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To end our time with the Plant Science class at Pagosa Springs High School, Healthy Archuleta (HA) ended their curriculum with a field trip on the local food system, “From Farm to Fork.” The field trip was a visit through every part of the food system wheel with stops at popular locations like 84 Ranch, Cole’s Meat Processing, Sage Eatery, Healthy Archuleta offices, HA’s Food Distribution Center, and the Transfer Station.
The morning started bright and early with a visit to 84 Ranch to hear from Brian Wattier, a local rancher. There, he talked to the students about the importance of soil health when trying to grow plants or raise animals. He discussed how regenerative agriculture helps his soil and animals as he doesn’t ruin the soil with tilling, but instead uses cover crops and nature to work in his favor. From there, students got a tour of the farm with a visit from his Colorado mountain dogs, goats, pigs, and cattle. The next stop was Sage Eatery to get an inside look at their food truck and to hear where and how they get their ingredients to address the “Getting & Preparing” part of the food system wheel. Students were able to hear Taylor and Liz’s story of how they started their restaurant in Pagosa and why they left their brick-and-mortar restaurant for the food truck. With an emphasis on community, Sage Eatery creations fulfill the stomach, and its customer service fills the heart. The tour stopped back here for lunch later in the day to savor their burgers and fries. And for those with a craving for Mexican food, there were yummy tacos from Las Princess Taqueria right next door. Next, the class backtracked down Highway 84 to visit Cole’s Meat Processing to learn how animals go from the farm to the grocery store. With an inside look at the butcher shop, students were shown how meat is butchered, cut, discarded, and then wrapped and sealed for clients who brought in their own meat or prepped for their retail store when they buy USDA meat from ranchers. Getting some fresh air from the smell of the butcher shop, students visited the retail store that features locally raised products. The afternoon session featured a visit to Healthy Archuleta’s Food Distribution Center (FDC) to see the hydroponic towers and how the lettuce is harvested, as it was harvesting day. The FDC coordinator also made an appearance to tell the student how items from local ranchers and growers and food drives end up at the facility to be distributed to the seven food pantries throughout Archuleta County. Our last stop day with incoming stormy weather was the transfer station to hear from James about the impact of Archuleta County residents’ trash and where it ends up. He surprised us all by informing us that the transfer station is unique from other counties because they charge a cheap price for trash at $3 a bag, because the transfer station is self-sustaining, so they do not receive tax dollars to run the facility. James went on to show us how the cardboard is pressed into the blocks we see from the side of the road. The Transfer Station was a two-for-one opportunity as we had Martin Taylor from Table to Farm (T2F) Composting stop by as well, since they have one of their collection bins outside the Transfer Station. Martin is the Director of Operations for T2F Compost. He shared with students how something as simple as composting can help the environment and make a larger impact than they realize. By the time we returned to school at 3 p.m., students were tired from a full day of speakers and site visits, but more knowledgeable in the local food system. Thank you to everyone who participated and hosted us on our local food system journey. Healthy Archuleta, a non-profit based in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, is all about empowering the community and working to make sure everyone has access to healthy food and healthcare. We’re all about learning and growing together to create a thriving environment for health and well-being. Our mission has been made possible by the incredible volunteers who’ve been with us through thick and thin, supporting our ongoing projects. But we’re always on the lookout for passionate and organized folks to join our team. We’re currently seeking a Volunteer Coordinator to help us make a real difference. This is an unpaid volunteer role that’ll take around 3-5 hours a week. As our Volunteer Coordinator, you’ll be the heart and soul of our volunteer program, making sure everyone feels engaged and valued. Your primary role is to collaborate with our team to help recruit, interview, offer training, and supervise volunteers. You’ll also be the main point of contact for our team, helping us identify volunteer needs and match them with the right opportunities. You’ll be responsible for organizing volunteer recognition and appreciation events, and you’ll help us develop and maintain volunteer guidelines and procedures. We’re looking for someone who’s organized, communicative, and passionate about making a difference in our community. This is a great opportunity to contribute to building a community where everyone has the chance to contribute and benefit from healthy eating and overall well-being. If you’re interested in joining our team, please reach out to Healthy Archuleta at [email protected]. To learn more about our work and activities, please check out our website at https://www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org/. Together, we can make our community healthier and more vibrant!
Healthy communities require collaboration between healthcare providers and the community, recognizing diverse perspectives and cultural backgrounds. Ongoing intercultural development, self-reflection, and understanding cultural contexts are essential. Archuleta County’s rich culture, especially Hispanic and Latino communities, benefits from this approach.
Cultural humility sees each patient as unique, shaped by experiences like heritage, migration, socioeconomic status, and family. Active listening, valuing cultural knowledge, and collaborative relationships honor traditions. This builds trust, reduces disparities, and improves care quality for Latino individuals with mental health challenges. Addressing mental health stigma in the Hispanic and Latino community encourages open discussion and seeking help. Psychiatrist Dr. Jose Canaca, a Board-Certified Psychiatrist and Associate Professor at the University of New Mexico, will visit Pagosa Springs this April for mental health literacy and cultural competency training for healthcare providers. Dr. Canaca has extensive experience working in rural communities in Latin America and New Mexico, serving vulnerable populations like Native Americans, Hispanic/Latino communities, and immigrants. He leads cultural psychiatry lectures at UNM and has collaborated with COMISCA. The training will take place on Monday, April 7th at 5 pm, and 2 hours of CME credits will be offered to healthcare professional attendees who maintain CME along with dinner. Space is limited. If you are a healthcare professional and interested in attending, please RSVP to [email protected] by Thursday, April 3rd to confirm your spot. We hope that everyone in Archuleta County is off to a fabulous 2025 with new beginnings and blessings. Our team at Healthy Archuleta would like to let everyone know that our offices have moved to a new uptown location. We moved from our old downtown office space on the second floor of the Methodist Church to a new office space located above RG Bank. With this big move, we still plan to keep serving Archuleta County residents in having equitable access to food and health resources within the county. We are grateful for the support we’ve received from those we’ve met over the last year and hope to keep building on more support over the next year. Especially with our upcoming efforts on equitable mental/behavioral health services for our Spanish-speaking community, health access and utilization for those who are underinsured or uninsured, and equitable food access for underserved Archuleta County residents. We wish everyone a happy and healthy start to the rest of the new year!
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June 2025
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