Our Mission
The mission of A Grazing Life Farm Dinners is to bring community closer to their farmers and ranchers through authentic shared dining experiences. At each A Grazing Life event we source nothing but the highest quality organic local ingredients so each and every guests gets to experience the best in agriculture this region can offer. When you come to an event with us you are directly supporting our local farms and ranchers. And that support doesn't have to end after just one night. We want to share with you what we have learned about buying local in the Colorado Springs area and show you just how easy it can be. From all our local producers, we thank you for learning more!
The Local Buying Guide
The peak growing season in Colorado is June - October, which makes it the best time for stocking up on local ingredients.
Farmers' Markets
Farmer’s Markets are a great place to start if you are new to eating locally, but not all markets offer real "local" ingredients. One market that has our stamp of approval is the Colorado Farm and Art Market. They have two locations in town each week during the growing season, downtown at the Pioneer’s Museum on Wednesdays and at the Margarita at Pine Creek on Saturdays. The organizers of this market visit each farmer to insure that they produce the products they sell. Still be sure to ask questions about growing practices if that is something you are concerned about, but you can rest assured that all the produce and meat at this market are grown in Colorado by the folks chatting with you at the booth.
During this time of social distancing a new "Farmers Market" has popped up in Colorado Springs that allows you purchase online and pick up your "to-go" order once a week, its the SoCo Virtual Farmers Market. So if you don't get the chance to make it to a market and meet your farmers in person, this is a great alternative during this time.
If you are trying out a new market for the first time, get to know the vendors to ensure you are getting what you pay (and also to befriend a farmer!) Ask questions about where the product comes from and how they grow it. Most farmers are happy to chat if it isn’t too busy. If eating organically is important to you, ask about chemical use, but don’t be frightened by an answer like, “we are non-certified organic.” Getting an organic certification can be very expensive, so many smaller farmers instead elect to ditch the certification while keeping all the practices that go along with it. The best way to know what is going on with your food is getting to know your farmer, not relying on certifications - so ask them questions and get ready to learn a little about farming.
During this time of social distancing a new "Farmers Market" has popped up in Colorado Springs that allows you purchase online and pick up your "to-go" order once a week, its the SoCo Virtual Farmers Market. So if you don't get the chance to make it to a market and meet your farmers in person, this is a great alternative during this time.
If you are trying out a new market for the first time, get to know the vendors to ensure you are getting what you pay (and also to befriend a farmer!) Ask questions about where the product comes from and how they grow it. Most farmers are happy to chat if it isn’t too busy. If eating organically is important to you, ask about chemical use, but don’t be frightened by an answer like, “we are non-certified organic.” Getting an organic certification can be very expensive, so many smaller farmers instead elect to ditch the certification while keeping all the practices that go along with it. The best way to know what is going on with your food is getting to know your farmer, not relying on certifications - so ask them questions and get ready to learn a little about farming.
Want another reason to go to the market??? They're tons of fun!
Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA)
CSAs
If you’d like to dive deeper into seasonal eating, think about signing up for a CSA with a local farm. Offering a CSA share is a way for producers to get upfront financial support from their communities at the beginning of the growing season when costs are highest in exchange for a share of the harvest each week during the growing season. Community members pay upfront at the beginning of the season and are treated to what the season brings. Buying a CSA is the ultimate experience of eating locally, as each week the farmer puts together an assortment of produce based on what is best on the farm. CSA shares also often come with many opportunities to visit the farm and get to know the farmer who grew your food. There are currently a few farms offering CSA shares in Colorado Springs.
A few of the Farms offering CSAs are New Roots Farm, Austin Family Farm, Ahavah Farm, and Frost Livestock Company. Learn more about their offerings and practices on their websites, www.newrootsfarmllc.com, www.austinfamilyfarm.csasignup.com and www.ahavahfarm.com, and www.Frost-Livestock.com There is also an option to buy a CSA from the local farmer’s coop, Arkansas Valley Organic Growers(AVOG), that combines produce from many different farms into one share each week. This provides more variety with offerings like quinoa from the San Luis Valley and peaches from the Western Slope. Learn more about AVOG’s CSA on their website at www.arkvalleygrowers.com
If you’d like to dive deeper into seasonal eating, think about signing up for a CSA with a local farm. Offering a CSA share is a way for producers to get upfront financial support from their communities at the beginning of the growing season when costs are highest in exchange for a share of the harvest each week during the growing season. Community members pay upfront at the beginning of the season and are treated to what the season brings. Buying a CSA is the ultimate experience of eating locally, as each week the farmer puts together an assortment of produce based on what is best on the farm. CSA shares also often come with many opportunities to visit the farm and get to know the farmer who grew your food. There are currently a few farms offering CSA shares in Colorado Springs.
A few of the Farms offering CSAs are New Roots Farm, Austin Family Farm, Ahavah Farm, and Frost Livestock Company. Learn more about their offerings and practices on their websites, www.newrootsfarmllc.com, www.austinfamilyfarm.csasignup.com and www.ahavahfarm.com, and www.Frost-Livestock.com There is also an option to buy a CSA from the local farmer’s coop, Arkansas Valley Organic Growers(AVOG), that combines produce from many different farms into one share each week. This provides more variety with offerings like quinoa from the San Luis Valley and peaches from the Western Slope. Learn more about AVOG’s CSA on their website at www.arkvalleygrowers.com
Local Buying Clubs
If a full blown CSA isn’t quite what you are up to, but want a more diverse set of options than what you might find at the farmers market, check out Hunt or Gather buying club. By buying through Hunt of Gather, you will have access to three of the farmer’s cooperatives in the state, as well as from other local goods producers. During the growing season, you’ll receive a list of products available from growers from all over the state on a weekly basis. Pickup is in downtown Colorado Springs. Check out their Facebook page for more information https://www.facebook.com/HuntOrGather/.
Grocery Stores
Finally, when you are shopping for food at the grocery store, look for signs showing the product is grown by a Colorado farmer - the Colorado Proud sticker. Grocery stores like Ranch Foods Direct, Mountain Mamma, Bread and Butter Market, Natural Grocers and Whole Foods are the best at carrying local food in Colorado Springs.
If purchasing and eating more local food is your goal, then the best thing you can do is ask questions about the food you eat, never assume that something labeled farm fresh or from a “farmer’s market” it is actually grown locally and search out local farmers and purchase directly from them. By cutting out the middleman (whether that’s the grocery store or farmer’s market fees), you ensure that all of your money goes back to them which only adds more resilience to our local food system. Check out our list of local farmers to purchase directly from your farmers!
If purchasing and eating more local food is your goal, then the best thing you can do is ask questions about the food you eat, never assume that something labeled farm fresh or from a “farmer’s market” it is actually grown locally and search out local farmers and purchase directly from them. By cutting out the middleman (whether that’s the grocery store or farmer’s market fees), you ensure that all of your money goes back to them which only adds more resilience to our local food system. Check out our list of local farmers to purchase directly from your farmers!
Your Local Farms and Ranches
The following list represents the farms and ranches that supply the greater Colorado Springs region with tasty, nutritious local food. Check out each farm's website and social media to learn more about how you can find their products near you.
Produce
New Roots Farm: Canon City, Colorado
Vegetables
www.newrootsfarmllc.com
Frost Livestock Company: Fountain, Colorado
Vegetables, Lamb, Beef and Hay
www.frostlivestockco.com
Larga Vista Ranch: Boone, Colorado
Raw Milk, Vegetables, Pork, Beef, Eggs
www.largavistaranch.com
Hobbs Family Farm: Avondale, Colorado
Garlic, Grains, Pueblo Chilies, Seed
www.farmdirectseed.com
Austin Family Farm: Paonia, Colorado
Vegetables, Fruit, Chicken
www.austinfamilyfarm.com
Ahavah Farm: Peyton, Colorado
Vegetables, Eggs
www.ahavahfarm.com
Eternal Bloom Co: Pueblo, Colorado
Micro Greens, Edible Flowers and Leafy Greens
www.facebook.com/eternalbloomco/
Milberger Farms: Pueblo, Colorado
Vegetables, Pueblo Chilies
www.milbergerfarms.com
Crawling “E” Farm: Peyton, Colorado
Vegetables
https://www.facebook.com/crawlingesocial
Emerge Aquaponics: Black Forest, Colorado
Leafy Greens
www.emergeaquaponics.com
Ellen's Flowers
Organically grown cut flowers
www.ellensflowers.com
Meat
Frost Livestock Company: Fountain, Colorado
Vegetables, Lamb, Beef and Hay
www.frostlivestockco.com
Sangres Best: Westcliffe, Colorado
Grass Fed Beef
www.sangresbest.com
Larga Vista Ranch: Boone, Colorado
Raw Milk, Vegetables, Pork, Beef, Eggs
www.largavistaranch.com
Viresco Farm: Canon City, Colorado
Pastured Pork, Beef and Chicken
www.virescofarm.com
Cloud 9 Farm: Penrose, Colorado
Raw Milk, Lamb, Turkey
www.cloud9farms.com
There are many many producers in the San Luis Valley. Below is a list of a few we have sourced from for our dinners, but there are so many more. Check out the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition’s Local Food Guide (www.slvlocalfoods.org/producers.html ) for a complete listing of all of the producers in the valley. Products from these producers are available though Hunt or Gather Buying Club and Tap Root Cooperative on the front range.
Laz Ewe 2 Bar Goat Dairy: Del Norte, Colorado
Goat, Cow and Yak Milk and Cheeses
www.lazewe2bargoatdairy.weebly.com/
Salazar Meats: Manassa, Colorado
Pastured pork and beef, cured meats
www.salazarmeats.com
White Mountain Farms: Mosca, Colorado
Vegetables, Potatoes, Quinoa
www.whitemountainfarm.com/
Colorado Mushroom Farm: Alamosa, Colorado
Mushrooms
www.rakhramushroom.com
Produce
New Roots Farm: Canon City, Colorado
Vegetables
www.newrootsfarmllc.com
Frost Livestock Company: Fountain, Colorado
Vegetables, Lamb, Beef and Hay
www.frostlivestockco.com
Larga Vista Ranch: Boone, Colorado
Raw Milk, Vegetables, Pork, Beef, Eggs
www.largavistaranch.com
Hobbs Family Farm: Avondale, Colorado
Garlic, Grains, Pueblo Chilies, Seed
www.farmdirectseed.com
Austin Family Farm: Paonia, Colorado
Vegetables, Fruit, Chicken
www.austinfamilyfarm.com
Ahavah Farm: Peyton, Colorado
Vegetables, Eggs
www.ahavahfarm.com
Eternal Bloom Co: Pueblo, Colorado
Micro Greens, Edible Flowers and Leafy Greens
www.facebook.com/eternalbloomco/
Milberger Farms: Pueblo, Colorado
Vegetables, Pueblo Chilies
www.milbergerfarms.com
Crawling “E” Farm: Peyton, Colorado
Vegetables
https://www.facebook.com/crawlingesocial
Emerge Aquaponics: Black Forest, Colorado
Leafy Greens
www.emergeaquaponics.com
Ellen's Flowers
Organically grown cut flowers
www.ellensflowers.com
Meat
Frost Livestock Company: Fountain, Colorado
Vegetables, Lamb, Beef and Hay
www.frostlivestockco.com
Sangres Best: Westcliffe, Colorado
Grass Fed Beef
www.sangresbest.com
Larga Vista Ranch: Boone, Colorado
Raw Milk, Vegetables, Pork, Beef, Eggs
www.largavistaranch.com
Viresco Farm: Canon City, Colorado
Pastured Pork, Beef and Chicken
www.virescofarm.com
Cloud 9 Farm: Penrose, Colorado
Raw Milk, Lamb, Turkey
www.cloud9farms.com
There are many many producers in the San Luis Valley. Below is a list of a few we have sourced from for our dinners, but there are so many more. Check out the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition’s Local Food Guide (www.slvlocalfoods.org/producers.html ) for a complete listing of all of the producers in the valley. Products from these producers are available though Hunt or Gather Buying Club and Tap Root Cooperative on the front range.
Laz Ewe 2 Bar Goat Dairy: Del Norte, Colorado
Goat, Cow and Yak Milk and Cheeses
www.lazewe2bargoatdairy.weebly.com/
Salazar Meats: Manassa, Colorado
Pastured pork and beef, cured meats
www.salazarmeats.com
White Mountain Farms: Mosca, Colorado
Vegetables, Potatoes, Quinoa
www.whitemountainfarm.com/
Colorado Mushroom Farm: Alamosa, Colorado
Mushrooms
www.rakhramushroom.com
