The 2009 State of the Rockies Field Trip
The State of the Rockies Project will be heading out in the field from July 6th until July 13th. The focus of our summer research trip will be agriculture in the Rockies, and we’ll be visiting family farms, large corporate farms, non-profit organizations, dairy operations, and the Malpai Borderlands Group. One van and 1700 miles through New Mexico and Arizona!
Watch for our “Notes from the Road” to hear more about the trip. First stop on Monday: the Javernick Family Farm (Canon City, Colorado) and the Quivira Coalition (Santa Fe, New Mexico).
Monday, July 6th
The group had a great experience meeting with Javernick Family Farms, and Beckie gave the student researchers a tour of their operation, discussing their experience with farmer’s markets, Community Supported Agriculture, and organic certification. The students asked questions about the local organic grower’s associations and the challenges of keeping the small farm in the family. Weed control was a major issue at the farm given the moisture this spring, requiring much volunteer labor and creative solutions (plastic tarps for the tomato plants).
Next stop was the Quivira Coalition in Santa Fe, where the group met with founder Courtney White. Courtney discussed the issues related to grassbanking, conservation easements, and public-private land partnerships. He also emphasized the importance of economic sustainability and Western beef production, not simply land sustainability. Quivira offers direct marketing of grass fed beef, as well as river restoration and range management courses. Courtney provided the students with new perspectives on climate change, fossil fuel challenges, and ranch carbon footprints.
July 7th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Nice Article ! I love getting blog information, as I like to reference them to research papers in college, well summer school now.
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:03 pm
I would love to write and say what a great job you did on this, as you have put a lot of work into it.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:53 am
This is an interesting article, thanks for posting!
February 26th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
What a way to spend the summer! Happened to find your post today and this is awesome. Keep up the good work.
March 2nd, 2010 at 12:45 am
Awesome post ! this is one of a kind and sounds very interesting. Thanks for sharing this useful information…
March 18th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
Looks like they had a great time.
I would have loved to be there too.
March 28th, 2010 at 5:39 am
Great Article
May 7th, 2010 at 11:13 am
I went on a trip to Sante Fe last summer. I can’t wait to return. That seems like a cool trip that was put together. I’ll be sure to keep an eye on the “Notes From the Road” diaries!
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:47 pm
Great article post. Love to be there too. Thanks for sharing!
August 11th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
This must have been a SWEET field trip! I love the Rockies and hence I live in Utah and love it.
August 17th, 2010 at 10:34 pm
I would love to write and say what a great job you did on this, as you have put a lot of work into it. Keep it up good work.
August 25th, 2010 at 3:06 am
your blog nice
September 14th, 2010 at 6:15 am
That is a good report on travel and work done.
September 16th, 2010 at 12:15 am
I am so very jealous having done my college years in Colorado Springs. then my wife and I lived in Denver for yrs. Now we have a second home in Grand Junction over on the Western Slope. But I am still jealous!
September 19th, 2010 at 9:56 pm
Glad that you were able to experience such an enriching trip. It’s an experience you will never forget.
November 11th, 2010 at 11:29 am
How about a follow up post on the trip. Did you do the trip again in 2010?
December 17th, 2010 at 2:24 am
I really really love field trips. I wish I could have join that trip.
January 19th, 2011 at 10:52 am
Excellent blog. Not to many people equate the Rockies an agriculture.