VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

WHAT:
Round Mountain Organics (RMO) was established in 1997 as an organic commercial gardening venture to supply local customers with fresh wholesome vegetables, herbs and flowers. The produce has been sold to the health food store and various restaurants in Crested Butte over the years. During the 2000 and 2001 growing seasons RMO provided a Community Supported Agriculture program that supplied food to approximately 30 households from the two-acre garden. This year one acre of the garden is in cover crops of rye and field peas, three-quarters of an acres is planted out in garlic and a quarter acre will be planted with a variety of vegetables, flowers and herbs. There are a few perennial flower beds and five cold frames for basil. The greenhouse is as empty as its ever been after a bitterly cold winter. The baby plants that are growing steadily in the greenhouse this spring will make it a veritable jungle this summer with tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, zucchinis and so much more overflowing the beds. The garden expanded for many years with sheet mulching to build new beds. Chickens were added into the garden in 1999 and in 2004 the first guineas arrived to eat 1,000 bugs a day! The birds provide tasty eggs, strong fertilizer, shallow cultivation, endless entertainment for children and wonderful sounds in the garden.

Round Mountain Institute, Inc. (RMI) was established on August 21, 2002, as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation to educate people through classes and tours about high altitude organic gardening, harnessing electricity from renewable resources such as the sun and wind and the benefits of straw bale construction. RMI is a new name for what RMO has been doing for years. With the non-profit status in place, I look forward to finding funds for all the good work going on at Round Mountain.

WHERE:
Round Mountain Organics and Round Mountain Institute are located 10 miles south of Crested Butte, Colorado in the beautiful West Elk Mountains. There are endless recreational activities available in the area; during the summer months there’s hiking, camping, biking, climbing, rafting, kayaking, canoeing, tennis, soft ball, soccer and in the winter there’s alpine, Nordic and skate skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, snow shoeing, hockey, and more! Round Mountain Organics has a 2,700 square foot greenhouse, a small straw bale house that Nancy lives in with her dog and cat, a 30-foot yurt and an 18-foot tipi. There are two ponds on the property and two irrigation ditches that require steady attention during the summer. The entire property is 40 acres with 17 of those acres irrigated. The other 23 non-irrigated acres are the base of Round Mountain that turns into National Forest as you gain elevation. Crested Butte is the wildflower capital of Colorado and it is quite a sight to see by mid July!

WHO & WHEN:
Volunteers are needed at Round Mountain from May through August 2006. I am looking for volunteers for the 2006 growing season who are passionate about learning the ins and outs of high altitude ecological gardening and aren’t afraid to get dirty! Volunteers will learn about high altitude ecological gardening, alternative energy and building and can eat to their hearts content from the garden. After helping out at the farm volunteers are welcome to fill up a bag of produce to take home and enjoy.

WHY:
Nancy grew up in Iowa surrounded by farms and during college did a study abroad in Nepal where she realized she had never grown her own food. Nancy wanted to live in the mountains and be a gardener so she created Round Mountain Organics. RMO grows wholesome organic food and flowers using Permaculture and Bio-Dynamic methods. The farm also gets all of its electricity from the sun and wind and houses animals and humans in earth-friendly structures made out of straw bales. Nancy believes strongly in the philosophy of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. RMO receives compost from numerous households in Crested Butte to feed the chickens, the worms and the soil. The farm has been blessed with an endless supply of used objects from the Crested Butte community from wood and windows to egg cartons. Nancy lives quite sustainably for an American and wants to share that reality with others through RMI by doing workshops and giving tours.

HOW:
The two main qualities Nancy hopes to pass on to her volunteers are the abilities to be conscious and observant. It is uncommon for most Americans to be conscious of their electrical use. At RMO it is essential that we be conscious of every amp we use. If it is cloudy for a few days or we have a large electrical use the gas-powered generator can be fired up to charge the batteries. In organic gardening it is imperative that one be observant. Since we do not use any chemicals to kill pests, we must be on the constant look out to deal with them in a sustainable manner. There is always something to do on the farm and being able to see what needs to be done is the key to a sustainable system. In the garden and greenhouse there is seeding, transplanting, watering, weeding, harvesting, composting, mowing, rototilling, sheet mulching, various building projects and so much more! The chicken chores include watering, feeding, collecting and washing eggs, cleaning the coop and refilling with fresh straw.

When you are ready to come get dirty at RMO just give a call and set up a time with Nancy. (970) 641-4742. Since our birds are free-ranging please do not bring any dogs to the farm. Thank you.

Karen, Alain and Eric working hard to build the beds in the greenhouse. (winter 2000-01)

Beth and Michelle plastering ferro cement onto bed frames in the greenhouse. (winter 2000-01)

Covered tubes line the beds to deliver warm air to the root systems during winter months. (winter 2000-01)

Filling the beds like sheet mulching outdoors with straw, manure and compost was a mistake since the beds kept consolidating down. Eventually we refilled the beds with soil, manure and compost. A much better mix to keep the beds full!

Happy students from Western State College after completing a new sheet mulched bed.

Dirt Days were born out of Plaster Parties from the winter of 2000-01 when the interior of the greenhouse was getting finished. Other volunteers who have frequented the farm are WSC students who trade their labor for a tour of the farm with various Western classes.