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Beth LaShellFort Lewis College
The Old Fort at Hesperus
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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NIFTI Resources
Resource LibraryWebinar Series
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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
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Beth LaShell Fort Lewis College Coordinator, Old Fort at Hesperus 18683 Hwy 140 Hesperus, CO 81326 970-385-4574 [email protected] www.facebook.com/oldfortathesperus