Tilted Earth Farm is dedicated to regenerative agriculture but is in the process of getting back on its feet after being struck by disaster.
“We started our farm at the James Ranch last year,” owner Heather Houk said. “We’re the farmers that kind of had our crops washed into the Animas because of the 416 Fire and then the mudslides.”
Ten-year-old Noah, son of Heather and Wayne Houk, said he “loved that it (the 416 Fire) was just across the street; it was super cool.”
“It was very cool, it was beautiful to see,” Heather said. “It was fun to watch the helicopters. It was less fun to watch our crops wash away.”
Since the 2018 mudslides, the Houks have moved their farm to County Road 219 on Florida Mesa.
Heather said Tilted Earth’s focus is on regenerative agriculture, so the farm’s new location, which had previously just been fallowed grassland for a long time, appealed to her.
“We like to go to places where soils aren’t in the best shape and then turn them in to really healthy, beautiful soils,” she said.
She said the farm’s produce includes sugar snap peas, winter squash, pumpkins, salad greens and lots of heirloom tomatoes. The farm also raises organic chickens for eggs, as well as ducks and geese.
The farm grows produce organically and partners with the Southwest Farm Fresh co-op, which it will sell to as soon as it has enough vegetables.
“I want to be able to grow things that he (Noah) can walk out and eat without even having to wash it,” Heather said. “Our whole goal is to make ... a healthy, no-till, happy farm.”
ngonzales@durangoherald.com
