Producer

The farm is located approximately 16 miles south-east of Durango, CO ( 6 miles SW of Bayfield) in the pinyon-juniper woodlands and high-elevation desert biomes that dominate the area. The farm is blessed with abundant water from both seasonal irrigation and a year round, dedicated water well. At Pinyon Crest Farms high tunnels are used as “season extending” structure because of their simplicity and effectiveness in protecting crops from low temperatures in both spring and fall. Our 3-season green house acts as a plant nursery. We utilize both passive and active solar systems to moderate the green house climate, which in turn enables us to start our seedlings in early March and extend the season into late October.

Pinyon Crest Farms’ vegetables are grown utilizing organic and biologically intensive cropping practices. Our horticultural method maximizes crop yields from a minimum area of land, while seeking to improve the quality of the soil. The farm layout consists of permanent raised beds that are infused with a large quantity of organic matter thereby, creating a rich and living soil. The beds are maintained by adding compost regularly while limiting any turning of the soil to just the surface to minimize disruption of the soil’s structure. Our farm minimizes water use by using a gravity-flow drip irrigation system that allocates a steady amount of water directly to the plants. We also use fabric weed block, which slows the evaporation process, as well as helping to control invasive weed species.

Weeds and pests cannot be totally eliminated, but are controlled utilizing natural and preventative techniques.
• NO chemical (commercial) herbicides or pesticides are ever used on our crops.
• Crops are rotated to prevent pests and fungal diseases from taking hold.
• Green manure planting and “resting” beds to allow for soil regeneration
• Liberal use of landscape fabrics, mulch and netting
• As a last resort OMRI certified organic pest control are used.