Attractions (in category: Local Foods)

The Haefeli family are 5th generation bee keepers, caring for bees and producing honey in the San Luis Valley since 1907. Haefeli's produces around 350 barrels of honey from over 4,000 beehives in Colorado a year, as well as pollinating crops in the San Luis Valley, Texas and California. In 1903, Edward Haefeli, whose father, Adolph, was a beekeeper in Switzerland, arrived in the San Luis Valley and soon opened his beekeeping operation in Monte Vista, Colorado. Special creamed honeys, high-quality beeswax, candles, ornaments and specialty items are available at their store in Del Norte.

While Colorado Gators is not 100 years old, it captures the Western spirit of ingenuity and creativity to create a successful sustaining agricultural system using the natural environment. The 87 degree geothermal waters create an optimal environment for a fish farm operation - tilapia, an African perch; the waste from the fish farm, in turn, provides food for the gators; the indoor greenhouse spaces (heated by the geothermal water)grow year-round produce. Visitors will enjoy the farm as well as, the rescued exotic reptiles, diverse plants growing in the various greenhouses, including the giant inflatable Biodome.

Corset Ranch is a Colorado Centennial Ranch raising native grass-fed beef from birth to harvest on lush Rio Grande fed pastures and the green meadows of surrounding mountains. Cattle are lovingly tended by the three generations of Colville ranchers currently living on the ranch. Corset Ranch grows abundant protein-rich hay, watches over the spring calving, and facilitates rotational grazing for vibrant cattle and land. Visitors are quickly integrated into the daily chores for a real glimpse into the life of a cowboy. Corset Ranch offers their USDA inspected, native grass fed and finished beef for market at the ranch.

Fifth generation rancher, Sherry Haugen was given a red ewe when she was 8 years old. She loved that little ewe named Eve and dreamed of having flock one day. Some 30 years later, Sherry's 275 plus flock of sheep call that first little ewe, Eve, their first maternal ancestor. Sherry raises Haugen's Mountain Grown Lamb. All lamb is raised to mature weight on natural forage only, and is antibiotic, hormone, and pesticide free. A visit to the ranch will result in a wonderful visit with a true Colorado Cowgirl and delicious lamb for purchase.

Knoblauch Ranch was first homesteaded in the 1880's. Over 100 years later, and many decades of milking cows along the way, the 5th generation of the Knoblauch family started a goat dairy. Laz Ewe 2 Bar Goat Dairy (named for the ranch cattle brand, Lazy U - the letter U turned over on its side with two bars under it). The dairy produces two types of cheese: chevre, a soft, spreadable cheese and feta, a drier, more crumbly cheese, both in plain and seasoned varieties. Visitors to the ranch will enjoy the antics of the lively goat herd, this lovely old ranch on the Rio Grande and a visit to the farm store to sample the artisan cheeses.

Green Earth Farm is a Colorado Certified Organic farm growing gourmet potatoes and barley, as well as a lush vegetable garden providing produce for a Community Supported Agriculture program and several San Luis Valley farmers' markets. They also grow and craft a variety of medicinal and culinary herbs, herbal tinctures, and natural body care products. Visitors will enjoy the rich diversity and knowledge that the McCrackens's generously share, as well as the opportunity to try their products.

Rockey Farm has been a family farm since 1945, and continues to sustain four generations of Rockey families, with beautiful specialty fingerling potatoes. Farm manager, Sheldon Rockey balances growing, harvesting, and processing 200 acres of fingerling potatoes, a certified seed growing lab and greenhouse, offering tours to the public and openly inviting the locals to stop by for a bag of potatoes. Visitors may experience a little bit of everything when they see this both traditional and innovative potato farm in the San Luis Valley.

Andy Warner has been in the dairy business all his life and cherishes the non-commercial, all-natural method of small dairy production. The quality of milk and cheese is inextricably related to the health of the cows, the quality of feed and daily life. Warner creates an optimal environment for his small herd. Twin Mountain Milkhouse offers Cow Shares for fresh, raw milk from their organically fed herd of dairy cows and artisan crafted cheeses in many flavors (plain cheddar, caraway, peppercorn, jalapeno cheddar, gouda and more). They have a road-side farm market where visitors can enjoy cows and purchase Twin Mountain cheeses.

Cho Ku Rei Ranch is a modern homestead, whereby many household food needs are provided on-site for the local market by chickens, yaks, gardens and a 6500sqft greenhouse. Cho Ku Rei is a beautiful example of blending the spirit of self-sufficiency of the past with the creativity of sustainable farming. Visitors will enjoy seeing yak foraging on this lovely old 2400 acre ranch, experiencing the ingenuity at work and the fresh produce they take home for their dinners.