Nourishing Community Through Local Food

The Fleischer Family Farm is a 1.8-acre urban oasis in Lakewood, Colorado, founded by Paul and Chelsie Fleischer in 2015 with the mission to be a source of nourishment and education. What began as a backyard passion project has flourished into a vibrant farm serving over 175 families through its CSA, weekly farm stand, farmers markets, agritourism events, and community programming. Rooted in regenerative principles, the farm grows a diverse array of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and eggs using low-till practices, cover cropping, compost, and pollinator-friendly design, all free from synthetic inputs.

Driven by a belief that local farms are the future of food, Paul and Chelsie have built a business that blends food production with education and community. Their annual summer camp teaches kids about growing food, cooking, and land stewardship, while a newly planned multi-purpose dwelling will expand their educational and community offerings. With on-site housing for seasonal workers and deep ties to both land and community, the Fleischers are showing what’s possible when a farm becomes a cornerstone of local life.

Use of Funds

Stewardship Statement

The Fleischer Family Farm operates under a holistic stewardship framework, integrating ecological care, social responsibility, and economic resilience across its farming operations. Their mission is to be a source of nourishment and education, steward this earth and build community through food. During the term of this loan, The Fleischer Family Farm agrees to:

• Maintain exclusively organic production practices and refrain from the use of synthetic inputs.

• Maintain their  Colorado Proud Business Certification, which verifies that farms implement sustainable soil health and water conservation practices, while also upholding fair labor standards and providing safe, equitable working conditions for employees.

• Implement land stewardship practices that promote soil health and biodiversity, including low-tillage methods, continuous soil cover, crop rotation, and ecosystem-based pest management.

• Participate in community engagement activities, including educational programming and collaboration with local organizations, schools, and community partners.

Ecological, Social, and Economic Stewardship Practices

Through this loan, The Fleischer Family Farm will continue expanding access to nutrient-dense food while deepening its role as a hands-on learning space where young people can connect with the origins and importance of how food is grown. Guided by a mission rooted in land connection and nourishment, the farm’s stewardship practices include:

Ecological Stewardship

• The Fleischer Family Farm’s mission to steward the land responsibly is reflected in its comprehensive soil-health and ecological farming practices, including low-till methods, farm-made soil amendments, and continuous soil cover through high-rotation market farming, mulching, silage tarps, and cover cropping.

• The farm strictly prohibits synthetic inputs and relies on ecosystem-based pest and disease management strategies such as crop rotation, beneficial insect habitats, and native biodiversity corridors.

• Hedgerows, native gardens, and on-farm shelters provide habitat for pollinators, birds, bats, and owls, enhancing ecological balance and on-farm resilience.