lettuce factory, located in Silt, will deliver year-round, fresh greens that have touched no human hands. “The first time the greens will be touched is in your kitchen,” boasts […]