Two more Leafy Green Machines approved in Crested Butte South

New building underway, includes Tassinong Farms retail space

By Alissa Johnson

The Crested Butte South design review committee has given Tassinong Farms the green light to add two more micro farms to its operation. The decision will allow the farm to keep up with growing demand, and there are plans for a retail space in the works as well.

Tassinong Farms has been operating with two micro farms already, and it turns out that Crested Butte and the surrounding areas have a good appetite for locally grown greens. According to Kate Haverkampf, farm manager for Tassinong Farms, “The produce has been received very well in the valley. I am literally sold out every week, with the exception of some basil from time to time.”

The micro farms, or Leafy Green Machines, are shipping containers retrofitted for hydroponic growing by a Massachusetts-based company, Freight Farms. Haverkampf and her employees have been growing greens such as chard, kale, and various types of basil and shiso for direct consumption by consumers as well as area shops and restaurants.

In the north end of the valley, establishments including Tully’s, Mountain Earth, Donita’s Cantina, Lil’s Sushi Bar & Grill, Elk Ave. Prime, the Sunflower Deli and Montanya Distillers all sell or use Tassinong produce. In Gunnison, the Local Market and Hangout and Gunnison Vitamin & Health Food Store do the same.

To keep up with demand, Haverkampf approached the Crested Butte South design review committee this summer about adding the additional micro farms. The committee initially turned down the request because it felt that elements of the original proposal had not been met.

Crested Butte South property association manager Dom Eymere explained that adding more shipping containers was part of Phase III in the original Tassinong Farms proposal. In July, the conditions outlined for Phase I had not all been met and Phase II—the construction of a mixed commercial and residential building—had not begun.

“A farm stand was one of the conditions that wasn’t previously met, and some details like fencing and landscaping,” Eymere said. That was particularly important because Crested Butte South commercial operations are supposed to provide a direct benefit to the community rather than solely providing wholesale services. The design review committee did not want to consider Phase III until more of the conditions on Phase I had been met and construction of the building had begun.

“They’re great partners,” Eymere noted of Haverkampf and her husband. He said that the design review committee and the board of directors want them to succeed in Crested Butte South—they simply wanted to see the original agreement adhered to.

In July, Eymere gave Haverkampf the option to appeal the decision. Initially, however, she looked into the possibility of placing the micro farms elsewhere.

“After doing the research on the costs for setting up the farms elsewhere, I determined that the money was better spent on my own lot. So I pressed forward with getting approval here in Crested Butte South, taking the POA design review committee’s concerns into account and not breaking the bank,” Haverkampf said.

That approval came on December 15. Eymere pointed out that by that time, construction on the building was underway and moving fairly quickly, and the committee appreciated seeing that movement.

The new farms will have roof structures, and the building will provide screening as well. The building will also bring some exciting new additions to the property, including three two-bedroom apartments for rent and three retail/commercial spaces on the bottom.

“One of those spaces will be for Tassinong Farms to sell its produce as well as other local food products and some simple meals using Tassinong Farms ingredients to take home for lunch or dinner or to enjoy in our retail space,” Haverkampf explained. She anticipates the building will be complete in May 2017 and expects the new farms to arrive in late January.

“We have to get the ground ready for them (hook them up to the water line), which takes some extra TLC for digging when it’s so cold outside. Then we hook up electricity,” Haverkampf said. Two reverse osmosis filtration systems will also be built for both farms, which should be done in the next three to four weeks.

For now, four total Leafy Green Machines will help Tassinong Farms keep up with demand. As for the future? Haverkampf predicts: “I can envision four [micro farms] still not filling the total need for our valley. Maybe two more in a year?”