Farms - The Durango Herald

Drought-stricken Arizona moves to curb groundwater use in more rural areas

PHOENIX – Officials in drought-stricken Arizona are moving to regulate groundwater use on the state’s western edge where wells have been running dry. The new rules allow for a management pla...

DATE: Jan 17, 2026 | CATEGORY: Southwest Life

A lesser-known Farmers' Almanac will fold after 2 centuries, citing money trouble

PORTLAND, Maine – It's the Maine one, not the main one – a 208-year-old, Maine-based publication that farmers, gardeners and others have relied on for planting guidance and weather predictio...

DATE: Nov 7, 2025 | CATEGORY: Business

Farmers Market: Animas Botanicals grows fresh plants for herbal products

Brittany Osborn’s farm features more than 150 species

DATE: Oct 22, 2025 | CATEGORY: Food

In the cool of a Portugal night, it’s time to pick the grapes

VIMIEIRO, Portugal — Under a moonlit sky and the glow of headlamps, workers gingerly pluck grape clusters while much of Portugal sleeps. They harvest in the Alentejo region, sometimes called...

DATE: Oct 8, 2025 | CATEGORY: Food

Western Slope farmers and ranchers still tallying the cost of summer wildfires

As a 70-foot wall of flames crested a nearby ridge, Janie VanWinkle knew it was time to go. “In that moment, we were absolutely terrified,” VanWinkle said. It was July 14, and she had been w...

DATE: Oct 8, 2025 | CATEGORY: Business

Farmers Market: Aster Valley Farm grows plants native to the Durango area

Tyler Turk and Mak Mason starters are pesticide-free, pollinator-friendly

DATE: Oct 8, 2025 | CATEGORY: Food

Farmers Market: Turtle Lake Refuge fosters connection with the land

Nonprofit promotes sustainable agricultural practices

DATE: Oct 6, 2025 | CATEGORY: Food

Farmers Market: Mesa Verde Lavender is the result of a dare

The farm’s culinary lavender is used in regional ice cream and coffee shops, restaurants and bars

DATE: Sep 15, 2025 | CATEGORY: Food

Lilybee Farm raises bees for honey and mentors new beekeepers

Kristie and Scotty Hinds’ hives multiplied by over tenfold after they fell in love with the insects

DATE: Sep 1, 2025 | CATEGORY: Food

Photo: Dry and dusty

DATE: Jul 29, 2025 | CATEGORY: Local News

Farmers Market: Herb Meadows Farm raises goats and makes herbal remedies

The Mancos-based farmers’ products are soy-free

DATE: Jul 14, 2025 | CATEGORY: Food

Farmers Market: Beans and Berries sells cacao and herbal elixirs

Business’ beans sourced from regenerative farmers in Peru

DATE: Jul 3, 2025 | CATEGORY: Food

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Colorado history gets weird, wild, wacky at Fashion Do’s and Don’tsAnnual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Cowboys. Fancy ladies. Gold miners. Even-toed ungulates that some in Durango might consider more like rats.Where can you find a runway show that takes you on a whirlwind tour through the weird, wacky and wildly exaggerated 150 years of Colorado history? Only at Durango’s annual Fashion Do’s and Don’ts, held Wednesday, where models and audience members donned costumes celebrating Colorado’s sesquicentennial – the theme of this year’s two-week Snowdown celebration.Standout acts included the Ghosts of Durango, which featured four of Durango’s most famous ghosts: a Rochester hotel ghost in a Victorian get-up of a more “modern” variation; the Strater Hotel’s head of housekeeping, also head of more discreet services; a young girl haunting El Rancho bathroom; and Sheriff Bob Thompson, killed in a 1906 gunfight. according to emcee Suzan Lane. A Another act was the secret circus society, featuring Rubi Starr, Jeni Gross, Tabatha Joy Bettin, Adrienne Young and Ethan Deffenbaugh dressed as a car and the roadside pests better known as deer. Group members said the inspiration for the costume came from lived experiences driving the Durango roads. The two-person Cantine Couture act starred Leslie Ponce and Tyler Frakes in an homage to the plentiful variety of Mexican restaurants found in any Colorado town. Ponce, dressed in comically large Mexican pointy cowboy boots, ambled down the runway as if taking a stroll under the hot, dusty, high-altitude sun, while Frakes flitted about the stage in a bright yellow salsa dress. Ponce said this years costume had been tough to decide, but the final decision was inspired by TikTok videos of Mexican cowboys in pointy boots. This was the duo’s third year strutting down the runway. Why they keep coming back for more, Frakes said laughing, was, “for the fame, the glory and the attention.”

Fashion Do’s and Don'ts has been one of the most highly anticipated Snowdown events since it’s inception in the 1990s. It has more than doubled in size over the past several decades. Last year, there were a record number of models, and in order to keep the event at a manageable size, this years fashion show was the first one to require the acts to audition. But many of the models were unphased by the change. “It was actually easy,” said Jodi Zuber, one part of the two-person duo that made up the 1950s Texas Invader Ski Couple. Her partner-in-costume, Danny Jaques, said they had been doing this for several years, and it’s good with everything going on in the world to “get some levity and let your hair down.” The performers were not the only ones in costume. Audience members also dressed in a wide variety of unique takes on what makes Colorado, Colorado. JonBenet Ramsey made a miraculous appearance, being played by an 82-year-old woman, as did Casa Bonita, an ensemble that included a taco, sopaipilla and gorilla in chains – to name some of the characters. By the end of the show, people were in high spirits, as usual. “It was just delightful,” said a first-time audience member. If blessed with the chance to get the much coveted tickets – he said he would jump on it. jbowman@durangoherald.com

Annual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Photos: Snowdown 2026 Fashion Do’s and Don’ts

Photos: Durango High School basketball teams lose to Montrose High School

Photos: Local girls high school wrestling at La Plata TriDurango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Durango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Photos: Fort Lewis College women’s and men’s basketball take on Westminster UniversityBoth Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Both Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Photos: An afternoon in 2004 with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell as he works on Capitol HillDurango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Durango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Photos and video: ICE protests return to DurangoAbout a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

About a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

The Durango Herald’s year in photos 2025

Photos: Chapman Hill fires up the snow guns

Drought-stricken Arizona moves to curb groundwater use in more rural areas

A lesser-known Farmers' Almanac will fold after 2 centuries, citing money trouble

Farmers Market: Animas Botanicals grows fresh plants for herbal products

In the cool of a Portugal night, it’s time to pick the grapes

Western Slope farmers and ranchers still tallying the cost of summer wildfires

Farmers Market: Aster Valley Farm grows plants native to the Durango area

Farmers Market: Turtle Lake Refuge fosters connection with the land

Farmers Market: Mesa Verde Lavender is the result of a dare

Lilybee Farm raises bees for honey and mentors new beekeepers

Photo: Dry and dusty

Farmers Market: Herb Meadows Farm raises goats and makes herbal remedies

Farmers Market: Beans and Berries sells cacao and herbal elixirs

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