Village Family Farms is committed to sustainable farming practices that not only provide nutritious and delicious food to their community, but also promote the health of the land and the environment. One of the key ways they do this is through composting, which helps to build healthy soil and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. They collect food scraps and yard waste from the community, and use this material to make nutrient-rich compost that they then use to amend their fields.

Another important aspect of their sustainable farming practices is their focus on hyper local foods. The Village Family Farms team works to grow as much of their own produce as possible, and when they do need to purchase from other farms, they prioritize those that are located within their region. This helps to reduce the carbon footprint of their food, and also supports other local farms.

Village Family Farms is also proud to partner cooperatively with other local farms. They share resources, knowledge and equipment with other farmers in the area, which helps to reduce costs and promote sustainable farming practices. Together, they’re able to grow a wider variety of crops, and provide customers with a greater selection of fresh and nutritious food.

They are certified by Market Gardener Training, Dig in Training, tree steward and beekeeping, and regularly engage in activities to promote healthy soil, clean water and biodiversity on the farm. They believe that educating their customers about their sustainable practices not only sets them apart from other farms, but also helps them to understand the quality of the food they are purchasing and feel good about supporting their mission.

Recognizing Pagosa Springs’ need for fresher options, locals Lauren Hawksworth and Aaron Carter combined their passions to launch Tooth & Gill Mushroom Co. in 2024. Their mission extends beyond offering locally cultivated mushroom varieties; they aim to nurture well-being and support health journeys through wholesome, certified-organic, nutrient-rich super foods. Tooth & Gill believes that good food and good health go hand in hand. Each mushroom variety cultivated, from the brain-boosting lion’s mane to the robust and earthy king trumpet, is carefully grown with love and dedication, and packed with natural goodness.

Quietly tucked away in Aspen Springs, their repurposed container farm reimagines agriculture by transforming a pre-used shipping container into a state-of-the-art mushroom cultivation environment. They merged innovation with the tradition of farming to bring the freshest, most flavorful mushrooms from their container to your table. Tooth & Gill’s 40-foot container features three specialized rooms — a lab, colonization room, and fruiting room — with precise climate control for optimal growth.

Only the absolute freshest mushrooms make their way from their sustainable container farm to your kitchen. They take pride in knowing customers will savor the difference and appreciate the love and care that goes into Tooth & Gill’s produce.