Agriculture & Food Security

Sustainable Food Systems for a Thriving Valley

At The Learning Council, we're cultivating a resilient food system that nourishes people, supports farmers, and honors the land. Through direct food access, farmer support, and agricultural education, we're building food sovereignty in the North Fork Valley, where we are working toward a future where everyone eats well and local agriculture thrives.

"The Learning Council is essential to our nonprofit educational farm. We sell at Arbol Farmers Market, and our vegetables are featured in TLC Kitchen's weekly meals. Their programming enriches our farm fellowships, and they're at the center of our warm, welcoming community. Without TLC's support, we couldn't run an educational farm in Paonia."

— Jeff Wagner, Executive Director, Groundwork

May All Be Fed: Food Equity Programs

Everyone in our community deserves access to healthy, local food, regardless of their financial circumstances.

TLC Kitchen

We transform local produce into nutritious, seasonal meals available on a pay-what-you-can basis. Meals are served weekly at Arbol Farmers Market and at The Hearth, our downtown Paonia hub. We also offer cooking classes and workshops that teach culinary skills and nutrition using local, seasonal ingredients.

In 2025: We served over 7,000 meals prepared with 80%+ locally sourced and organic ingredients, investing $68,000+ directly into our local agricultural economy.

Arbol Farmers Market

Founded in 2020, this year-round market connects local farmers directly with the community. More than just a place to shop, it's where our food system comes alive. A vibrant gathering space where relationships flourish alongside the harvest. We also reduce food waste by purchasing unsold produce for TLC Kitchen meals.

The market strengthens both community health and our agricultural economy while serving as a hub for sustainable living education.

Supporting Local Farmers

We invest in farmers year-round. We pay fair prices that reflect the true cost of growing food, and we work collaboratively with farmers to plan what TLC Kitchen needs most. By purchasing and reselling local produce through our TLC Kitchen & Market, we provide stable income that extends well beyond the farmers market season.

We are also intentional about who we support. We prioritize partnerships with women farmers and farmers of color, who face systemic barriers to land access and whose contributions to our food system deserve recognition and investment.

By sourcing locally, we nourish our community and strengthen the agricultural economy that sustains us all.

Agricultural Education

We collaborate with VOGA, Viva La Vida, and Groundwork to offer hands-on workshops that spread knowledge about sustainable food production and environmental stewardship. From permaculture design and regenerative agriculture practices to animal husbandry, composting, and soil health, our classes connect participants to the full cycle of growing and tending food. We also offer workshops in fermentation and food preservation, cheesemaking, seed saving, native plants, and herbalism, weaving together traditional knowledge and practical skills that participants can carry home and put to use.

Nourish Our Farmers Coalition

TLC is one of 13 organizations coming together to create a coalition that supports the mental, physical, and economic well-being of agricultural producers in Delta County by fostering connection, reducing isolation, and building a resilient community. We believe healthy food systems begin with healthy farmers, and we work collaboratively to support agriculture in our region.

Get Involved

Together, we're building a sustainable, food-secure North Fork Valley where everyone is fed.