High Touch Agriculture
(in progress)
Anthony Spano irrigates his summer corn field with water that flows directly from Clear Creek, in Denver, CO. While many farmers in the West list water as a top concern, Spano sees his water supply as one of the most consistent aspects of his job.
Neil, a tomato grower, demonstrates how Gro-Blocks work to expedite the growing process for crops at Emerald Gardens in Bennett, CO. Emerald Gardens enables smaller growers like Neil to produce crops in their greenhouse and on their land east of the Denver International Airport.
Kezia Lozano stands on Spirit of the Sun's designated plot of land within the Emerald Gardens farm location in Bennett, CO. Emerald Gardens has worked with Spirit of the Sun for three years to cooperatively manage a plot of land and crops at the farm.
Anthony Spano gazes over his summer crop of corn and squash in the early morning light at Spano's Fresh Produce in Denver, CO. The Spano family has been growing crops on the same property since the 1930s.
Egg-laying hens emerge from the chicken coop at Emerald Gardens in Bennett, CO. Emerald Gardens provides land for chickens to roam freely, in a cooperative agreement with the chicken owner.
Roberto Meza and David Demerling, co-founders of the East Denver Food Hub, stand in front of some of the food hub's delivery trucks in Denver, CO in May 2023. Meza and Demerling have worked to build a model for local food aggregation and distribution, but are running into infrastructure issues, such as trucks that have broken down in need of repair.
A freshly grown mushroom is held for display at Sugar Moon Mushrooms. Sugar Moon Mushrooms grows on land provided by Emerald Gardens in Bennett, CO.
A seasonal worker prepares greenhouse crops at Spano's Fresh Produce in Denver, CO.
Early morning light illuminates rows of corn crops at Spano's Fresh Produce in Denver, CO.
Snap peas show signs of hail damage at Spano's Fresh Produce in Denver, CO. Severe weather can result in massive crop loss and damage to farmers in Colorado.
Roberto Meza, co-founder of Emerald Gardens and the East Denver Food Hub, works to clear some materials away from the farm's barn structure in Bennett, CO.
Bill, an employee at Spano’s Fresh Produce, takes a break from pouring concrete for a new customer doorway to the farm’s greenhouse. Bill has been working with the Spano family for over 10 years, and rents a house close to the farm.
Flowers spring into action in one of the greenhouses at Spano's Fresh Produce in Denver, CO. 2023 will be the first year that Spano’s Fresh Produce sells flowers directly to customers, instead of wholesale buyers.
Anthony Spano readies planting pots for spring seeding in his family’s greenhouse in Denver. The Spano family has been growing crops on the same property since the 1930s.
Insect bodies fill hollow space in the walls of the greenhouses at Spano's Fresh Produce in Denver, CO.
Clouds form near the beginning of the Front Range, as seen from the Emerald Gardens farm location in Bennett, CO.
A window sticker from the American Farmland Trust emphasizes the need for farms, and sits just below the welcome sign for Spano’s Fresh Produce in Denver, CO. The Spano family has been growing crops on the same property since the 1930s.
Marie Spano readies planting pots for spring seeding in her family’s greenhouse in Denver. The Spano family has been growing crops on the same property since the 1930s.
Bill and Luis, workers at Spano's Fresh Produce, unload crates of unsold flowers into a dumpster in Denver, CO. The spring planting season is short, and most greenhouse-grown plants and flowers that are unsold after Memorial Day will be discarded once they begin to wilt in the summer heat.
Nate, a newly hired worker for Sugar Moon Mushrooms, prepares a grow bag in Bennett, CO. Nate lives on the Eastern Plains near the Denver Airport, and was able to help Sugar Moon after one of their workers quit unexpectedly.
A makeshift break room provides a spot to rest in the greenhouse at Emerald Gardens in Bennett, CO. The two founders of Emerald Gardens have slowly expanded their farm’s footprint and capabilities since they purchased the land in the mid-2010’s.
Warehouse workers at the East Denver Food Hub pack food boxes destined for community organizations. The East Denver Food hub is working to build a model for local food aggregation and distribution by empowering smaller farms in Colorado.
Workers at the East Denver Food Hub pack food boxes destined for community organizations. The East Denver Food hub is working to build a model for local food aggregation and distribution by empowering smaller farms in Colorado.
Tomato plants begin to mature in the greenhouse at Emerald Gardens, in Bennett CO.
Land oil rigs dot the landscape near the Emerald Gardens farm location in Bennett, CO.
Italian boxing gloves hang from the rearview mirror of a car owned by the Spano family in Denver, CO. The Spano family has been growing crops on the same property since the 1930s.
Potted plants await customers at Spano's Fresh Produce in Denver, CO. 2023 will be the first year that Spano’s Fresh Produce sells flowers and plants directly to customers, instead of wholesale buyers.
Micro-green retail labels lie in wait at the Emerald Gardens farm location in Bennett, CO. Emerald Gardens began farming with micro-greens as their first crop.
The greenhouse at Spano's Fresh Produce lays dormant as October's pumpkin patch springs to life outside.
Nate and Chris, workers at Sugar Moon Mushrooms in Bennett, CO, work together to package mushroom variety packs for retail sales in the Denver metro area.
Transportation pallets and disused greenhouse cooling materials are illuminated by the morning light at Spano's Fresh Produce in Denver, CO.
Rows of spring seedlings soak up the sun in the greenhouse at Spano’s Fresh Produce in Denver, CO. The Spano family has been growing crops on the same property since the 1930s.
Anthony Spano takes a break from tilling the fields at Spano's Fresh Produce in Denver, CO. An inclement spring shortened the growing season in 2023 and damaged many of the crops the Spano family grew.
Free-range chickens roam at the end of the great plains in Bennett, CO. Emerald Gardens provides the land for chicken owners to house their flocks.
Bill, a worker at Spano's Fresh Produce in Denver, CO, readies a greenhouse for winter. The Spano family rents its extra greenhouse space to other growers in the Denver metro area.
Discarded mushroom bags line the ground between the shipping containers that house Sugar Moon Mushroom. Sugar Moon Mushrooms grows on land provided by Emerald Gardens in Bennett, CO.
Food distribution trucks back in to the East Denver Food Hub, ready for delivery routing. The East Denver Food hub is working to build a model for local food aggregation and distribution by working with smaller farms in Colorado.
David Demerling explains the basics of packing mushroom grow bags to Nate, a new worker, at the Sugar Moon Mushroom headquarters in Bennett, CO.
Enzo Spano waters early season flowers in his family’s greenhouse in Denver. Spano’s Fresh Produce has been growing crops on the same property since the 1930s.
Crop tracking sheets hang from micro-green racks in the greenhouse at Emerald Gardens in Bennett, CO. The two founders of Emerald Gardens have slowly expanded their farm’s crop production and capabilities since they purchased the land in the mid-2010’s.
Early spring flowers bloom in the greenhouse at Spano’s Fresh Produce in Denver, CO. The Spano family has been growing crops on the same property since the 1930s.
Luis, Noel, Bill, and Anthony Spano work together to mix concrete for a new customer doorway to the greenhouse at Spano’s Fresh Produce in Denver, CO. 2023 will be the first year that Spano’s Fresh Produce sells flowers directly to customers, instead of wholesale buyers.
Marie Spano waters early season flowers in her family’s greenhouse in Denver. Spano’s Fresh Produce has been growing crops on the same property since the 1930s.
The road to the Emerald Gardens farm location in Bennett, CO swells over the eastern plains near the Denver International Airport.
Anthony Spano, Luis, Bill, and Enzo Spano work together to ready a concrete pour for a new customer doorway to the greenhouse at Spano’s Fresh Produce in Denver, CO. 2023 will be the first year that Spano’s Fresh Produce sells flowers directly to customers, instead of wholesale buyers.
Enzo Spano takes a break from supporting his family’s early season seeding efforts in the greenhouse at Spano’s Fresh Produce in Denver, CO. The Spano family has been growing crops on the same property since the 1930s.
Early spring flowers bloom in the greenhouse at Spano’s Fresh Produce in Denver, CO. 2023 will be the first year that Spano’s Fresh Produce sells flowers directly to customers, instead of wholesale buyers.
Two goats playfully challenge each other in the snow of a cold February morning at Emerald Gardens in Bennett, CO. The two founders of Emerald Gardens have slowly expanded their farm’s crop production and livestock housing since they purchased the land in the mid-2010’s.
The greenhouse at Spano’s Fresh Produce awaits spring planting. Spano’s Fresh Produce has been growing crops on the same property since the 1930s.
A yellow tractor sits parked in a small tool warehouse at Spano's Fresh Produce in Denver, CO. Most of the tractors and tools used at the farm were originally purchased by previous generations of the Spano family.
Cousins Marie Spano and Joe Spano discuss spring planting plans in a greenhouse at Spano’s Fresh Produce in Denver, CO. Spano’s Fresh Produce has been growing crops on the same property since the 1930s.
Neil, a tomato grower, loads rows of Gro-Blocks onto a crop shelving unit at Emerald Gardens in Bennett, CO. Emerald Gardens enables smaller growers like Neil to produce crops in their greenhouse and on their land east of the Denver International Airport.
Flowers spring into action in one of the greenhouses at Spano's Fresh Produce in Denver, CO. 2023 will be the first year that Spano’s Fresh Produce sells flowers directly to customers, instead of wholesale buyers.
A temporary address marker designates the property number for visitors at the Emerald Gardens farm and greenhouse location in Bennett, CO. The two founders of Emerald Gardens have slowly expanded their farm’s footprint and capabilities since they purchased the land in the mid-2010’s.
The greenhouse at Emerald Gardens in Bennett, CO awaits spring planting. The two founders of Emerald Gardens have slowly expanded their farm’s footprint and capabilities since they purchased the land in the mid-2010’s.
Cousins Marie Spano and Joe Spano discuss spring planting plans in a greenhouse at Spano’s Fresh Produce in Denver, CO. Spano’s Fresh Produce has been growing crops on the same property since the 1930s.
A weed grows through unused farming equipment at Spano’s Fresh Produce in Denver, CO. The focus at Spano’s Fresh Produced shifted over the years from a field-intensive workflow to a greenhouse-intensive growing schedule.
Kyle, a warehouse worker at the East Denver Food Hub, moves produce boxes into a refrigerated storage unit. The East Denver Food hub is working to build a model for local food aggregation and distribution by working with smaller farms in Colorado.
Pike’s Peak pops above the horizon, viewed from the Emerald Gardens farm location in Bennett, CO.
The mid-summer sun rises on the Emerald Gardens farm in Bennett, CO.
Anthony Spano readies planting pots for spring seeding in his family’s greenhouse in Denver. The Spano family has been growing crops on the same property since the 1930s.
Tractor tire markings reveal the contents of a storage shed at Spano’s Fresh Produce in Denver, CO. Spano’s Fresh Produce has been growing crops on the same property since the 1930s.
Roberto Meza, a co-founder of the East Denver Food Hub, rests on one of the Hub's only fork lifts. Meza has worked through obstacles to obtain much of the infrastructure the East Denver Food Hub needs to serve institutional clients.
Luis and Anthony Spano work together to mix concrete for a new customer doorway to the greenhouse at Spano’s Fresh Produce in Denver, CO. 2023 will be the first year that Spano’s Fresh Produce sells flowers directly to customers, instead of wholesale buyers.
Anthony Spano irrigates his summer corn field with water that flows directly from Clear Creek, in Denver, CO. While many farmers in the West list water as a top concern, Spano sees his water supply as one of the most consistent aspects of his job.
Neil, a tomato grower, takes a break from monitoring his crops to play with his dog at the Emerald Gardens farm location in Bennett, CO. Emerald Gardens enables smaller growers like Neil to produce crops in their greenhouse and on their land east of the Denver International Airport.
Gro-Blocks soak up water in preparation for hosting a new seedling in the greenhouse at Emerald Gardens in Bennett, CO. Emerald Gardens enables smaller growers to produce crops in their greenhouse and on their land east of the Denver International Airport.
Kathryn Ardoin displays bunches of asparagus to be packed into a family food box at the East Denver Food Hub in Denver, CO on May 17, 2023. The East Denver Food hub is working to build a model for local food aggregation and distribution by empowering smaller farms in Colorado.
Kezia Lozano grips hand pruners at Spirit of the Sun's designated plot of land on the Emerald Gardens farm location in Bennett, CO. Emerald Gardens has worked with Spirit of the Sun for three years to cooperatively manage a plot of land and crops at the farm.
The three resident goats pause to take in the early-morning glow at the Emerald Gardens farm in Bennett, CO.
Enzo Spano and his mother, Marie Spano, water early season flowers in his family’s greenhouse in Denver. Spano’s Fresh Produce has been growing crops on the same property since the 1930s.
Scrap micro-greens fill a crevice under a packing table at the Emerald Gardens Greenhouse in Bennett, CO. The two founders of Emerald Gardens have slowly expanded their farm’s footprint and capabilities since they purchased the land in the mid-2010’s.
A greenhouse without its roof covering waits to be updated with a fresh layer of material at Spano's Fresh Produce in Denver, CO.
Egg-laying hens feed on leftover produce outside of the chicken coop at the Emerald Gardens farm in Bennett, CO. Emerald Gardens provides land for chickens to roam freely, in a cooperative agreement with the chicken owner.
Siblings Anthony and Marie Spano admire their spring efforts to open the greenhouse to retail customers. 2023 will be the first year that Spano’s Fresh Produce sells plants and flowers directly to customers, instead of wholesale buyers.
Neil, a tomato grower, wanders to a supply shed at the Emerald Gardens farm location in Bennett, CO. Neil's presence enhances the multi-generational learning that the founders of Emerald Gardens are striving to promote.
Chris, a worker at Sugar Moon Mushrooms, keeps tabs on daily and weekly packaging totals.
One of the goats at Emerald Gardens walks through the tall grass that has grown due to the abnormally wet spring in the Denver metro area.
Irrigation water flows through corn rows at Spano's Fresh Produce in Denver, CO. Water that is not absorbed into the soil flows back into Clear Creek, the water source.
Sunflowers, as seen through the chicken coop mesh, shine in the early morning light at the Emerald Gardens farm in Bennett, CO.
Building materials are stored for future use at Spano's Fresh Produce in Denver, CO. The Spano family has had to build and rebuild their greenhouses a few times in the last 20 years.
Vestiges of summer remain well into October at Spano's Fresh Produce in Denver, CO.