Sarah — Founder, Paonia Food Movement

I grew up in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, surrounded by the mountains and landscapes of the Western Slope. I later studied Environmental Studies and Geography at the University of Colorado in Boulder and spent five years working for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. I worked repairing and building air sampling equipment which was installed onto small planes to collect air samples used to monitor the carbon cycle and greenhouse gases. 

The work mattered, but after years in a basement lab, I began to feel disconnected from the solutions I cared about most. I wanted to know how to grow food, build a home, and contribute more directly to my community. I wanted to get my hands dirty and be a part of the solution, not sit in a basement lab plotting points on a chart the rest of my life. 

So, after a long deliberation, and a tough conversation with my parents, I quit.

For the next four years I traveled the West working on farms through WWOOF, living out of my Prius and learning how to grow food, build earthen structures, and live simply. I worked on farms and retreat centers across Colorado, Oregon, California, Hawaii, and New Mexico, searching for a place that felt like home.

That place turned out to be Paonia.

Paonia captured my heart with its incredible organic farms, orchards, and strong agricultural community. I moved to Paonia in 2016, and then in 2019 I bought a small off-grid shed on a hillside overlooking the valley and began slowly transforming it into my home. I've spent the last 6 years building my home with the help of friends and family. My view from the hill looks over the North Fork Valley and fills my heart with so much joy. I have finally found my home. 

The idea for the Paonia Food Movement came during a drive to visit a man I was dating in Crested Butte. He loved local food as much as I do, so I came stocked with a cooler full of food from local farms. I was in between jobs and trying to figure out my next step. I wanted to contribute to the Paonia community which I loved and I also wanted to help the farmers.

During my years volunteering on farms, I saw how demanding agriculture is—growing food is already a full-time job, yet farmers are also expected to handle marketing, sales, and distribution. As the miles passed by, an idea started forming. 

What if I could support the local farms by providing marketing, sales, and distribution? I could build a website with all of the farmer's items and deliver it to the surrounding areas. By the time I reached Crested Butte the idea had solidified. Where to start?

I started with what I had, I converted outbuilding into a walk-in cooler and used my old ’98 Tacoma with a homemade topper. I began networking with local farmers, ranchers, and makers to see if my idea was something they would be interested in. It didn't take long for me to realize I was onto something. 

Today, the Paonia Food Movement connects members in the Roaring Fork Valley with over 40 farmers, ranchers, bakers, and makers of Paonia, bringing incredible local food directly to the Roaring Fork community each week.

I believe our food system is ready to evolve. By strengthening local relationships between farmers and the people who eat their food, we’re building a more resilient and nourishing future together. Food is power and I think we should keep it local! If you agree, join the movement :)