Mountain Roots Food Project

TO CULTIVATE A RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEM IN THE GUNNISON VALLEY BY ENHANCING HEALTHY CONNECTIONS BETWEEN FOOD, EARTH, AND COMMUNITY BY FOSTERING KNOWLEDGE, TEACHING SKILLS, AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ENSURE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, NUTRITIOUS FOOD THAT IS REGIONALLY BASED AND SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED.

I. FOOD SYSTEMS FOCUS AREA I - CULTURE & EDUCATION FARM TO SCHOOL (F2S) IS THE ANCHOR PROGRAM OF THIS FOCUS AREA BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND LONG-TERM BEHAVIOR CHANGES START WITH YOUTH. F2S WORKS TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF YOUTH. WE IMPROVE THE NUTRITION AND QUALITY OF SCHOOL MEALS; PROVIDE NUTRITION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS AND SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS; BUILD AND MANAGE SCHOOL GARDENS; RUN AN ENVIRONMENTAL-ED SUMMER CAMP; AND PROVIDE SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECTS, INTERNSHIPS, AND YOUTH OUTREACH FOR AT-RISK AND LOW-INCOME YOUTH. F2S SERVES 2000 YOUTH, AGES 4-18. OTHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE A SUSTAINABLE LIVING SHORT COURSE SERIES, COOKING MATTERSTM AND SHOPPING MATTERSTM, KIDS COOK!, AND ROOTS & SHOOTS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION SUMMER CAMPS.

II. FOOD SYSTEMS FOCUS AREA II - FOOD PRODUCTION / SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE A) GARDENS OUR NETWORK OF URBAN/COMMUNITY GARDENS CONVERT UNUSED PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LAND INTO SUSTAINABLE, ORGANICALLY MANAGED, FOOD PRODUCTION GARDENS. A MAJORITY OF FOOD IS DONATED TO FOOD BANKS, SCHOOLS, SENIOR FEEDING SITES, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS; OR OFFERED FOR WORK-TRADE TO VOLUNTEERS WHO LEARN HIGH-ALTITUDE / COLD-CLIMATE ORGANIC FOOD PRODUCTION. TO DATE, WE HAVE INSTALLED NINE GARDENS, ENGAGED 350+ INDIVIDUALS IN GROWING, AND PRODUCED OVER 8,000 POUNDS OF FOOD. COMMUNITY GARDENS BUILD FOOD RESOURCES AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTIONS AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL.B) COMMUNITY FARM GROUNDBREAKING IN 2017, THE COMMUNITY FARM MODELS AND TEACHES SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE. WHILE BUILDING FOOD RESOURCES AT THE COMMUNITY SCALE, WE'LL BE TRAINING LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UNDERSERVED YOUTH, AND THE NEXT GENERATION OF ORGANIC FARMERS IN GROWING ORGANIC PRODUCE AND RAISING FARM ANIMALS, COTTAGE FOOD PRODUCTION AND VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS, AGRITOURISM, HOLISTIC LAND MANAGEMENT, AND SMALL BUSINESS AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT.

III. FOOD SYSTEMS FOCUS AREA III - FOOD SECURITY PROGRAMS IN FOOD SECURITY WERE STARTED IN 2013 TO ADDRESS LOW-INCOME FOOD NEEDS, INCLUDING: FRESH FOOD ACCESS, AFFORDABILITY, EDUCATION, SOCIAL JUSTICE, CULTURAL RELEVANCE, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, AND COMMUNITY SELF-RELIANCE. BACKYARD HARVEST, OUR GROW-A-ROW FOR THE HUNGRY PROGRAM, ENLISTS BACKYARD GARDENERS AND AGGREGATES DONATIONS FOR TARGETED DISTRIBUTION. SNAP+ ALLOWS SNAP COUPONS (FORMERLY FOOD STAMPS) TO GO FARTHER AT THE FARMER'S MARKET, PROVIDING $10 FOR $10 IN SNAP.