How one family made CFTT part of their "forever home".
I became connected to the idea of agriculture as a young child. From my home in suburban Boston, I spent 3 months of every year in the backwoods of Maine learning outdoor skills through a program similar to Outward Bound sponsored by the YMCA. I loved the contrast between Boston and Maine favoring what opportunities are open in the natural world. I finished my education with certificates and degrees in Veterinary Science, Early Childhood Education, Special Education, and Outdoor Education with strong interests in pottery and the fiber arts. The outdoors became a primary focus in our marriage as Stu and I chose the Rocky Mountains for our “forever” home, going back east occasionally for the treasures of the sea. |  |
Our sons attended an Outward-Bound type of education in the Denver area and eventually became independent citizens. Stu, Ryan and I moved to Salida as Stu’s retirement years from Lockheed Martin became a reality. We are legal guardians and host home providers for Ryan who has Down Syndrome. Our greatest interest is to build a future for Ryan in a sustainable way. We made a strong note that Colorado Farm to Table was in our neighborhood and was sure to make contact to become more familiar with their work. | Our first days of volunteering was just a few days after moving into Pinon Hills in August 2019. When Covid hit home, we looked for ways to integrate agriculture into our lives as we explored the areas around us. Stu did a lot of hiking on the Colorado Trail, Ryan became a consumer with Starpoint, and Janie became a host home provider. All three of us became full-time volunteers at the start of 2021. We enjoy the learning of each stage of agricultural farming. Weeding is more difficult with my stroke weakness and Ryan’s Down Syndrome. Five years later we are still active volunteers trying to get more disabled people involved. I have learned through cooking how to use more fresh produce in our meals. |
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