Improve how farms and consumers/co-producers communicate

Currently in Boulder Country, Colorado news and information is delivered from farms to the consumers through traditional newspapers, newsletters, some website use and purchases made at the bi-weekly Farmer’s Market. The goal of our project is to change the way consumers relate to farms. We want to promote green living in action by providing a choice for food consumers to become food co-producers. An essential element to this project is the use of technology to facilitate a closer relationship between consumers and farms. Boulder County is a unique geographic community because it is composed of many eco/green minded individuals as well as a growing successful tech scene. Bringing these two communities together would be an asset to our greater community through making information on locally produced food easily assessable.

The use of Internet technology brings news and information directly to co-producers through an online profile. Not only can co-producers get all the new information and current happenings of the farm but they can become more involved with the farm through the “adopt a row” feature. This feature allows co-producers to adopt a piece of the farm and watch it grow through out the season. While a co-producers is on the computer at home or at work he or she can check the farm website and look at how their row or livestock animal is growing. This way people whos’ lives ordinarily do not allow for them to be involved with food production can now participate from their computer. Weekly polls will be conducted for co-producers to decide with crops should be planted, which fertilizer should be used what food should be fed to animals and what other types of farming techniques can be implemented on their adopted portions. Through the visual access to the farm, more co-producers will want to come out and participate growing and harvesting the crops. In this way the farm is really built from the extended community.