Kim Böes Keim moved to Durango with the intention of starting her own vegan food business. Once a professional caterer in Austin and trained by a Le Cordon Bleu chef, Böes Keim has high expectations for taste and saw a lack of delicious vegan options in the market.
In 2015, she adopted the vegan lifestyle because of the health benefits, her love of animals and care for the environment. In fall 2021, Böes Keim started Earth’s Garden with the help of her husband, sister and son.
At the Durango Farmers Market, Earth’s Garden sells vegan goodies including smoked, salted, double chocolate chip cookies; lemon shortbread cookies; pistachio shortbread cookies; gingersnaps; fresh lemonade; zesty dill pickles; peppered fudge brownies and more.
“Everything that I sell is my favorite,” Böes Keim said.
Ingredients in her goodies are locally sourced as often as possible. Böes Keim says she gets many of her ingredients from the Durango Farmers Market and Southwest Farm Fresh Cooperative (an online market), and if she must shop at grocery stores, she tries to stick to Natural Grocers and Nature’s Oasis.
Böes Keim says Earth’s Garden treats are food that everybody can enjoy.
“No one will notice that it’s vegan. I take the classics people love and ‘veganize’ them to the point where it’s enjoyable,” she said.
But just in case, she likes to provide samples so folks know what they’re buying, she said.
Böes Keim doesn’t have grand plans of growth for the business, as she said she’s already been a full-time caterer.
“I just want to be able to connect with my community, share my love of food and help people be healthier with compassionate cuisine,” she said.
But Böes Keim does have interest in starting a food truck with Earth’s Garden and working with other local businesses that have similar community-focused, vegan objectives. In the fall, Böes Keim plans to host tamale and other cooking workshops that showcase staple ingredients for vegan cooking.
Earth’s Garden will be at the Durango Farmers Market every Saturday through the season.
kpercival@durangoherald.com