New Well Drilling Pics

We recently drilled a new well out here. It is just East of the Housing Cluster.

The well is installed and is in the process of waiting for state approval. (At least as I understand it)

Invest in Heartwood Farms

At Heartwood Farms, we now have our first successful season under our belt and we're ready to welcome friends of Heartwood to become members of the farm. This letter will review what we've done so far at the farm, what we'll be doing in the years to come, and how you can help support Heartwood Farms by becoming a member and investing in growing nutritious, organic food right here at Heartwood.

The Vision
At Heartwood Farms, we practice bountiful, regenerative farming that is healing to the land and to all who are touched by it. Through Heartwood Farms, you can become the change that you want to see in the world! And you'll feel good because you'll be making it possible for us to raise local, organic food and nurture the land.

So Far, So Good
As expected, our first season was full of many wonderful successes and plenty of learning opportunities as well. Some of the successes included:
• providing over 14,000 pounds of extremely high quality, organic, locally grown food to Heartwood residents and the larger community
• establishing 70 garden beds and building the soil in those beds
• establishing a 2 acre potato field and building the soil in that field
• establishing an orchard of approximately 150 trees
• establishing 3 bee hives
• building LOTS of deer fences, irrigation systems, a root cellar, intern living facilities, a seedling house, a food washing shed, and small animal facilities
• enriching the lives of 4 interns who got the chance to learn about and experience organic farming and community living
• establishing a seed bank specifically adapted to our environment
• promoting microorganisms and soil fertility throughout the pastures and growing beds
• bringing farm workers, Heartwood residents, and visitors closer to Nature and the food they eat

Wow -- big year!

All of the lessons that we learned in our first year have to do with making the farm more sustainable. We need to have enough labor so that the farm work is joyful and doesn't burn people out. The farm operation is complex and we need good communications and systems in place to make it all run smoothly. Although lots of up front investment was made last year, in the long run, we need to bring in as much money as we spend. The soil is our most valuable resource and we need to continue to build it and help it become ever more fertile. All of these lessons have been incorporated into our 2010 work plan for the farm.

A Very Bright Future
At Heartwood we have a unique combination of resources that support Heartwood Farms. We have extremely experienced and talented growers, namely Bevan Williams and Kris Hill. We have plenty of pastureland and great water rights. We have a very supportive community that helps the farm in so many ways -- from providing the land to lending management expertise to giving love and friendship to the farm interns. With all of the achievements of 2009, the exhaustive work to learn from our first year and adjust our plans accordingly, and the support of our community, the farm is poised to continue to grow and flourish. Our long range vision is to create a beautiful and nourishing integrated food system. We're on our way.

Won't You Join Us?
To reach that bright future, Heartwood Farms needs cash investment. Investing in Heartwood Farms Co-op entitles you to membership in the co-op, voting rights, and a proportional financial stake in the cooperative. While dividends and increased share value are certainly possible, investing in Heartwood Farms is really about investing in your values.
• Do you value healthy, organic, local, fresh, convenient, and affordable food on your table and at common meals?
• Do you value making that wonderful food available to the larger local community?
• Do you value minimizing your environmental footprint? (Did you know that food from the grocery store has traveled an average of 1300 miles?!)
• Do you value the development of innovative organic farming practices and sharing them with interns who will carry them far and wide?
• Do you value bringing health and vitality to the land?

If you hold any of these values, please consider joining us in making this vibrant food system a reality by investing in Heartwood Farms.

Investment Details
Voting Rights
All member-owners, regardless of how many shares they own, are entitled to one vote at the annual meeting where we'll elect a board of directors and possibly make other decisions.

Financial Stake and Selling Shares
All member-owners have a stake in the cooperative in proportion to the number of shares they own. They will receive a proportional share of dividends distributed. They are free to sell their shares whenever and to whomever they choose at whatever price they can get, although the cooperative and Heartwood members will retain a first right of refusal in order to keep ownership of the co-op close to home.

Purchasing Shares
Shares will be offered at $100 per share. In the future, share price will increase as the value of Heartwood Farms increases. When you're ready to invest, please contact Mac Thomson and let him know how many shares you want to buy and whose name to put them in.

If you want further information, please don't hesitate ask. Here is some contact information:

Mac 884-2196 mac@heartwoodcohousing.com

Sandy 884-2196 sandy@heartwoodcohousing.com

Scott 239-1066 scott_fallows@yahoo.com

Zita 884-7003 zitaxavieris@gmail.com

Bevan 884-4069 bevanis@gmail.com

Kris 403-4665 hillblueclouds@yahoo.com

More Ways to Support the Farm
In addition to investing in Heartwood Farms, you might also want to consider supporting the farm by purchasing Farm Credits or volunteering to work on the farm. Buying Farm Credits means prepaying for farm food that can then be purchased at the Heartwood Store or at our Common House Farmers Markets. It's like a CSA, but you can get whatever farm food you want when you want it. There's another email fully describing the Farm Credits if you are interested. If you'd like to volunteer to get your hands dirty and work on the farm, give Sandy a call or send her an email and she'll let you know how to get started (884-2196; sandy@heartwoodcohousing.com).

We invite you to become part of this dream to create a more sustainable world and a more secure local food system. Come visit, see what we've done in only one year. If you'd like, volunteer to come play in the gardens. It won't be long until the scent of the first orchard blossoms, the sound of happy bees, the smell of healthy soil, and fresh strawberry shoots poking up from garden beds return to the farm. Remember, vibrant, radiant health comes from the farm, not the pharmacy!

We need to raise $4700 by March to purchase soil amendments, green house supplies, irrigation equipment, and seeds. If you share in this collective dream, we need your help to manifest it right here, right now. Please join us by calling Mac at 884-2196.

With deep appreciation from all of us,

The Heartwood Farms Board and Staff

At Heartwood Farms, we now have our first successful season under our belt and we're ready to welcome friends of Heartwood to become members of the farm. This letter will review what we've done so far at the farm, what we'll be doing in the years to come, and how you can help support Heartwood Farms by becoming a member and investing in growing nutritious, organic food right here at Heartwood. The Vision At Heartwood Farms, we practice bountiful, regenerative farming that is healing to the land and to all who are touched by it. Through Heartwood Farms, you can become the change that you want to see in the world! And you'll feel good because you'll be making it possible for us to raise local, organic food and nurture the land. So Far, So Good As expected, our first season was full of many wonderful successes and plenty of learning opportunities as well. Some of the successes included: • providing over 14,000 pounds of extremely high quality, organic, locally grown food to Heartwood residents and the larger community • establishing 70 garden beds and building the soil in those beds • establishing a 2 acre potato field and building the soil in that field • establishing an orchard of approximately 150 trees • establishing 3 bee hives • building LOTS of deer fences, irrigation systems, a root cellar, intern living facilities, a seedling house, a food washing shed, and small animal facilities • enriching the lives of 4 interns who got the chance to learn about and experience organic farming and community living • establishing a seed bank specifically adapted to our environment • promoting microorganisms and soil fertility throughout the pastures and growing beds • bringing farm workers, Heartwood residents, and visitors closer to Nature and the food they eat Wow -- big year! All of the lessons that we learned in our first year have to do with making the farm more sustainable. We need to have enough labor so that the farm work is joyful and doesn't burn people out. The farm operation is complex and we need good communications and systems in place to make it all run smoothly. Although lots of up front investment was made last year, in the long run, we need to bring in as much money as we spend. The soil is our most valuable resource and we need to continue to build it and help it become ever more fertile. All of these lessons have been incorporated into our 2010 work plan for the farm. A Very Bright Future At Heartwood we have a unique combination of resources that support Heartwood Farms. We have extremely experienced and talented growers, namely Bevan Williams and Kris Hill. We have plenty of pastureland and great water rights. We have a very supportive community that helps the farm in so many ways -- from providing the land to lending management expertise to giving love and friendship to the farm interns. With all of the achievements of 2009, the exhaustive work to learn from our first year and adjust our plans accordingly, and the support of our community, the farm is poised to continue to grow and flourish. Our long range vision is to create a beautiful and nourishing integrated food system. We're on our way. Won't You Join Us? To reach that bright future, Heartwood Farms needs cash investment. Investing in Heartwood Farms Co-op entitles you to membership in the co-op, voting rights, and a proportional financial stake in the cooperative. While dividends and increased share value are certainly possible, investing in Heartwood Farms is really about investing in your values. • Do you value healthy, organic, local, fresh, convenient, and affordable food on your table and at common meals? • Do you value making that wonderful food available to the larger local community? • Do you value minimizing your environmental footprint? (Did you know that food from the grocery store has traveled an average of 1300 miles?!) • Do you value the development of innovative organic farming practices and sharing them with interns who will carry them far and wide? • Do you value bringing health and vitality to the land? If you hold any of these values, please consider joining us in making this vibrant food system a reality by investing in Heartwood Farms. Investment Details Voting Rights All member-owners, regardless of how many shares they own, are entitled to one vote at the annual meeting where we'll elect a board of directors and possibly make other decisions. Financial Stake and Selling Shares All member-owners have a stake in the cooperative in proportion to the number of shares they own. They will receive a proportional share of dividends distributed. They are free to sell their shares whenever and to whomever they choose at whatever price they can get, although the cooperative and Heartwood members will retain a first right of refusal in order to keep ownership of the co-op close to home. Purchasing Shares Shares will be offered at $100 per share. In the future, share price will increase as the value of Heartwood Farms increases. When you're ready to invest, please contact Mac Thomson and let him know how many shares you want to buy and whose name to put them in. If you want further information, please don't hesitate ask. Here is some contact information: Mac 884-2196 mac@heartwoodcohousing.com Sandy 884-2196 sandy@heartwoodcohousing.com Scott 239-1066 scott_fallows@yahoo.com Zita 884-7003 zitaxavieris@gmail.com Bevan 884-4069 bevanis@gmail.com Kris 403-4665 hillblueclouds@yahoo.com

More Ways to Support the Farm In addition to investing in Heartwood Farms, you might also want to consider supporting the farm by purchasing Farm Credits or volunteering to work on the farm. Buying Farm Credits means prepaying for farm food that can then be purchased at the Heartwood Store or at our Common House Farmers Markets. It's like a CSA, but you can get whatever farm food you want when you want it. There's another email fully describing the Farm Credits if you are interested. If you'd like to volunteer to get your hands dirty and work on the farm, give Sandy a call or send her an email and she'll let you know how to get started (884-2196; sandy@heartwoodcohousing.com).

We invite you to become part of this dream to create a more sustainable world and a more secure local food system. Come visit, see what we've done in only one year. If you'd like, volunteer to come play in the gardens. It won't be long until the scent of the first orchard blossoms, the sound of happy bees, the smell of healthy soil, and fresh strawberry shoots poking up from garden beds return to the farm. Remember, vibrant, radiant health comes from the farm, not the pharmacy!

We need to raise $4700 by March to purchase soil amendments, green house supplies, irrigation equipment, and seeds. If you share in this collective dream, we need your help to manifest it right here, right now. Please join us by calling Mac at 884-2196.

With deep appreciation from all of us,

The Heartwood Farms Board and Staff

At Heartwood Farms, we now have our first successful season under our belt and we're ready to welcome friends of Heartwood to become members of the farm. This letter will review what we've done so far at the farm, what we'll be doing in the years to come, and how you can help support Heartwood Farms by becoming a member and investing in growing nutritious, organic food right here at Heartwood. The Vision At Heartwood Farms, we practice bountiful, regenerative farming that is healing to the land and to all who are touched by it. Through Heartwood Farms, you can become the change that you want to see in the world! And you'll feel good because you'll be making it possible for us to raise local, organic food and nurture the land. So Far, So Good As expected, our first season was full of many wonderful successes and plenty of learning opportunities as well. Some of the successes included: • providing over 14,000 pounds of extremely high quality, organic, locally grown food to Heartwood residents and the larger community • establishing 70 garden beds and building the soil in those beds • establishing a 2 acre potato field and building the soil in that field • establishing an orchard of approximately 150 trees • establishing 3 bee hives • building LOTS of deer fences, irrigation systems, a root cellar, intern living facilities, a seedling house, a food washing shed, and small animal facilities • enriching the lives of 4 interns who got the chance to learn about and experience organic farming and community living • establishing a seed bank specifically adapted to our environment • promoting microorganisms and soil fertility throughout the pastures and growing beds • bringing farm workers, Heartwood residents, and visitors closer to Nature and the food they eat Wow -- big year! All of the lessons that we learned in our first year have to do with making the farm more sustainable. We need to have enough labor so that the farm work is joyful and doesn't burn people out. The farm operation is complex and we need good communications and systems in place to make it all run smoothly. Although lots of up front investment was made last year, in the long run, we need to bring in as much money as we spend. The soil is our most valuable resource and we need to continue to build it and help it become ever more fertile. All of these lessons have been incorporated into our 2010 work plan for the farm. A Very Bright Future At Heartwood we have a unique combination of resources that support Heartwood Farms. We have extremely experienced and talented growers, namely Bevan Williams and Kris Hill. We have plenty of pastureland and great water rights. We have a very supportive community that helps the farm in so many ways -- from providing the land to lending management expertise to giving love and friendship to the farm interns. With all of the achievements of 2009, the exhaustive work to learn from our first year and adjust our plans accordingly, and the support of our community, the farm is poised to continue to grow and flourish. Our long range vision is to create a beautiful and nourishing integrated food system. We're on our way. Won't You Join Us? To reach that bright future, Heartwood Farms needs cash investment. Investing in Heartwood Farms Co-op entitles you to membership in the co-op, voting rights, and a proportional financial stake in the cooperative. While dividends and increased share value are certainly possible, investing in Heartwood Farms is really about investing in your values. • Do you value healthy, organic, local, fresh, convenient, and affordable food on your table and at common meals? • Do you value making that wonderful food available to the larger local community? • Do you value minimizing your environmental footprint? (Did you know that food from the grocery store has traveled an average of 1300 miles?!) • Do you value the development of innovative organic farming practices and sharing them with interns who will carry them far and wide? • Do you value bringing health and vitality to the land? If you hold any of these values, please consider joining us in making this vibrant food system a reality by investing in Heartwood Farms. Investment Details Voting Rights All member-owners, regardless of how many shares they own, are entitled to one vote at the annual meeting where we'll elect a board of directors and possibly make other decisions. Financial Stake and Selling Shares All member-owners have a stake in the cooperative in proportion to the number of shares they own. They will receive a proportional share of dividends distributed. They are free to sell their shares whenever and to whomever they choose at whatever price they can get, although the cooperative and Heartwood members will retain a first right of refusal in order to keep ownership of the co-op close to home. Purchasing Shares Shares will be offered at $100 per share. In the future, share price will increase as the value of Heartwood Farms increases. When you're ready to invest, please contact Mac Thomson and let him know how many shares you want to buy and whose name to put them in. If you want further information, please don't hesitate ask. Here is some contact information:

Farmer's Almanac

 

We had a beautiful Mother's Day morning down in the garden

A couple of weekends ago.  

Lots of good food, laughter and celebration.

The gardens looked great and much has happened since we were down there.  

Heartwood Farms has been to the Farmer's Market in Durango twice.

The soil in many of the beds has been amended.

Beets, onions, onions and more onions have been planted.

Four kinds of lettuce are growing.

Also planted since then are green beans, peas, melons, tomatoes, cucumbers, spinach, brocoli, garlic scallions, cooking greens, radishes and 2 kinds of cabbage.

The upper garden is two thirds of the way planted.

Lettuce will be ready to harvest in 3 weeks.

The 450 strawberry plants that got planted are doing well.

The fruit trees are leafing out.

The crab apple trees are blooming.                                                           

There are 9 baby goats.  All girls except for Cassanova the only billy.

The bees are doing what bees do.

Birds are nesting in the bird houses.

The interns now have running water.

Pam has found us a handicap van with a lift to 

transport produce and people to the markets and

make deliveries for $100.  Thank you PAM!

Dixie has goat milk for sale in the store.

1 QT for $2.50

1/2 Gal for $4

1 Gal for $8

Please bring clean jars back to the store so she can reuse them.

There will also be some of Dixie's raw herb cheve made from milk from her goats and herbs from Heartwood!

They will be planting 8,000 potatoes over the next couple of days.  If you have a spare hour or two please show up at the garden Thursday or Friday and drop some potatoes in.  It's easy, some of the older kids could definatley do it.  

Things are moving right along at Heartwood Farms where all the trees are strong, the bees are good looking and the amount of potatoes that need to be planted in way above average!

Passing Thunderstorm with Rainbow at Heartwood Cohousing

Just last week we had a passing thunderstorm to the south of us. It created this beautiful Rainbow that I was able to catch from my front deck.

It is "Monsoon" season here. That basically means that we have bright sunny morning (often cool and crisp). Then it warms through the day and there is then a chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon.

Kite Flying at Heartwood Cohousing

We have started a new group here at Heartwood that is focused on he boys and dads. Not to oversimplify it, but we get together to interact in an organized way.



So a couple of weeks ago we got together and built kites. I have to say I was worried about it myself. I didn't really think I was going to be able to build one successfully.

Well I was wrong. It was awesome and all the kites flew. None survived the flights, but they all at least flew well once.

Check out how much fun this was.

Massive Work Party day at Heartwood Cohousing

Was this one of the biggest work parties we've had? Don't know, but it was big.

We

• Cleared huge amounts of Oak Brush
• Pulled 100 year old Barbed wire
• Replaced Irrigation Pipe
• Cleaned the Common House
• Seeded some of the pasture and
  
• Fixed fence

On top of it all we had breakfast prepared by another resident and lunch was a hoot too.

Bald Eagles over Heartwood

Caught these photos as I worked this afternoon. Right out my back window.

Heartwood Cohousing Greenhouse pictures

Exterior of the Greenhouse





Here are some photos of the Heartwood CoHousing greenhouse. We have a bunch of starts that are in or are "starting" to go in. I'm going to try to get over there and show the progress of the starts /seedlings and then when we begin planting the garden I'll get photos of that as well.

I think Many of these starts are destined for LaBoca.

Common Meal and Visitors

We had our usual Wednesday common meal tonight. Yum....Fajitas



Visitors included Raines from www.CohousingCoach.com and the Lippers (Who also helped cook).. Way to go.



Following the meal the kids played a game in the main room.



And we don't want to leave out Jeff, and remember that there is "some" work to be done. He did a bunch of the cleaning. Thanks Jeff...

Sledding Bonfire today

So what do you do when you get over a foot of snow and school is closed? Hmmm. How about a sledding party with hot chocolate and a small bonfire.

That's exactly what we did today at Heartwood.

Heartwood's Christmas Posada 2007

Christmas Eve we had a 3 house Posada with Hors d'œuvres (That's hard to spell) served at Eric and Laurie's and then over to Sue and Dave's for Soup and the main course and then over to Liz's for deserts and coffee.

Lots of smiles and laughter. The food was great. And of course...Pictures here to follow.
At Eric and Laurie's:





Nicely Done Kelly!!!




At Sue and Dave's:







At Liz's:

Heartwood Solstice Bonfire

Saturday Night we headed up to the bonfire pit just up the hill from the cluster. Not everyone was there at 7pm. I wandered in with a few other people, kids and dogs around 8:30 (I think). I ended up staying till around 10 or so and Jen Kelly and I put out the fire and headed home.

Happy Holidays... Happy Solstice.

Columbine Christian's Christmas Pageant

Last Night was the last night to see the Columbine Christian School's Christmas Pageant. A number of the Heartwood kids were in it and they did a superb job. They even had to cover for a technical glitch that suddenly stopped all the music. India and Nichol had to ad lib few about a minute... I bet it seemed like an eternity to them..

A few pictures for you to see them in action..