Stocking Up!
In this series, learn how to preserve your harvest in order to enjoy it in the off-season.
Zephyros Farm and Garden
Too busy to can your abundance of tomatoes? Don Lareau of Zephyros Farm and Garden has some tips for you to process tomatoes!
Deer Tree Farm and Agroforest
AJ Carrillo of Deer Tree Farm and Agroforest demonstrates a method to preserve the harvest by sun-drying squash.
Thistle Whistle Farm
Thistle Whistle’s Mark Waltermire discusses the steps to salt-brine fermented hot peppers.
Gray Acres
Jacob Gray, Gray Acres, raises cows and chickens for meat products, makes cheese (chèvre and feta) and grows berries for jams.
Farmhand's Harvest
Benjamin Capron, Farmhand’s Harvest, offers frozen lamb to stock up your larder!
How To
USDA Farm Marketing Toolkit for Small to Mid-Sized Farms
This resource was developed as part of Initium Health’s USDA-funded effort to better support the farmers—and the broader network of local food system allies — throughout the great state of Colorado. It’s packed with practical tools, how-to guides, and real-world strategies designed to help you grow your farm’s visibility, brand, and revenue — without needing a full marketing team.
Think of this toolkit as a self-enabling launchpad to help you take control of your farm’s marketing. It’s made to be easy to use, adaptable to your goals, and supportive of as many folks in the Colorado agricultural community as possible.
Inside, you’ll find:
- Branding and storytelling tips
- Website and social media guides (with DIY templates)
- Buyer outreach strategies with one-pager examples
- Budgeting tools and marketing platform recommendations
- A ready-to-use action plan and checklist to get started
- and much more
Whether you want to boost CSA signups, strengthen your online presence, or reach more wholesale buyers, this toolkit is built to meet you where you are. Pick what fits your farm and skip what doesn’t — it’s flexible, farm-friendly, and yours to use at your own pace.
Pest Control – CSU Extension Webinar Series
Have you noticed an uptick of grasshoppers in the landscape? If so, you’re not alone! From home gardening to farming, grasshoppers can cause considerable damage to a wide variety of plants. This webinar focuses on grasshopper management options in your landscape.
Squash bugs are a very common Colorado garden pest. Brad Tonnessen, scientist at the Western Colorado Research Center – Rogers Mesa, will discuss all things squash bugs and upcoming projects to address them. For producers and gardeners alike! Topics will cover insect biology and life cycle, history, monitoring methods, local issues, and of course, the many options for organic control.
Organic Certification
On Apr 3, 2025 Halli Winstead and Matt Springer of Grey Owl Farm discussed organic certification.
Find organic producers – it’s best to do a search by city and/or state.
Greenhouse Plans
A lot of folks have expressed interest in growing their own food now and Juno Farms figured the least they could do is lend a hand. This basic 8x12x6 greenhouse design can be found on YouTube videos and the like. They took this basic design and made it Colorado proof. Anyone can build this with basic construction know-how and basic tools. Everything is off the shelf from local hardware stores and the greenhouse plastic is just standard sized available from most any of the numerous outlets online. The best part is the cost of materials is $350+/-. Much cheaper and waaay better quality than you’ll find commercially.
Email them at JunoFarmsnfv@gmail.com and they’ll send you their detailed plans for free! Complete with pictures and x’s and arrows. Just their way of contributing to the expanded interest of growing healthy, wholesome food and helping our neighbor in these trying times.
Bloom Freeze Damage Evaluation
Steve Ela of Ela Family Farms posted a series of photos on Instagram regarding grafting, brush burning and doing a freeze damage evaluation with blooms.Â
Grow Food. Share the Harvest.
The resources in the below button’s page are designed to help you grow your own food this year and beyond. Colorado State University Extension & Master Gardeners will help you every step of the way. More resources are added weekly and will change with the season.
Organic Farming Research Foundation Eduction
Organic Farming Research Foundation has created an Education page that contains educational guidebooks, soil health and organic farming webinars, online learning opportunities, managing risk resources, general reports, instructional videos and FAQs.
Kids Korner
For the kids: a fun overview of farming with info on agriculture history, farming around the world, and careers in agriculture.
Workshop and Seminar Videos
2020 Herb School
The Learning Council, Valley Organic Growers Association and Slow Food Western Slope united in 2020 to create Herb School – an offering to the community. Herb School met once a month from March through November. Topics discussed included many aspects of herbal wisdom: propagating herbs, medicine making, herbs as food, wild food foraging, herb craft, and more.
A number of the sessions have been recorded for your viewing!
Making Hay with Mike Straub and Ben Gillespie
Learn the techniques for managing hay pastures for high quality nutrition for livestock. Workshop covers hay production, hay crops, seeding tractors, equipment and utilizing livestock to enhance the hay field.
June 2020
Small Producer and Supply Chain Panel
A discussion about reclaiming local food systems, connecting directly with customers’ needs, and the core values. Sponsored by Startup Colorado.
May 2020
Lisa Ganora with Alicia Michelsen
A discussion of the significance of medicinal herbs during a health crisis like COVID-19.
May 2020
Regenerative Agriculture with AJ Carrillo
Learn how to plan, plant and manage your profitable ecological farm while restoring hope for the future.
March 2020
Seed Growers Panel
Daphne Yannakakis of Zephyros Farm moderated the Panel, which included Greg Cranson, Sarah Pope, Mike Chamas, Lance Swigart, Pat Frazier, Don Lareau and Laura Parker. Chrys Bailey provided opening remarks.
March 2018
Hemp Panel Discussion
Panelists include Dawne Vrable – Authentic Gardens, Elliot Brown – All Hemp Trading, Brian Stratton – Grower Remedios, Terry Moran – Colorado Department of Agriculture, Ty Odle – Paonia Extractor. With special guest: North Fork Valley Hemp Pioneer, Karla Tschoepe!
March 2018
Seed Growers Panel
VOGA conducted a Seed Panel session via Zoom. Panelists included Sarah Smith, Laura Parker, Pat Frazier and Horton Nash. Emily Hartnett, VOGA Program Director, moderated the session.
March 2021
Beginning Beekeeping with Julie Finley Ridinger
Learn about the life cycle of bees, evaluate the health of the colony, source clean forage through the season, learn the challenges facing your hive and more.
April 2021
Starting a Family Garden
Pat Frazier of Peace and Plenty Farm discusses the basics of preparing a family garden for vegetable, flower and culinary herb culture.
April 2021
Building Soil Health
Scott Horner and Lloyd Nelson discuss how to build soil health. Workshop held at Small Potatoes Farm
May 2021
Designing Your Small Farm
AJ Carrillo of Deer Tree Farm leads a discussion on designing integrated agroforestry using keyline design, permaculture practices and holistic management techniques.
May 2021
Blog Posts
Matching Grant Increases Resiliency
Matching grant from Colorado Department of Agriculture helps Mountain Oven to grow business to increase resiliency in local and regional food economy.
How Infrastructure And Inflation Reduction Laws Will Help Western Slope Farmers
Infrastructure And Inflation Reduction Laws boost the ability to turn hard work in the fields into a living that works for farmers.
Growing Seeds for Climate Resiliency
High Desert Seed specializes in growing seeds that thrive in desert ecosystems—while preserving stories, flavor, and food sovereignty.
Farming to Heal – Rock n’ Roots Farm
Rock n’ Roots Farm is dedicated to regenerative farming methods which help to replenish the soil – Farming to Heal in Paonia.
Immunity Farms Rouge de Bordeaux Wheat for Mountain Oven Bakery
Anne and Steve Ziemer of Immunity Farms delivered their first ever crop of Rouge de Bordeaux wheat to Mountain Oven Bakery.
Thanksgiving Boxes
Valley Organic Growers Association provides 20 Thanksgiving boxes to Delta County families in need and thanks West Elk Community Fund for the support.
Modern Eater Visits the Western Slope
The Modern Eater went out on a Western Slope road trip and took a tour of Berg Harvest, Colorado Pastured Pork, The Storm Cellar and Delicious Orchards.
Local Organic Farmers Talk Clean Water
VOGA members and the Board inform Gunnison County Commissioners that oil and gas development upstream is a distinct threat to the agricultural economy and clean water.
Social Media Fuels Market for Novelty Eggs
Posting images of novelty eggs with different colors gets huge views on social media, especially on Instagram. Example: Sunshine Mesa Farm’s posts.
Beekeeping Workshop
VOGA, along with The Learning Council, sponsored a Beekeeping Workshop at Thistle Whistle Farm on May 11, 2018. It was well attended, and the attendees participated by asking questions and offering observations.
Seed Panel and Seed School in a Day
The Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance along with the Valley Organic Growers Association, The Learning Council and Slow Food Western Slope hosted a Seed Swap and a Seed Panel plus a Seed School in a Day in Hotchkiss’s Memorial Hall in March 2018.
VOGA Visits DC
Valley Organic Growers Association along with Colorado Farm & Food Alliance, Western Slope Conservation Center and Solar Energy International visits DC to meet with USDA Undersecretary to talk about the importance of protecting Delta County’s water sheds and National Forests.
Let It Grow – KVNF
KVNF’s Local Motion with a Let it Grow program that features interviews of Eames Petersen, Scott Horner and Harrison Topp. Topic: how they plan, sustain and grow their operations.
Regenerative Agriculture
In Lloyd Nelson’s March 19, 2018 Regenerative Agriculture presentation, a lively discussion ensued on the core principles of Biodynamic Agriculture. Attendees learned how to create sustainable fertility and healthy soil in farms, orchards, vineyards and gardens.
Design Destination: Zephyros Farm
Design Destination: Zephyros Farm – A 5280 article about their trip to this flower farm in Paonia that has them dreaming of a blooming garden at home.
Hemp Panel Discussion
The Learning Council and Valley Organic Growers Association sponsored a hemp panel discussion at the Paradise Theatre in Paonia, CO on March 5, 2018.
Animal Welfare Grant Reactions
Read the Animal Welfare Grant reactions from the recipients. Grants were available to VOGA members who wish to improve their animals’ living and grazing space through pasture management and sustainability.