Brooke Frazer and Kasi Schnell created Your Backyard Harvest in 2009 as an edible landscaping business focusing on organic vegetable gardens. In order to attain our goals of increasing local food production we further developed our mission to incorporate urban multi-plot farming! Inspired by SPIN Farming, we began to look for urban plots throughout the heart of Durango and with wide welcoming arms Durango responded.
Currently run by Brooke Frazer, YBH is looking forward to its’ first year of urban food production. Brooke Frazer’s background is an eclectic mix of farming, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and native landscaping. With a BS in Anthropology and Sustainable Development and a MA in Appropriate Technology, Brooke’s scholarly focuses included agriculture in rural Latin American countries, crop production of biodiesel feedstock, and planning for sustainable communities. Brooke sought hands-on farming experience through a farm apprenticeship from ATTRA and the creation of a small market garden in Zionville North Carolina, selling produce to a bed and breakfast and to the local farmer’s market. In order to learn more about the USDA’s organic certification and extend the market possibilities, Brooke took an ext class on the proper path to acquiring the organic label. Shortly after finishing the class, a large Christmas tree farm moved onto the lot next door making the certification impossible.
After finishing graduate school and moving to Durango to work in energy efficiency, Brooke realized the office setting was not her cup of tea and sought to develop a job opportunity that incorporated her ideals about food and one that she could be outside with her hands in the dirt. Hence YBH was created! Sometimes it take a little meandering to find that you were on the right track originally!
Please email me if you are interested in acquiring more land to cultivate. I saw the article about you in “edible San Juan Mountains” We have Junction Creek curving around our backyard… not so far away.
Hi Brooke! My name is Rose Tocke and I live over in Gunnison. I also have an edible landscaping business, called Avant Gardens Edible Landscaping. My focus is design and installation of anything from a small vegetable garden to a full fledged food forest. I also co-founded an organization called Mountain Roots Food Project that is bringing community gardens and urban agriculture to the Gunnison Valley. It sounds like we’re on the same path and I’d love to meet sometime. I wish I’d known about you earlier–I was just over in Durango last week! My website is in the middle of a major overhaul and isn’t fully functional at the moment, but you can read more about what I do on my Facebook Page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Avant-Gardens-Edible-Landscaping/154130214628828. Good luck with all that you do, and maybe we can find a way to work together some time.
Life!
Rose
Brooke, my name is Jacob Smith. I live in Portland, Or and just finished hiking the 500 mile long Colorado Trail. I was wondering if I could volunteer for you for a couple days while im still in town. Would love to hear back from you thanks.
Hello Brooke,
I’ve recently moved back to Durango and am looking for farming/gardening work. Last time I lived here I worked as the head gardener at Blue Lake Ranch. I’ve since worked on several organic farms and taught gardening workshops. I have lots of experience, am hard working and love growing vegetables. If you’re interested, I can send you my resume. My phone # is: (970) 903-8120.
Thanks for your consideration,
Frank LeBeau
Hi Frank.
Unfortunately I am not in the position to hire anyone yet! I would love any help but i just cant pay you. Sorry.
Brooke