Combating Climate Change through Sustainable Farming

On twenty-two acres of land leased from Pitkin County and right off Highway 82 is Two Roots Farm, a beautiful and bountiful farm that provides produce for a 250-member Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), an onsite farm stand, and local restaurants in our community. Owner Harper Kaufam knows the importance of local, organic farming and started the farm in 2016. Her mission is to combat climate change through sustainable farming practices and grow the healthiest food possible while fostering a positive work environment, vibrant soil, and community connection.

Harper needed to install a new greenhouse for plant propagation to get her through the winter months. Greenhouses typically rely on a propane heating system, but with climate in mind, she wanted to stay away from fossil fuels. She learned about an innovative way to heat a greenhouse from the Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute. It’s called a climate battery and uses the ground temperatures to control the greenhouse temperature. This innovative system will heat in the winter and cool in the summer and will reduce Two Roots’ reliance on fossil fuels, reduce costs, and extend their growing season.

CORE is a supporter of new, innovative ideas that lower carbon emissions and help our community thrive, so we provided a $30,000 grant to fund this project. This project will start in 2024, so stay tuned for an update once the climate battery is installed.

Harper is always looking for ways to lower the farm’s carbon footprint whether it's electrifying to use the on-site solar panels or installing a new climate battery. She takes a holistic approach, considering soil health, greenhouse gas emissions, and food quality. Everything is hand-powered instead of relying on diesel machinery, and the plants help sequester carbon. She uses a regenerative process to keep the soil healthy and grows a variety of vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, spinach, and radishes.

CORE supports projects that matter to our community and the locals living here. We remove the financial barrier and help more people to take action, bringing equity and inclusivity to the climate crisis. 

Give our Energy Conciergea call today to learn how you can lower your carbon footprint.