Last month, the third annual Regeneration Ball raised close to a million dollars for The Farm Collaborative. The Hotel Jerome played host to a sea of dapper suits, western wear and Kemo Sabe hats. The ballroom was filled from end to end, mostly with Aspen residents who were committed to the idea of further propelling regenerative agriculture into the public eye. Bites from Annette’s Caroline Glover, Rootstalk’s Matt Vawter and Ama’s Johanna Hellrigl set the stage for a gala that paired farmers with enterprising people who support sustainable practices. One-of-a-kind dining experiences were auctioned, as were the rights to name the baby goats that greeted guests as they entered the hall.
Aspen has always been a place with big ideas. Its history as a silver boom town set an ambitious tone from day one. For many decades, it’s been a place with no shortage of cash. But now, more so than ever, it has the money to amplify its many grand aspirations worldwide. “There’s an outsized impact the small space has on the rest of the country,” said Eden Vardy. “People come here in a relaxed, open state, and can take that information out into the world.”
Vardy founded The Farm Collaborative in 2008. His ideas are not only big, they’re magnificent. They also happen to center around food. “For me, it’s the anchor of culture, family and community,” he said.
When Vardy thinks about that anchor, he thinks about systems. He studied integrated ecosocial design and has since spent eight years as part of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission. And he was part of the inaugural cohort of the Food Leaders Fellows at the Aspen Institute. With The Farm Collaborative, he runs a multi-purpose farm that provides food and education for the Roaring Fork Valley. At the Cozy Point Ranch, people of all ages help to grow greens, alliums and fruits. They also raise chickens, sheep, goats and alpacas. Youth programs introduce “toddlers to teens” to loving the land through an inter-age mentorship structure. “It’s really play based,” said Vardy, adding that it’s a good way for locals of different ages to get to know and like each other. Produce is then sold at the Farm Co Market, which also sources products from nearby farms.
Outside of the day-to-day operations at Cozy Point, The Farm Collaborative is also responsible for the 2Forks Club, which supports farms across the Western Slope through zero-interest micro-loans. Loans are allocated by club members. A minimum buy-in of $150 means that the board is made up of both wealthy donors and working agriculturalists. This is the beauty of The Farm Collaborative as a whole. Grounded perspectives are given the opportunity to grow into lofty goals.
Vardy has been thinking about regeneration for decades longer than much of the general public. And even from the get-go, he was working to improve the conversation. “In 2008, the way people were talking about sustainability wasn’t inspiring. It wasn’t enough and it was rooted in negativity. It was ‘do less bad,’” he said, noting that environmental concerns are too big an issue to be approached from the perspective of patching holes.
Even with regeneration entering the public lexicon, Vardy still believes that the word is often misunderstood. “Regeneration is still the Wild West,” he said. “It’s the capacity for constant improvement over time. From an agricultural standpoint, it’s about improving the soil over time,” he continued, adding that he’s hoping to see the concept get codified.
Even though The Farm Collaborative almost exclusively serves the Western Slope, it provides a good model for the rest of the state and the world at large. Boulder’s SOIL is doing similar work, supplying zero-interest loans for farms in the Boulder Valley and across the Front Range.
At the Ball, Vardy wore a bright red suit, emblazoned top-to-bottom with flowers of all kinds. It was a good fit for a hopeful message. “We’re not looking for a quick fix, we’re looking for a durable fix,” said Vardy.
The Farm Collaborative is located at 200 Agricultural Way, Aspen.
Photos courtesy of Summit Photo and Film.
