Bountiful Conservationleeds-faculty.colorado.edu/marlattj/OPIM4850-MGMT4085... · 2010-01-10 · about the initial idea to turn the land into a golf course, Abe Ott doesn’t skip

A guide to Colorado products &services from conserved lands 2010

Bountiful Conservation

Feed your family healthy, preserve our beautiful land and support your neighbor.

www.bountifulconservation.com1 2

Alpaca-related

Cheese

Education

Hay

Horse-related

Hunting & Guiding

Livestock & Meat

Landscape

Photography

Poultry-related

Produce

Recreation

Dear Reader:

It is hard to believe that a year has passed

since we first unveiled Bountiful Conservation:

A Guide to Colorado Products and Services

from Conserved Land. Thanks to the great

success of the first edition, we are excited

to announce the second edition, which

has nearly doubled in size and offers

even more unique products and services

to choose from.

By shopping from Bountiful Conservation,

you will not only find high-quality local

products and services, but you will also support

land conservation in Colorado, as each business owner in this directory has

permanently protected their land with a conservation easement. This means they

voluntarily agreed to keep their land from being developed and have given up very

valuable development rights because they care about sustaining the beauty, wildlife

habitat, and productivity of their land forever. You can feel proud that your dollars are

going towards supporting a great cause and healthier consumer choices for all of us.

So please enjoy grass fed beef tamales and burritos from McNeil Ranch, LLC, landscape your

yard with Colorado Spruce Trees from James Ranch and sod from Rivendell Sod Farm, go

on a horseback riding cattle adventure at Music Meadows Ranch, or buy delicious Colorado

organic produce from one of more than half a dozen producers. You can help us grow this

directory even more by telling us about other producers with conserved land not already

included in the listing. And if you have ever thought about permanently protecting your

land with a conservation easement, please refer to the resource page in the back of this

directory to get started. Whether you decide to conserve your property or purchase

something from a business listed in this directory, you will be joining in the efforts to

protect Colorado’s natural treasures.

We hope you enjoy the bounty that Colorado has to offer. Happy shopping!

Best regards, Ariel Steele Ted Toombs Tax Credit Connection, Inc. Environmental Defense Fund 303-774-8127 303-447-7210 [email protected] [email protected]

User Note: Properties are listed in alphabetical order. Please refer to the Index on page 22 to locate specific products.

Symbol Key AcknowledgementsWe would like to thank Lauren

Minnard for her assistance in

producing this publication and

Environmental Defense Fund for

their support. www.edf.com

Design and layout by:

Red Wall Communications, LLC

www.redwallcom.com

Printed by:

Vision Graphics, Inc., Loveland, CO

www.Visiongraphics-inc.com

This directory is coordinated by:

Tax Credit Connection, Inc.

Saving taxpayers money, saving

Colorado’s natural treasures.

www.taxcreditconnection.com

©2010 Environmental Defense

Fund & Tax Credit Connection, Inc.

Recycled Supporting responsible use of forest resources www.fsc.org Cert no. SW-COC-001784 ©1996 Forest Stewardship Council

www.bountifulconservation.com3

Located in Hayden, Elkhead Ranch

includes 9,500 scenic acres of grazing

pastures, Elkhead and Calf Creeks,

forests, wetlands and hay meadows.

The abundant ranch offers many

services and products, such as natural

grass fed beef and natural potatoes,

with the main focus on growing

things organically, naturally, and

chemically free.

Elkhead Ranch has been ranched

since 1883 and was purchased by

current owner Heather Stirling in

1974. The ranch was historically

designated in 1996, partly because it

was one of the last places in the United

States opened up for homesteading in

the early 1900’s. The ranch also has several

historical buildings located on the property.

Heather placed conservation easements on

Elkhead Ranch to protect its history, land,

water, wildlife and spectacular scenery.

She is working on rehabilitating Elkhead

Creek and continues to work the land using

different conservation practices. Through

these efforts and more, Heather is dedicated

to preserving the legacy of Elkhead Ranch

for future generations.

Services/Products: all natural grass finished beef, Corriente roping cattle, all natural hay, elk hunting, natural exotic potatoes, AQHA horses, birdwatching, bring your own horse for guest riding See full directory listing on page 5.

Elkhead Ranch

4

Bartel Hereford Ranch

Services/Products: High Altitude Polled and Horned Hereford Beef Cattle

Lawrence Bartel 419 County Rd 140, Mancos, CO 81328 Phone: 970-533-7375 Email: [email protected]

Where to Purchase: contact owner

Land Trust: La Plata Open Space Conservancy

BCK Heath Ranch

Services/Products: hunting guide service for antelope and mule deer

Burton Kross Weld County, CO Phone: 970-231-1430 Email: [email protected]

Where to Purchase: e-mail Land Trust: Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust

Berry Patch Farms

Services/Products: wide variety of certified organic produce

Tim & Claudia Ferrell 13785 Potomac St, Brighton, CO 80601 Phone: 303-659-5050 Email: [email protected] Website: www.berrypatchfarms.com

Where to Purchase: farm (pick your own), Front Range farmers’ markets

Land Trust: Adams County Open Space

Collbran Cattle Company

Services/Products: grass fed Colorado grown beef

Annie Hughes & Erin Hubbard (landowners) J.D. Hill (tenant and company owner) 57143 OE Rd, Collbran, CO 81624 Phone: 970-487-3803


Land Trust: Mesa Land Trust

Cottonwood Springs Ranch

Services/Products: performance quarter horses, sport horses, Angus cattle

Floyd Miller 3176 County Rd 245, Bayfield, CO 81122 Phone: 970-884-1502



Duval Bench

Services/Products: grain fed natural beef, deer and elk hunting

David & Denise Bagg Glade Park, CO 81523 Phone: 970-241-2734



Services/Products: environmental wildlife education, tours and research

See full directory listing on page 5.

Eye of the Heart Widlife Refuge

Located just outside Rollinsville, Eye of the Heart Wildlife

Refuge sits at an elevation of 9,000 feet in Lump Gulch.

The area is known for its rich trapping & mining history,

outdoor recreation opportunities, vast amount of wild-

life and stunning mountain views. In 2004, Eye of the

Heart Wildlife Refuge was established with a mission

to protect this valuable land and wildlife and with the

goal to purchase surrounding patented mining claims

and private property to create a buffer around the

wetlands and rare fen on the refuge.

Through conservation easements, private donations,

and public education, the Refuge has been able to

protect beaver populations. In doing so, the beaver

families have created food, shelter and water for

all the mountain wildlife. Eye of the Heart Wildlife

Refuge is an important wildlife corridor for deer, elk, moose,

coyotes, foxes, bobcats, wolves and mountain lions, not to mention the neo-tropical

birds in the summer months and endangered green back cutthroat trout. The refuge owns

45 acres of adjacent property that buffers and protects this important habitat.

To provide a wide array of environmental education opportunities and scientific research,

Eye of the Heart Wildlife Refuge plans to scrap and replace a steel World War II garage with

a donated historic log structure to be used as an educational facility, and build a meeting

hall. With future grant money and private donations, plans are being made to completely

restore two historic 1909 numbered and documented Colorado and Southern Railroad

Cars for future exhibits. Future plans also include the addition of a narrative trail and

underwater viewing station within two restored mining ponds. The refuge intends on

making education of Denver’s inner city school children, adults, and researchers the

core activities from spring to fall.


El Dorado Ranch

Services/Products: all natural, low fat, low cholesterol Texas Longhorn beef

Justin Werts 7778 County Rd 240, Durango, CO 81301 Phone: 970-385-5171



Ela Family Farms

Services/Products: organic fruit, fruit butter, applesauce, jams and cider

Steve Ela 30753 L Rd, Hotchkiss, CO 81419 Phone: 970-872-3488 Email: [email protected] Website: www.elafamilyfarms.com

Where to Purchase: website, farmers’ markets, Front Range Whole Foods, Vitamin Cottage Stores

Land Trust: Black Canyon Land Trust

Elkhead Ranch

Services/Products: all natural grass finished beef, Corriente roping cattle, all natural hay, elk hunting, natural exotic potatoes, AQHA horses, birdwatching, bring your own horse guest riding

Heather Stirling 8102 RCR 56, Hayden, CO 81639 Phone: 970-276-3920 Email: [email protected]


Land Trust: Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust

Endless Frontier Ranch: Mile High Bison Co.

Services/Products: all natural, 100% grass fed bison

Jason Stephens & Todd Gale 1469 Greenland Rd, Larkspur, CO 80118 Phone: 303-258-6588 Email: [email protected] Website: www.mhbison.com

Where to Purchase: website, contact owner


Eye of the Heart Wildlife Refuge

Services/Products: environmental wildlife education, tours and research

Laurel Higgins 1744 Lump Gulch Rd, Black Hawk, CO 80422 Phone: 720-289-3573 Email: [email protected] Website: www. eyeoftheheart

wildliferefuge.com


Land Trust: Colorado Open Lands

Grant Family Farms

Services/Products: organic vegetables, fruits, fresh cut flowers, pastured eggs, organic meats

Josh Palmer 1020 WCR 72, Wellington, CO 80549 Phone: 970-568-7654 Email: [email protected] Website: www.grantfarms.com

Where to Purchase: Front Range Whole Foods, Laramie Old Town Farmers’ Market, Fort Collins Old Town Farmers’ Market, website, CSA

Land Trust: Legacy Land Trust

5


“He was born with a cowboy heart in Pasadena, California.” Julie Ott proudly says of her father, David James, who bought the family ranch with his wife, Kay, in 1961. They raised their five children on those 450 acres and started their first family enterprise in the form of a pond that lured tourists off the road with a sign reading, ‘Fishing Fun for Everyone!’ Today, the James Ranch has grown beyond that little pond. The adult children started returning to the ranch 16 years ago, and now along with Dave and Kay James, three of them have their own enterprise. Together, the four enterprises make up the successful family-run operation that offers a variety of agricultural products to the public that goes well beyond organic.

In addition to using organic methods to run the ranch, the James family embraces rotational grazing practices that mimic the role of predators, reincorporates byprod-ucts into their operation, such as mixing cheese whey into pig-feed, and teaches that agriculture is seasonal as reflected in the products sold from their ranch. The preservation of open space is also deeply embedded into their family philosophy, as is evident from the 81-acre conservation easement that they placed on their land, and from their plans to conserve more acreage in the future.

Dave and Kay James attribute the success of their family-run operation to their conservation-minded children and to the quarterly family meetings where delegated roles rotate with each meeting, business is handled professionally and harmoniously, and grandchildren are invited to attend; after all, the future of the family ranch lies with the grandchildren, and they are taking careful notes. Running barefoot after the turkeys and helping with the endless chores on the ranch, the grandchildren understand the value of what they will inherit. When asked what they think about the initial idea to turn the land into a golf course, Abe Ott doesn’t skip a beat, “I’d rather have turkeys.”

Services/Products: Artisan cheese, whey-good pork, 100% grass fed and finished beef, organic fruits and vegetables, flowers, Colorado Spruce trees See full directory listings on page 8.

James Ranch – A Family Story

8

Hayward Ranch

Services/Products: hunting and guiding

Tor Hayward Collbran, CO 81624 Phone: 970-261-6333



Howell’s Irish Dexters

Services/Products: Irish Dexter cattle

Butch & Karen Howell 28495 County Rd 340, Buena Vista, CO 81211 Phone: 719-395-6856 Email: [email protected] Website: www.kheartdexters.homestead.com

Where to Purchase: website

Land Trust: Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas

James Ranch: Artisan Cheese and Whey-Good Pork

Services/Products: Artisan cheese, whey-good pork

Dan & Becca James 33800 Highway 550, Durango, CO 81301 Phone: 970-385-9143 Email: [email protected] Website: www.jamesranch.net

Where to Purchase: James Ranch, Durango & Telluride Farmers’ Markets


James Ranch: Grass Finished Beef

Services/Products: 100% grass fed and finished beef

Kay & Dave James 33790 Highway 550, Durango, CO 81301 Phone: 970-247-8652 Email: [email protected] Website: www.jamesranch.net

Where to Purchase: James Ranch, Durango & Telluride Farmers’ Markets, Nature’s Oasis & Durango Natural Foods in Durango, Zuma Natural Foods in Mancos


James Ranch: The Gardens

Services/Products: organic fruits and vegetables, flowers

Jennifer & Joe Wheeling 34094 Highway 550, Durango, CO 81301 Phone: 970-385-5201 Website: www.jamesranch.net

Where to Purchase: James Ranch, Durango Farmers’ Market, contact owner


James Ranch: Trees

Services/Products: Colorado Spruce Trees

Julie & John Ott 33444 Highway 550, Durango, CO 81301 Phone: 970-749-7795 Email: [email protected] Website: www.jamesranch.net



Services/Products: Colorado horseback riding cattle adventures, Colorado natural grass fed beef


Music Meadows RanchJohnson Ranch Services/Products: grass fed beef, free range chickens

Clyde & Janice Johnson 3611 County Road 100, Hesperus, CO 81326 Phone: 970-588-3470 Email: [email protected]



Knoblauch Ranch: Laz Ewe 2 Bar Goat Dairy, LLC

Services/Products: Chevre & Feta goat cheese

Curtis & Jenny Knoblauch 10530 County Road 15, Del Norte, CO 81132 Phone: 719-850-9914 Email: [email protected]

Where to Purchase: Vitamin Cottage, farm, contact owner

Land Trust: Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust

La Plata AlpacasServices/Products: alpacas and alpaca fiber

Beverly Anderson 2886 County Road 308, Durango, CO 81303 Phone: 970-247-1720



Little Salt Wash Hay Co.Services/Products: horse/alpaca hay, small bales orchard grass/alfalfa

David & Julie Swinger 2050 M Road, Grand Junction, CO 81505 Phone: 970-858-7400



Lucky Penny Ranches

Services/Products: mountain grass hay, feeder calves

John & Sharon Harvat 1096 Cnty Rd 5, Coalmont, CO 80430 Phone: 970-723-4290



McNeil Ranch, LLC: Diamond F Brand Beef, LLC

Services/Products: 100% grass fed beef & grass fed beef tamales and burritos

Cathy & Mike McNeil 3351 State Highway 15 South Monte Vista, CO 81144 Phone: 719-852-2458 Email: [email protected] Website: www.grassfedandhealthy.com

Where to Purchase: Valley Food Corp in Alamosa, Dessert First Kitchen in Saguache, Mtn. Earth Natural Foods in Crested Butte, website, contact owner

Land Trust: Ducks Unlimited

Medicine Mountains Ranch

Services/Products: North Park Colorado hay

Ed Hamill & Joe Nance 2461 Jackson County Rd 30-D, Walden, CO Phone: 970-568-3339 Email: [email protected]

Where to Purchase: ranch, Cloud Street Farm in Fort Collins


Nestled at the foot of the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains

in south-central Colorado, Music Meadows Ranch sits at an

elevation of 9,000 feet. The picturesque 4,000-acre ranch offers

Colorado Horseback Riding Cattle Adventures and Colorado

Natural Grass Fed Beef.

Music Meadows Ranch, originally known as The Beck Place,

has been running yearlings for over 5 decades, with about

800 head per year. In recent history, the Parkers decided

to protect their land and traditions by putting their ranch

under a conservation easement. Now the entire Music

Meadows Ranch is protected from development. Today,

third generation family rancher Elin Parker Rusher works

and manages the ranch. She prides herself on staying true

to her roots and land.

The Horse and Cattle Adventures offer guests a real

cowboy or cowgirl experience on a working cattle ranch.

This includes riding on a well-trained and conditioned Quarter

Horse, caring for yearlings, working on your horsemanship and

helping with daily chores, and rewarding a day’s hard work with

delicious grass fed beef at meals.

Music Meadows Ranch raises delicious and healthy beef. Their

Colorado Natural Grass Fed Beef (called V Bar Beef) is available

in custom quantities suitable for any customer, and delivered with

a 100% satisfaction guarantee. V Bar Beef is available from August

through October, but ground beef is available year-round.

Plans are in motion to offer a “Ranch Get-Away” in 2010 using

the ranch house for one party exclusive accommodations.

For information, contact Elin Rusher.



Services/Products: Kentucky Bluegrass sod


Rivendell Sod Farm

12

Mesa Winds Farm

Services/Products: certified organic peaches, apples, grapes, asparagus, berries cherries, and farm stay opportunities

Wink Davis & Max Eisele 31262 L Rd, Hotchkiss, CO 81419 Phone: 970-250-4788 Email: [email protected] Website: www.mesawindsfarm.com

Where to Purchase: farmers’ markets, CSA

Land Trust: Black Canyon Land Trust

Mike Litzenberger

Services/Products: corn, alfalfa, wheat, barley

Mike Litzenberger 14661 County Road 5 Longmont, CO 80504 Phone: 303-776-0267



Mountain Island Ranch

Services/Products: organic beef

Belle Chesnick Glade Park, CO 81523 Phone: 970-245-4636 Email: [email protected]



Music Meadows Ranch

Services/Products: Colorado horseback riding cattle adventures, Colorado natural grass fed beef

Elin Rusher 6076 County Road 119 Westcliffe, CO 81252 Phone: 719-371-5596 Email: [email protected] Website: www.musicmeadows.com


Land Trust: San Isabel Land Protection Trust

Off ‘R Rocker Ranch

Services/Products: horse hay and certified weed-free hay

Bob & Laura Volger 503 County Road 331, Ignacio, CO 81137 Phone: 970-883-4004 Email: [email protected]

Where to Purchase: ranch


Puma Hills River Ranch

Services/Products: grass fed cattle, vacation house for rent, hunting, fishing

Jennifer & Steve Allard 34800 County Rd 77, Lake George, CO 80827 Phone: 719-748-8278 Email: [email protected] Website: www.pumahillsriverranch.com



Rivendell Sod Farm is celebrating twenty years in the sod business, specializing in an elite

Kentucky Bluegrass sod suited to the climate and high altitude of Colorado’s western slope.

Maci Berkeley started Rivendell Sod Farm in 1989, in the Spring Valley near Glenwood

Springs. Rivendell Sod Farm focuses on providing the wholesale market with quality sod

for garden centers, greenhouses, municipalities and landscapers.

In addition to preserving their land with a conservation easement, Rivendell Sod Farm

contributes all of its profits to support Hospital Mission Tarahumara with Mexico Medical

Missions. Mexico Medical Missions exists to provide an excellent level of integrated health

care to the indigenous people of the Sierra Madre of Mexico.

To purchase Sod from

Rivendell Sod Farm

or to learn more

about their operation

and commitment to

preserving Colorado’s

open space, please

visit their website.

Rusk Ranches

Ranching has been a part of Randy and Claricy

Rusk’s family for generations. Claricy’s family started

ranching near the town of Westcliffe in the 1880’s.

Randy’s family was the latecomer, with his father

having started ranching after World War II.

Concerned about the speed at which land was

being developed around their ranch, Randy

began conserving his family’s land with a

conservation easement ten years ago.

With Randy’s father, son and family all

working on the ranch, Randy intends to

continue the family business. Currently, Rusk

Ranches grows grass and hay to feed cattle on

family and leased land in the Wet Mountain

Valley, but the Rusks have begun the pro-

cess of raising grass finished cattle, a much

healthier alternative since this is the natural

diet for cattle. The Rusks hope that this new

endeavor will continue to grow and support

the ranch for generations to come.

Beef can be purchased from the Rusk Ranches

by contacting Randy or Claricy directly.

Services/Products: elk, deer and pronghorn hunting, grass finished beef



Reverse K Bar Ranch, LLT

Services/Products: grass fed all natural beef

Tom & Sharon Jordan 56375 OE Road, Collbran, CO 81624 Phone: 970-487-3281 Email: [email protected]



Rivendell Sod Farm

Services/Products: Kentucky Bluegrass Sod

Chelsey Veldhuizen 3961 County Road 114 Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 Phone: 970-945-2568 Email: [email protected] Website: www.rivendellsod.com

Where to Purchase: farm

Land Trust: Aspen Valley Land Trust

Rusk Ranches

Services/Products: deer, elk and pronghorn hunting, grass finished beef

Randy & Claricy Rusk 61199 Highway 69, Westcliffe, CO 81252 Phone: 719-783-0505 Email: [email protected]



Sand Mountain Cattle Co.

Services/Products: all natural grass fed and finished beef, age and source certified by Red Angus Association

Doug Carlson P.O. Box 668, Clark, CO 80428 Phone: 970-879-4021 Email: [email protected]



Serenity Lakes

Services/Products: grass hay, birdwatching

Alan & Julia Gentz 18399 County Road 30, Sterling, CO 80751 Phone: 970-522-8806 Email: [email protected]

Where to Purchase: ranch, contact owner

Land Trust: Logan County

South Park Fly Fishers Program

Services/Products: public fly-fishing access on private ranches, lodging, Tarryall Mountain Farms

Gary E. Nichols South Park National Heritage Area Phone: 719-836-4279 Email: [email protected] Website: www.southparktrout.com




Services/Products: public fly-fishing access on private ranches, lodging


South Park Fly Fishers Program

16

Sunnyside Farms

Services/Products: organic hay, grass finished organic livestock

Jerry & Karen Zink 259 County Road 216, Durango, CO 81303 Phone: 970-247-0137 Email: [email protected]



Sunnyside Meats

Services/Products: USDA-inspected livestock harvest and meat processing

Jenny Thomson 253 County Road 216, Durango, CO 81303 Phone: 970-385-0230 Email: [email protected]

Where to Purchase: frozen meats available at the plant, fresh cuts available at Sunnyside Farms Market in Durango


Sutcliffe Vineyards

Services/Products: wine, hay, livestock

John Sutcliffe 12202 Road G, Cortez, CO 81321 Phone: 970-565-0825 Email: [email protected] Website: www.sutcliffewines.com


Land Trust: Montezuma Land Conservancy

Sylvan Dale Ranch

Services/Products: grass fed beef, bed and breakfast, 3 to 6 acre homesites with ranch membership

David Jessup 2939 N. Cnty Rd. 31D, Loveland, CO 80538 Phone: 970-667-3915 Email: [email protected] Website: www.sylvandale.com


Land Trust: Legacy Land Trust

Talbott Farms

Services/Products: apple cider, peaches, cherries, apricots, apples, wine grapes, pears

Brenda Talbot 3782 F1/4 Road, Palisade, CO 81526 Phone: 970-464-5943 Website: www.talbottfarms.com



Tarryall Creek Ranch

Services/Products: trout fishing access

Carl Palmer Highway 285, Como, CO

Phone: 406-551-4049 Email: [email protected] Website: www.southparktrout.com



Designated as a National Heritage Area in 2009, Park County has some of the best fishing in the state and is located fifty miles southwest of Denver. In 1997, the Park County Heritage Program was established with the mission to “conserve Park County’s most valuable natural and cultural resources, and utilize them to establish a new sustainable economy.” This program is administered by the Tourism & Community Development Office, in conjunction with 70 other active participants, and has garnered multiple supporters that continue to generate funding for a variety of projects and activities.

One of the most successful aspects of the Park County Heritage Program is the South Park ranch recreation and management initiative, which has helped to secure leases on several ranches for fly-fishing access since its beginning in 2004. The public can reserve sections of streams for 2-4 people daily through the South Park Fly Fishers Program. Each of the ranches participating in the program has been protected with a conservation easement, and has received habitat enhancement and resource management planning. Each property is carefully monitored daily to ensure that aquatic resources are not abused, and that fish stocking and angler use are consistent with current habitat and water conditions. Anglers can be sure that they will have an enjoyable day of fishing on these conserved ranches.

To find out more about this innovative and nationally recognized program, or to learn how you can obtain one of the fly-fishing leases, please contact the South Park Fly Fishers Program by phone or online.


Services/Products: educational courses in Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness First Responder, Wilderness EMT, Wilderness Advanced Life Support, Medicinal Plant Identification, Leave No Trace Trainer Master Training, Camp Skills, Navigation, Archery and Firearm Familiarization, Solar Self-sufficiency, & more.


Wilderness Medicine Outfitters

18

As Carl Weil watched development move closer to his

property and change the nature of the surrounding landscape,

he decided to permanently protect his 130-acres in Elizabeth,

Colorado with a conservation easement. Carl strongly believes

that people are stewards of the land and should leave it in

better condition than how they found it. This is the ethic that

is infused into the dozens of environmental-based educational

courses offered through his business, Wilderness Medicine

Outfitters (WMO).

A third generation guide and a Fellow of the Academy of Wilder-

ness Medicine, Carl started teaching wilderness medicine in 1967,

purchased his property in 1970 and started running programs

out of it two years later. As the oldest business in the outdoor

education industry specializing in wilderness medicine and camp

skills, WMO’s private and group classes attract students from all over the globe. The

programs are based out of a small solar energy facility in the center of the property, that

has been operating off the power grid for over 24 years now. The educational opportunities

on the property are endless, with models of low-impact and conservation-minded living

on every acre.

But a local, homegrown business is not the only attribute of this conserved property. The

land acts as a buffer to the growing urban landscape of the surrounding area and also

provides wildlife habitat for mammals and birds such as antelope, deer, coyote, owls and

hawks. His children grew up with raw open land in all directions but now he worries that

only conservation easement properties may offer a glimmer of this freedom. When Carl

looks out of his office window, he sees more than acres of rolling hills and Ponderosa Pine

forests; he sees something that he can pass onto the next generation in better shape than

he found it. And that is something that he treasures.

TriC3 Imagery

Services/Products: High Plains nature photographer

Charles Clinton Clark 12350 Oil Well Rd, Calhan, CO 80808 Phone: 719-541-2792 Website: www.tri3imagery.exposuremanager.com/g/home


Land Trust: The Nature Conservancy

Ute Valley Ranch

Services/Products: horse training, boarding, riding lessons, organic grass fed beef

Penny Kelly Ackerman 21331 Little Park Rd, Glade Park, CO 81523 Phone: 970-242-8860



Van Sickle Farm

Services/Products: quality horse hay

Lorna Reed 3553 G Rd, Palisade, CO 81526 Phone: 970-464-5803



Venetucci Farm

Services/Products: chemical-free seasonal produce, pumpkins, pork, eggs, honey

Susan Gordon 5210 Highway 85, CO Springs, CO 80911 Phone: 719-391-8102 Email: [email protected] Website: www.venetuccifarm.org

Where to Purchase: farm, farmers’ markets, website


Wells-Champlin Ranch

Services/Products: natural beef, registered Polled Hereford cattle

Caryl & Cliff Schmid 8870 Highway 151, Ignacio, CO 81137 Phone: 970-883-5305 Email: [email protected]



Wilderness Medicine Ranch

Services/Products: outdoor educational classes, unique medical, outdoor and solar supplies

Carl Weil 2477 County Road 132, Elizabeth, CO 80107 Phone: 303-688-5176 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wildernessmedicine.com




If you are intrigued by Bountiful Conservation and what these landowners have done, here’s what you can do to support land conservation in our State:

Benefits of Conserving Your Land • Enjoy the peace of mind that your land

will remain in agricultural production, even if you’re no longer farming it; it will never become a strip mall.

• Earn cash by selling up to $375,000 in tax credits.

• Pass land on to heirs without them having to sell it to pay estate taxes.

How to get Started • Contact a land conservation organization

in your area, or call Tax Credit Connection, Inc. at 303-774-8195.

• Determine which conservation values you and your family would like to preserve on your land (productive agriculture, wildlife habitat, scenic views, etc).

How You Can Promote Land Conservation • Shop from businesses that have

preserved their lands.

• Let us know about other businesses that should be included in Bountiful Conservation.

• Tell a farmer or other landowners about conservation easements and their benefits.

• Eat at restaurants that serve food from conserved properties. For details, see www.bountifulconservation.com.

• Save money on your taxes by purchasing conservation easement income tax credits. Call Tax Credit Connection, Inc at 303-774-8195 or take a look at our website: www.taxcreditconnection.com for more information.

20

Land Conservation Organizations

Adams County Parks & Open Space

Rick Anderson 9755 Henderson Road Brighton, CO 80601 Phone: 303-637-8000 Website: www.co.adams.co.us

Adams County strives to be a regional leader in creating & operating an interconnected and growing system of parks, trails, open space, and facilities that preserve and maintain areas with significant ecological, cultural, agricultural, and historical significance.

Aspen Valley Land Trust

Martha Cochran 320 Main Street, Suite 204 Carbondale, CO 81623 Phone: 970-963-8440 Website: www.avlt.org

Aspen Valley Land Trust is dedicated to preserving open lands for agriculture, wildlife and recreation in the greater Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valleys of western Colorado.

Black Canyon Regional Land Trust

Steve Ryder 1500 East Oak Grove Road #201 Montrose, CO 81401 Phone: 970-252-1481 Website: www.blackcanyonlandtrust.org

Promoting & ensuring conservation of private lands in the Umcompahgre, North Fork and Lower Gunnison Watersheds.

Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust

Chris West 8833 Ralston Road Arvada, CO 80002 Phone: 303-225-8677 Website: www.ccalt.org

We help Colorado’s ranchers and farmers protect their agricultural lands and encour-age continuing agricultural production for the benefit of themselves, their families and all of Colorado’s citizens.

Colorado Open Lands

Dieter Erdmann 274 Union Boulevard #320 Lakewood CO 80228 Phone: 303-988-2373 Website: www.coloradoopenlands.org

Our mission is to preserve the significant open lands and diminishing natural heri-tage of Colorado through private and public partnerships, innovative land conservation techniques and strategic leadership.

Ducks Unlimited of Wetlands America Trust

Greg Kernohan 2926 Mulberry Street Fort Collins, CO 80524 Phone: 970-221-9863 Website: www.ducks.org

Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. These habi-tats also benefit other wildlife and people.

La Plata Open Space Conservancy

Kathy Roser P.O. Box 1651 Durango, CO 81320 Phone: 970-259-3415 Website: www.lposc.org

“La Plata Open Space Conservancy: Because they are not making land anymore…” La Plata Open Space Conservancy works with landowners in La Plata and neighboring counties.

Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas

Andrew Mackie P.O. Box 942 Salida, CO 81201 Phone: 719-539-7700 Website: www.Itua.org

To advance the conservation and stewardship of agricultural lands, wildlife habitat, open space, scenic beauty and other diminishing natural resources.

Benefits of Conserving Your Land

How to get Started

How You Can Promote Land Conservation

Legacy Land Trust

Ryan Boggs 214 South College Avenue Ft. Collins, CO 80524 Phone: 970-266-1711 Website: www.legacylandtrust.org

Legacy Land Trust conserves and protects key natural, scenic and agricultural lands of Northern Colorado that make this region a special place to live and work.

Mesa Land Trust

Rob Bleiberg 1006 Main Street Grand Junction, CO 81501 Phone: 970-263-5443 Website: www.mesalandtrust.org

Protecting agricultural lands, wildlife habitat and open space in and around Mesa County.

Montezuma Land Conservancy

David Nichols P.O. Box 1522 Cortez, CO 81321 Phone: 970-565-1664 Website: www.montezumalandconservancy.org

Permanently protect important open lands in partnership with landowners, in order to conserve agricultural, natural, and scenic open space resources in Montezuma and Dolores Counties.

Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust

Nancy Butler P.O. Box 444 Del Norte, CO 81132 Phone: 719-657-0800 Website: www.riograndelandtrust.org

Conserving Our Land, Water and Way of Life in Colorado’s Rio Grande Basin, the San Luis Valley.

San Isabel Land Protection Trust

Katherine Ripley-Williams P.O. Box 124 Westcliffe, CO 81252 Phone: 719-783-3018 Website: www.sanisabel.org

The San Isabel Land Protection Trust protects ranch, farm and forest lands, wildlife habitat, scenic views for public enjoyment and historic resources.

The Nature Conservancy

Nancy Fishbein 2424 Spruce Street Boulder, CO 80302 Phone: 303-444-2950 Website: www.nature.org/colorado

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.

22

Index

Alpaca-relatedLa Plata Alpacas . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Cheese James Ranch: Artisan Cheese . . . .8Knoblauch Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Education Eye of the Heart Wildlife Refuge . . .5Wilderness Medicine Ranch . . . . 17

HayElkhead Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Little Salt Wash Hay Company . . .9Lucky Penny Ranches . . . . . . . . .9Medicine Mountains Ranch . . . . .9Mike Litzenberger. . . . . . . . . . . 12Off ‘R Rocker Ranch . . . . . . . . . 12Serenity Lakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Sunnyside Farms . . . . . . . . . . . 16Sutcliffe Vineyards . . . . . . . . . . 16Van Sickle Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Horse-relatedCottonwood Springs Ranch . . . . .4Elkhead Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Music Meadows Ranch . . . . . . . . 12Ute Valley Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Hunting & GuidingBCK Heath Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . .4Duval Bench . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Elkhead Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Hayward Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Puma Hills River Ranch . . . . . . . 12Rusk Ranches . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Livestock & Meat Bartel Hereford Ranch . . . . . . . . .4Collbran Cattle Company . . . . . . .4Cottonwood Springs Ranch . . . . .4Duval Bench . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4El Dorado Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . .5Elkhead Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Endless Frontier Ranch . . . . . . . .5Grant Family Farms . . . . . . . . . . .5Howell’s Irish Dexters . . . . . . . . .8James Ranch: Whey-Good Pork . . .8James Ranch: Grass Finished Beef . .8Johnson Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . .9Lucky Penny Ranches . . . . . . . . .9McNeil Ranch, LLC . . . . . . . . . . .9Mountain Island Ranch . . . . . . . 12Music Meadows Ranch . . . . . . . . 12Puma Hills River Ranch . . . . . . . 12Reverse K Bar Ranch, LLT . . . . . 13Rusk Ranches . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Sand Mountain Cattle Co. . . . . . 13Sunnyside Farms . . . . . . . . . . . 16Sunnyside Meats . . . . . . . . . . . 16Sutcliffe Vineyards . . . . . . . . . . 16Sylvan Dale Ranch . . . . . . . . . . 16Ute Valley Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . 17Venetucci Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Wells-Champlin Ranch . . . . . . . . 17

Landscape Grant Family Farms . . . . . . . . . . .5James Ranch: The Gardens . . . . . .8James Ranch: Trees . . . . . . . . . .8Rivendell Sod Farm . . . . . . . . . . 13

PhotographyTriC3 Imagery . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Poultry-relatedGrant Family Farms . . . . . . . . . . .5Johnson Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . .9Venetucci Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

ProduceBerry Patch Farms . . . . . . . . . . .4Ela Family Farms . . . . . . . . . . . .5Elkhead Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Grant Family Farms . . . . . . . . . . .5James Ranch: The Gardens . . . . . .8Mesa Winds Farm . . . . . . . . . . . 12Mike Litzenberger. . . . . . . . . . . 12Sutcliffe Vineyards . . . . . . . . . . 16Talbott Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Venetucci Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

RecreationElkhead Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Eye of the Heart Wildlife Refuge . .5Mesa Winds Farm . . . . . . . . . . . 12Music Meadows Ranch . . . . . . . . 12Puma Hills River Ranch . . . . . . . 12Serenity Lakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13South Park Fly Fishers Program . . 13Sylvan Dale Ranch . . . . . . . . . . 16Tarryall Creek Ranch . . . . . . . . . 16Wilderness Medicine Ranch . . . . 17


www.bountifulconservation.com 2010

Documents

Bountiful Conservationleeds-faculty.colorado.edu/marlattj/OPIM4850-MGMT4085... · 2010-01-10 · about the initial idea to turn the land into a golf course, Abe Ott doesn’t skip