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Healthy Archuleta is actively working to raise awareness of health-promoting foods and the importance of the local food system. A central part of this initiative is focusing on how the local food system works and how everyone in our community both contributes to and benefits from it. Healthy Archuleta has developed the food system wheel, which serves as an informative tool to explain how the food system operates within both society at large and our specific community. The wheel is structured into six distinct sections, each representing a key component of the food system.
Beginning with the first section on the wheel, Growing and Producing Food. We live in an age where food is accessible daily by merely going to the grocery store, and in season, the farmers market. There are several commercial food producers in Archuleta County who offer locally what they raise and grow. Additionally, many people in our community grow fresh food in their backyards, greenhouses, containers or other methods. Locally grown food is fresh, the sooner you harvest and consume a vegetable, the more vitamins and minerals you will give your body. Transforming foods for storage and market. This is an interesting subject for both household and commercial food providers. Foods that have been grown, like fruit and vegetables, and foods that come from raised animals and livestock, need to be transformed, or processed in some fashion, in order to get it stored or offered for sale for future consumption. We don’t buy a whole cow at the store, we purchase cuts of meat that have been rendered and packaged by a meat processor. Same with dairy products, baked goods, canned and frozen fruits and vegetables. These are examples of transforming foods for storage and market. Marketing and distributing food. Food is marketed to consumers in various ways, from eye-catching billboards to playful designs on packaged goods. In our local communities, farmers' markets, word of mouth, and social media play a key role in promoting locally grown and produced foods. Food distribution occurs through multiple channels, including supermarkets, restaurants, farmers' markets, and food pantries, ensuring accessibility for different needs. As an example, Healthy Archuleta uses the Food Distribution Center (FDC) to collect and distribute food to the seven food pantries. Getting and preparing food. While grocery shopping may sometimes feel like a chore, we are fortunate to have easy access to fresh ingredients through grocery stores, farmers' markets, and even our own gardens. Food preparation, whether chopping fresh vegetables for a salad or cooking locally raised steak, is often considered a labor of love—one we share with family and friends. Many cherish traditional recipes passed down through generations, while others enjoy experimenting with new ingredients to bring creativity and excitement to their meals. Eating Nutritious Foods. This topic has become a serious discussion for everyone. There are many benefits of eating nutritious foods for our bodies and minds. Some benefits may include 1) building a strong immune system, 2) lowering the risk of disease such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers, 3) supporting digestive system functions, 4) strengthening bones and muscles, and 5) supporting healthy pregnancies and breastfeeding. Eating nutritious foods is what powers our bodies to get through the day at work, school, exercise and other physical activities. It is important to pay attention to the foods that we use to fuel our bodies. One way is to consider eating more fresh foods by selecting vegetables, fruits, and other whole foods. Learning how to read labels is also an important step in understanding what is in the food we purchase at the store and to make informed choices about what we purchase and eat. Whole foods have fewer ingredients, are healthier choices and are more easily digested and nourishing for our bodies. Remember, we as community members can support a collective mindset of eating nutritious foods by purchasing, growing, or raising local foods. Last but not least, Food Safety, Food Waste Prevention, and Resource Recovery. These three components are at the center of our food system wheel as they are important to all the parts of the food system. Starting with food safety not only refers to food preparation safety but also storage of prepared foods and making sure they are stored in ways that will prevent illness. By paying attention to what and how much we buy, expiration dates, how it will be prepared and making sure certain proper storage practices are followed, we can reduce the amount of food being dumped into the landfills. Some simple tricks like “shop your fridge first” can help to reduce food waste at home. Composting, or ‘resource recovery’, can also be used to prevent waste. Resource recovery allows us to gather food scraps and waste, and put them to use in another way that does not adversely affect the environment. Composting is becoming more prevalent and there are many ways households can compost in our community, including starting their own composting system or participating in a commercial composting service. Healthy Archuleta extends a heartfelt thank you to the community members who came by the Food Dive this past Saturday and donated items to support the Food Pantry Network. This is one way that community members can contribute to our local food system. Recently, Healthy Archuleta purchased two additional hydroponic towers to grow fresh vegetables and herbs to be distributed to the community through the local food pantries. This project began in the Spring of 2023 with the purchase of a single tower that can grow up to 280 heads of lettuce every 35-45 days. Since then, the greens produced by this tower have increased the amount of fresh local produce available through the food pantries, with the food pantry coordinators’ hearty approval. Based on the learning from the first pilot program in 2023, Healthy Archuleta was able to expand the program through the purchase of three more towers. One of these three was brought into operation in 2024, and two more arrived this past month. In early February, Healthy Archuleta team members and volunteers gathered to assemble the two new units to get them ready to start production.
Today, these towers operate on an almost year-round schedule, growing fresh greens, including several types of lettuce, spinach, chard, beet greens, and herbs such as basil. These greens grow fairly quickly, within 35-45 days, depending on the variety. During the growing period, a number of local volunteers tend to the towers, checking water and pH levels, administering nutrients as needed, and overseeing the health and development of the plants. Data is collected daily to ensure that the towers are functioning properly. After the plants have reached maturity, they are harvested on-site, bagged, and refrigerated until picked up and distributed among the local food pantries. Typically, hydroponically grown food is much the same as farm crops grown in soil with similar nutrient and fertilizer needs and growing time. However, the beauty of growing in an indoor environment is the ability to control temperature, water flow, and the lack of exposure to pests and most plant diseases. In a mountain community like Pagosa Springs, the typical growing season is short. Unpredictable temperature fluctuations can hamper growing and crop success for the average backyard gardener. Fighting off pests and wandering wildlife can also be frustrating. Growing food in hydroponic structures eliminates the cons of outdoor gardening and with better results. The towers are now providing additional nutritious, healthy vegetables that are being shared with the community during those times of the year when locally grown fresh vegetables are not always available for those who truly need them. In this way, Healthy Archuleta continues its mission to support healthy food access in our community. Healthy Archuleta invites the community to support the Archuleta Food Pantry Network at the next Food Drive this Saturday, February 22, from 10 am to 1 pm in front of the Pagosa Springs City Market. Please stop by the Healthy Archuleta table, pick up a shopping list, and fill a bag to support our neighbors accessing food through the food pantries this winter. To learn more about the food drive, please visit our website at https://www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org/food-drive.html. Additionally, if you are interested in other volunteer opportunities, including supporting the maintenance of the hydroponic towers, please visit our website at www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org or send us an email at [email protected]. Healthy Archuleta, a local non-profit, has been working to advance a vibrant and resilient local food system in Archuleta County. A strong local food system not only improves food access but also supports the local economy, reduces environmental impact, and enhances community well-being. By prioritizing locally sourced food, we can create a more sustainable and interconnected community.
During a recent visit with a Denver representative of Hunger Free Colorado, a statewide non-profit advocacy organization, members of Healthy Archuleta gathered to discuss connecting people in Archuleta County to food—via specialized programs, food access initiatives, and various community outreach actions—and supporting our local food system. You may be wondering who exactly is Hunger Free Colorado and how does this statewide organization connect to the efforts of Archuleta County? Hunger Free Colorado focuses on two areas, 1) directly connecting Coloradoans with food and 2) advocacy and policy efforts related to increasing food access across the state. Healthy Archuleta, through its local food system efforts, is also interested in these two areas for Archuleta County. This meeting was an opportunity for Healthy Archuleta team members to learn about state-wide food advocacy and policies and for Hunger Free to learn about the grassroots efforts that are happening at a local level. Both Hunger Free Colorado and Healthy Archuleta are working towards food systems that create a healthier Colorado, both locally and statewide. Strong advocacy in this arena aims to create a better Colorado, but good decisions can only be made when people step up and give their voices. In line with Healthy Archuleta’s mission in advancing nutrition security, the discussion focused primarily on how to advocate for healthy food access in our local communities. During this meeting, attendees were asked the question: “What does advocacy mean to you?” The responses varied but still maintained a common theme: “Being a voice for a cause, working for change, asking questions, and being a voice for someone who has a need.” Hunger Free Colorado shared some recent food system policy and advocacy efforts they have worked on, like the Healthy School Meals for All voter initiative and how these ideas move through policy development and implementation. Additionally, the group addressed issues and identified policies that need to change related to individual access to food and food assistance programs; current food policy efforts at the state level; the Federal nutrition program—where the resources come into the state and community—and whether these programs are accessible and adequate. In working with organizations like Hunger Free Colorado, Healthy Archuleta strives to understand the importance of advocacy and policy issues, how advocacy influences policy, and how advocacy affects local healthy food access. Hunger Free Colorado has offered to help identify which local, state, and federal levers to use in determining policy change. Thank you to Hunger Free Colorado and the team members of Healthy Archuleta who prove that building relationships is key to successful advocacy. Last Thursday, a local geothermal expert, Kirsten Skeehan, and Courtney King, an architect, met with the Growers and Producers Forum and community members to discuss potential access to the hot water energy and growing food year round in heated greenhouses. Both speakers are well versed in accessing geothermal energy such as used by the Town of Pagosa Springs and the Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership greenhouse domes. Sponsored by Healthy Archuleta, this meeting took place at the Ruby Sisson Library.
Kirsten presented slides pertaining to the location of a number of public geothermal wells in Archuleta County, and the history, depth, and temperature of these wells. She also discussed some of the hurdles in exploring for potential geothermal wells. As interest grows and efforts continue to search for clean energy sources, there is a realization that some natural resources, geothermal energy in particular, have valuable benefits to our local agricultural industry. Living in a mountain community and experiencing a short growing season, it is difficult to provide fresh produce year-round. However, with the development of technologies in harnessing geothermal energy, it has been proven that crops can be grown inside heated greenhouses in the deepest parts of winter. Courtney King demonstrated this concept as she shared slides of her recent trip to Iceland, a small but highly volcanic land mass roughly about the size of the State of Kentucky. She mentioned some of the ways in which the Icelandic population utilizes this natural resource in their cooking and baking, heating, and growing root crops, which they have been doing for hundreds of years. More recently, Iceland has used geothermal energy by building large greenhouses over areas where the heat can be accessed. Tourism, just like in Pagosa Springs, benefits through access to geothermal water, and geothermal power plants provide clean, cheap energy to Icelandic households. They are now building greenhouses situated over the ground with direct access to the heated waters. In one example, a local tomato grower has produced two tons of tomatoes in a single year. The heated water is piped directly into some of their local restaurants, growing produce such as cucumbers, strawberries, bananas, roses, and peppers onsite to be used in their menus. The matter of looking at geothermal energy in Archuleta County is double-sided. According to Kirsten, the initial start-up for anyone looking into this resource is first to consider where the energy is located. There are a number of areas in the county that fall under State and local conservation authority. The other issue is cost. It can be very expensive to dig a well to access geothermal waters. However, the other side is that once the wells have been completed, the operational costs are low. It becomes a never-ending access to clean energy to heat greenhouses and other structures at minimal expense. This potential provides anyone wishing to grow food, either commercially or just for themselves, a way to do so regardless of climate conditions. There are a number of websites that provide more information about access to geothermal energy in our state. Visit the Colorado School of Mines website at https://www.mines.edu/, the Colorado Energy Office at https://energyoffice.colorado.gov/, or the Colorado Geological Survey at https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/. |
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June 2025
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