About Us
About Beyond Organic Farm
Beyond Organic Farm operates as a unique partnership between CU students and local farmer John McKenzie. This partnership originated between Executive Director of DARCA John McKenzie and University of Colorado student Kyle Baker during the Fall of 2008. Beyond Organic Farm became official in early 2009 with the help of many CU students.
We are proud to boast a growing community of students, faculty, staff, and community members from the Boulder/Denver area.
Beyond Organic Farm operates a CSA –Community Supported Agriculture- as well as sells its’ produce at the Boulder County Farmer’s Market twice a week. A CSA is a creative localized market that connects consumers and producers. The production process is transparent and the benefits and risks of the operation are shared. For more information on how our CSA works, visit the CSA Program.
Beyond Organic Farm proudly stands alongside our fellow local farmers in an effort to re-bridge the gap between the fields and the kitchen table.
The industrial production of food in the United States has severe environmental, social, and health-related consequence; but at Beyond Organic Farm, we strive to reduce our ecological footprint, while still ensure a diverse and healthy crop.
This year, Beyond Organic plans to track and model all inputs and outputs in an attempt to create a true ecological footprint. We will do so by tracking all hours worked, all miles driven, as well as all purchases and sales made. In addition, the plan is to map out each crop grown in a GIS program. Through the use of such a program we will be able to model the exact amount and location of land devoted to each crop. This will allow us to put a numerical value to all green house gases (and nutrients) sequestered by each of our crops. We can compile all this information to get a carbon and ecological footprint for Beyond Organic Farm. Our hopes are to develop a comprehensive model for improving farm efficiency. We hope that creating such a model will help us, as well as our fellow farmers, with issues of transparency and inefficiency in farming practices.
Lastly, as Beyond Organic is a student-run farm, we encourage and nourish an atmosphere of learning, research, and education. The farm offers volunteer opportunities to all those interested in getting down and dirty. It also offers internship opportunities through the University of Colorado.
We strive to make all of our volunteer days fun learning experiences. As we approach the 2010 season Beyond Organic Farm is looking to add more organized educational events. Keep an eye out for upcoming announcements! We hope to cover topics ranging from greenhouse operation, germination, transplanting, and composting to field management and plant identification.
Become part of our community. Get on our volunteer mailing list by emailing us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with volunteer in the subject box. Please include your first and last name as well as contact information and availability.
Learn more about where your food comes from and people that grow it, better yet get involved in the growth of your own food. Beyond Organic’s success is heavily tied to the volunteer base that so graciously lends us their hands, thanks for all the support!
Meet our cast:
Kyle Baker: CSA and Field Coordinator
Kyle Ward: Field Coordinator and Greenhouse Manager
Derek Etsler: Volunteer Coordinator, Web Design
John McKenzie: Farmer’s Market Coordinator
Michael Davidson: Field Manager
Marc Weinzimmer: Sales and Marketing Intern
