This hands-on project serves to strengthen regional food security by supporting small plot production, enhancing conservation and beneficial practices, and directing product surplus and volunteer support to alleviating food insecurity in the region.

The Just Good Food project connects community members, partner groups, and our Plant-a-Row and gleaning volunteers with food sharing efforts; to promote local food production and sharing, to enhance conservation-minded practices, and to promote community service.

So much fruit falls to waste each year in the North Fork Valley. Through our gleaning program, we are working to rescue this produce and reroute it to those in need. Do you have an orchard or a portion of your orchard that you would like to donate to those in need? Register your orchard on the Just Good Food volunteer form and we will coordinate harvest and transport to deliver the food to food banks, school programs, families in need and Native reservations. Last year we donated over 8,000 lbs and want to double that this year!

HOW IT WORKS 

You’ll plant an extra row of vegetables in your garden. We’ll match your excess harvest to area food banks, senior centers, and summer school programs and help get it there. 

WHAT WE’LL PROVIDE 

Gardening tips from North Fork Valley farmers, landscapers, permaculturalists, and other local experts. We’ll provide an on-site audit of your space to help make your garden more land and water efficient, improve yields, and more. 

Donated plant starts and seeds from area nurseries and farms to help get you started (while supplies last). 

Featuring a community group collective garden intended to grow food for other local nonprofits like The Learning Council and Kids Pasta Project, the Incubator Plot will also offer four ⅛ acre incubator plots for aspiring farmers. In addition to absorption of investment risks like soil building and irrigation installation, the Colorado Farm & Food Alliance will offer online business skills training and in person skill-building workshops - which are also open to the community and available online for members of the public.

Incubators are expected to develop skills and markets, and then transition into their own operation if they want to continue in the business. The incubation component includes an incentive structure to encourage this transition, and paths to scale up for incubators who “graduate.” Programming will include partnerships and pathways including help identifying financing and grants, and locating suitable land. Plot fees start low but double each year with a three year maximum.