Thank you for the article (Herald, Feb. 8) about the young farmer crisis. It came at a time when I was just about to give up hope. I live at Heartwood Cohousing. Our vision is to “live in harmony with each other, the larger community and nature.”
In 2009, we decided that the best way to steward our irrigated land was to offer it to young farmers to grow food. We recruited a young farmer, gave her a place to live, free use of the land, mentorship with an experienced farmer, free water and infrastructure and a couple of interns to work with. With that Heartwood Farms was born. Many of you supported Heartwood Farms over the next several years. Farmers market customers, local restaurants and natural-food stores bought our organic produce. The farm was beautiful, productive and was providing a place for young farmers to dip their toes in the waters of farming without the risks.
The Durango Herald wrote a wonderful article in July 2012 entitled “It’s organic and then some, Heartwood Farms’ vision of old-time agriculture energizes young workers” about our thriving intern program.
Things changed. The person working with us at the county and San Juan Basin Health left, and new people came in. The permit for the composting toilet system we had, was revoked for no reason other than the new guy didn’t think it should have been given in the first place. We also needed cheap housing for a farm manager but the county would not allow a yurt to be put up. We have a lot to share with the people of La Plata County and young people wanting to learn the ins and outs of farming if we can figure out how to make it work within the county rules and regulations.
If you have any ideas to offer us on how we can reinstate our intern program and provide a place for young farmers to learn and grow please contact me at sandykthomson@gmail.com.
Sandy Thomson
Bayfield
