Growing Beyond Sustainability: How Western Colorado Farmers Are Cultivating A Regenerative Future

The movement toward regenerative agriculture is gaining momentum in Western Colorado, where farmers are embracing sustainable practices to restore soil health, increase biodiversity and combat climate change. Across the region, farmers and ranchers are finding innovative ways to work with nature rather than against it, creating resilient food systems that benefit both the environment and their communities. Local farmers are leading the charge, implementing time-honored and innovative techniques to ensure the land remains fertile for generations to come. Their efforts go beyond sustainability; they aim to actively rebuild and heal the earth.

DEFINING REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

Regeneratively raised, free-range chickens thrive at Happy Hive Farm.

Regenerative agriculture, unlike conventional farming, focuses on rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity. “Organic certification started around 50 years ago, but it didn’t necessarily focus on rebuilding ecosystems and has been increasingly monetized and politicized. Regenerative agriculture has taken organic a step further in caring about food quality but also the soil and environment without the bureaucracy that organic now has,” says Tomek Barc at Happy Hive Farm in Grand Junction. “Now, it’s been politicized and monetized, but it still allows synthetic fertilizers. Regenerative agriculture is pushing the conversation forward.”

Legislators in Colorado are now working to define what regenerative agriculture means at the policy level. Programs like the Soil Plus Program, managed by the Water Conservation District in Grand Junction and Mesa County, provide farmers with guidelines and support to implement regenerative practices. Happy Hive follows five key principles: soil armor (cover crops or mulching), living roots (year round plant growth), biodiversity (avoiding monocropping), minimal tillage and integrating livestock onto the land. These principles are transforming how Western Colorado farmers approach food production.

SOIL HEALTH + LIVESTOCK INTEGRATION

For Happy Hive, regenerative poultry farming means using mobile “chicken tractors” to protect birds from predators while allowing them to graze on fresh pasture. In the off-season, cattle from neighboring ranchers graze the fields, keeping the ecosystem balanced. “This season, we had 27 cattle on our property,” says Barc. “We partner with others looking for grazing pasture, and their cows help mow down our winter growth. It’s an important thing — collaboration among farmers.”

These rotational grazing practices not only improve pasture health but also contribute to carbon sequestration. “Regenerative soil health is about what we do for carbon capture — letting animals graze through is a form of carbon sequestration. It’s climate change mitigation,” Barc says.

Beyond the farm, the impact is tangible. “When you taste our chicken, you’ll never want to buy store-bought again,” Barc says. “Older folks tell us, ‘That’s how chicken used to taste.’”

Even in processing, regenerative principles apply. “What do you do with the feathers, the guts, the heads? You compost them,” Barc says. “Every single part of this takes expertise and care. You can’t do it alone.” Farmers like Barc emphasize the patience required to see results. “To build soil health, it’s not measured in years — it can be measured in decades. Sometimes the changes you do happen in 10 to 15 years. When we look at it from a soil health perspective, I need my son (age 6) to continue it throughout his life, to continue this soil health journey, to make it stick.”

FLOWERS, SOIL HEALTH + WORKER AUTONOMY

A worker-owner gathers snapdragons, one of the many vibrant blooms cultivated through intensive crop rotation and ecological stewardship on Zephyros Farm.

At Zephyros Farm in Paonia, an 8-acre organic cut-flower operation, regenerative methods also drive the business — but economic constraints pose a challenge. “Most regenerative farms are still using conventional no-till methods, sometimes with synthetic fertilizers,” explains Sam Kaup, a worker-owner at the farm. “We go beyond that. We don’t use synthetic chemicals, GMOs or sprays. Instead, we practice conservation tillage, intensive crop rotation and composting. But these methods take more time and resources, which small farms don’t always have.”

One unique aspect of Zephyros Farm is its cooperative management structure. “Workers here have full control of operations. We have a horizontal structure, retain employees longer and pay people better,” Kaup explains. “That’s not common in agriculture. But it’s improved our farm tremendously.”

Zephyros Farm also measures soil health regularly. “We test our soil every couple of years, looking at fertility, organic matter and biology,” Kaup says. “Over time, we’re seeing the benefits — healthier soil, better productivity and stronger plants.”

However, Kaup believes broader systemic changes are necessary for regenerative agriculture to truly thrive. “It’s not just environmental or practice-related barriers. It’s socio-economic constraints. Without changes to subsidies or financial support, it’s hard for small farms to adopt regenerative practices at scale.”

CULTIVATING NUTRIENT-DENSE FOOD WITH LIVING SOIL

Dawn Adams at Green Junction Farmstead in Clifton has built her entire operation around the health of her soil. “Our farm was originally hay and alfalfa, so it took time to rebuild the soil,” she explains. “We use permanent raised beds, minimal tillage and zero chemicals. Instead, we introduce biology — microorganisms, fungi and natural minerals — to create living soil.”

Green Junction Farmstead in Clifton has built its entire operation around the health of the soil.

By prioritizing soil health, Green Junction Farmstead produces ultra-nutrient-dense food. “Because we don’t spray for pests, we’ve developed an ecosystem where good bugs balance out the bad,” Adams says. “For every harmful bug, there are 15,000 beneficial ones.”

Beyond the environmental benefits, healthy soil also leads to longer-lasting, fresher produce, saving consumers money in the long run. “When you buy from a local farm, the vegetables are fresher. Lettuce will last up to three weeks,” Adams notes.

Despite their small scale — just an acre and a half — Adams’ farm produces over 1,000 pounds of vegetables annually. “We’re human-powered. We use a walk-behind tractor instead of large equipment that compacts the soil,” she says. “It’s more work, but it’s how nature intended.”

That philosophy extends to the bigger picture of regenerative farming. “If we can inherit these practices over a long period of time, we end up saving money,” Adams explains. “When your soil is healthy and living, you don’t need as much input — less chicken manure, less water because the soil holds moisture better. It’s a full circle. Taking it back to the way nature intended and letting the food grow the way it’s supposed to — naturally.”

Still, Adams acknowledges the challenges. “We don’t use herbicides, so we hand-pick weeds. It’s time-consuming,” she says. “But we’re committed to keeping the soil healthy and our food natural.”

POLICY, COLLABORATION + THE FUTURE OF REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

Beyond individual farms, broader efforts are underway to support regenerative agriculture at a policy level. Sabra Lin O’Crotty, who serves on the Food & Local Ag Committee with the Western Colorado Alliance, is advocating for legislation that supports regenerative practices. “We’re working with Senators Cleve Simpson and Dylan Roberts to pass a ‘Regenerative Ag Bill’ or ‘Soil Health Bill,’” she explains. “One of the challenges is defining ‘regenerative’ in a way that prioritizes soil health while not excluding traditional practices that keep food on shelves.”

One potential incentive is tax credits for farmers adopting regenerative methods. “We got this passed last year with a tax credit attached, but it died in budgeting,” O’Crotty says. “We’re going to keep pushing for it.”

While legislative change is slow, farmers are finding strength in community. “All of agriculture is farmers helping farmers, neighbors helping neighbors,” Barc says.

As more farmers adopt regenerative methods and consumers support their local food systems, the movement toward soil health, biodiversity and climate resilience continues to grow. Whether through pasture-raised poultry, no-till organic farming or biologically rich soils, Western Colorado’s farmers are redefining what sustainable agriculture can look like — one field at a time. One thing remains clear: the future of agriculture in Western Colorado is not just about sustainability — it’s about collaboration, innovation and a profound respect for the land.

Originally published in the Spring 2025 issue of Spoke+Blossom.