Beth LaShellFort Lewis College

The Old Fort at Hesperus

6,318 acres 18683 Hwy 140; Hesperus◦ 4 miles south of Hesperus◦ 16 miles southwest of Durango◦ 400 miles southwest of Boulder, CO

7,600’ elevation 90 days growing season

450 acres of irrigated hayfields 100 head of beef cows Nearly 13 cfs of irrigation water from LaPlata River Several springs that provide domestic water and

irrigation for incubator plots

Land, Water and Infrastructure owned by CO State Land Board (SLB)◦ Property came from Federal Government in 1910

after they closed the Fort and then the Indian Boarding School◦ Original location of Fort Lewis College campus

Fort Lewis College is operating under a 20-year Beneficial Use Agreement from SLB◦ Operates academic and community-based

educational activities on the property◦ Controls all leases on the property

Education Garden◦ .5 acres with high fence and 2 high tunnels◦ Utilize interns and host community workshops

Internship Program (2006)◦ Up to 6 college interns (150 hours)/summer

Farmer in Training Program (2016)◦ Cooperatively farm approximately 1 acre◦ Paid about $3,500/summer

Incubator Program (2013)◦ Independent Businesses on up to 4 acres

To offer an alternative point of entry for beginning farmers in the Four Corners region, providing them with access to support services that enable them to develop the skills necessary to succeed.

www.fortlewis.edu/oldfort Access to good soil and reliable water Proven educational program◦ High elevation growing conditions

Infrastructure access◦ Coolers and root cellar

General and product liability insurance◦ Old Fort Market Garden Cooperative

Collaborative marketing

Open House on site: July Applications available: November Incubators selected- December In-class training- Jan - April◦ Host 9-11 classes◦ Builds cooperative spirit

In-Field training- April/May◦ Irrigation & Equipment

Field Access◦ May 1 to October 1

Initial (2012)◦ High Fence around 6.5 acres◦ Irrigation System Convert from flood to overhead and drip Gas pumps◦ Infrastructure Basic harvest shed Upgraded root cellar ◦ Trial Incubator in 2012 Mike Nolan- Mountain Roots Produce Graduate of UC-Santa Cruz program

Management◦ Staffing◦ Financial sustainability plan Fee structure◦ How will your farmers get insurance?◦ Develop site guidelines

Education Plan◦ Essential to success◦ Ask others in your region what they are using

Application/Selection Process◦ Start small◦ Don’t make it too easy

Recruit qualified applicants Create/join a continuum of farmer education programs

Your Marketing Plan◦ Ease into it

Daily Management◦ Mentorship◦ Maintaining shared infrastructure/equipment◦ Entitlement◦ Conflicts

Recordkeeping (not just yours)◦ Farmer input/assessments◦ Production records◦ Follow up

Promotion◦ It is a great story!

Year to Year Management◦ Maintaining soil health◦ Infrastructure upgrades◦ Recruiting qualified candidates

Financial Management◦ Grants end◦ Think about sustainability after grants from the beginning

30 were accepted into the program ◦ Of those, 25 participants successfully completed

the field season representing 15 independent businesses. 73% of them are still farming 20% are in food-related jobs

Food Production: ◦ Nearly 50,000 pounds of product/year

Financial Sustainability◦ Staffing◦ Overhead

Infrastructure costs◦ High fence, potable water, electricity, harvest sheds, irrigation◦ Maintenance of infrastructure

Insurance◦ General Liability and Product Liability◦ Old Fort Market Garden Cooperative formed for insurance purposes

Equipment-◦ Listserv Message…..

We allow our incubatees use of a tractor and walk behind tiller. We use a sign out sheet and train users on use and maintenance. We ask them to clean after use.We have recurring issues with incubatees putting equipment back uncleaned, not reporting issues (clutch, low oil, etc.), and improper usage.Has anyone implemented something to help reduce these kinds of issues?

You have here a specific instance of "The Tragedy of the Commons", wherein each individual takes what they need and feels no responsibility to maintain the whole.

Recruitment of qualified candidates

National Incubator Farm Training Initiative◦ nesfp.org/nifti◦ Toolkit for starting a program◦ Case Studies of programs◦ Webinar Series (20 now available to view)◦ National Field School

Regional Conveners for NIFTI◦ 5 regions designated in 2016◦ Share region-based information and TA

Dropbox Folder

NIFTI Resources

Resource LibraryWebinar Series

Travel time to farm◦ On site housing not always an option

Balancing finances with small acreage Equipment purchases

Transitioning to land with reliable water◦ Building infrastructure◦ Maintaining markets

Beth LaShell Fort Lewis College Coordinator, Old Fort at Hesperus 18683 Hwy 140 Hesperus, CO 81326 970-385-4574 lashell_b@fortlewis.edu www.facebook.com/oldfortathesperus