C4’s Cloud City Farm just completed its first year-round growing season at 10,200 feet—no small feat in Leadville’s harsh climate. By using greenhouses and season-extending techniques, the farm is now producing fresh food beyond the traditional growing season and increasing food access for the community. Read more about how this milestone is shaping the future of local food in Lake County.

What happens when a C4 educator brings a freshly-picked carrot into a Bright Start classroom? Pure magic—and the beginning of a partnership, made possible by the Life Time Foundation, that's changing how Leadville's littlest learners connect with food and the natural world.

In an op-ed in the Leadville Herald, John and Cheryl Wells highlight how C4 stepped in to save Lake County’s only solar garden from collapse—and what this means for the future of local energy.

Earth Month is here, and we’ve packed April with ways to show up for this place we call home! 🌎 From farm markets & workshops, to climate conversations and author talks, there are plenty of ways to out, get connected, and get involved locally.

From this Thursday’s Farm Market to new job openings, community garden lottery to compost news, plus a full lineup of events, there’s a lot happening at C4 this spring. Whether you’re stocking up on fresh food, looking for a new opportunity, or planning your April calendar, we’ve got something for you!

A more sustainable Leadville doesn’t have to be a distant vision; it’s something we can build here and now through small, concrete steps.

It’s compost buckets on kitchen counters. Tools borrowed instead of bought. Secondhand gear that gets one more life. Neighbors showing up to shape policy. Learn about 8 tangible, local ways to get started today.

Great news for local kids and the future of our community 💚 Funding is secured to continue C4’s hands-on outdoor education programs through 2030. With support from the Life Time Foundation, Get Outdoors Leadville, and other partners, Lake County students will keep learning outside, building confidence, curiosity, and care for the place we call home.

What would it look like for a rural mountain town to truly take control of its waste? This vision of Leadville in 2050 offers a glimpse of a thriving, zero-waste future shaped by local systems, community action, and care for the place we call home.

This summer, an incredible group of interns, seasonal staff, and volunteers contributed thousands of hours working for a healthier planet and community.

From growing food and engaging youth to supporting Zero Waste events, they’ve made a lasting impact across C4, Lake County & beyond!

The stories behind the miles: Leadville was once the richest city in the U.S., during the 1880s Silver and Gold boom, but when it ended, what remained was a community facing abandoned mines, polluted land and a struggling local economy. That is why resilience has become a way of life here. At Cloud City Conservation Center, Emily and her community work to confront the legacies of pollution and economic decline, turning these challenges into opportunities for environmental restoration, economic recovery, and a healthier, more sustainable future.

As athletes push their limits and prove their grit on Leadville’s legendary trails, another dedicated team is grinding away behind the scenes to protect the places that make these races possible. For the past 13 years, the Leadville Race Series (LRS) has partnered with local nonprofit Cloud City Conservation Center (C4) to reduce race waste and support sustainable practices through a comprehensive Zero Waste initiative.

Cloud City Conservation Center (C4) and the Lake County Landfill are partnering to improve the county’s waste systems.

Isabel Lisle, C4’s Sustainability Manager and Robin Moody, Lake County Landfill forewoman, are working together through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Sustainable Communities and Action Network (SCAN). Through collaboration and SCAN’s resources, Lisle and Moody hope to find solutions to Lake County’s waste management issues.

Cloud City Farm in Leadville is the newest location in the state to offer Colorado SNAP Produce Bonus, making healthy food more affordable for Lake County families!

Across the U.S., the primary uses of energy for homes are heating and cooling, followed by water heating and appliances. In high-altitude areas, home and water heating are even larger pieces of the pie.

Richie Moutoux, energy program director for the Cloud City Conservation Center (C4), says energy efficiency doesn’t mean your thermostat has to sit at 68 while you pile on warm layers.

During energy audits, the biggest savings often come from small things like lighting.

To celebrate Earth Week in Lake County, Cloud City Conservation Center (C4) recently hosted a Climate Action Workshop, a High-Altitude Gardening Workshop and a Recycling Center Tour. 

After five-years of inactivity, the solar garden south of Leadville on County Road 10 is operational as of April 15 and is projected to produce around 960,000 kilowatts annually for its 26 subscribers. Cloud City Conservation Center (C4) purchased the facility on April 30, 2024 with the goal of repairing its equipment and bringing solar energy back to its subscribers.

Digging Deep and Dreaming Big at 10,200 Feet

What do you get when you mix construction, sub-zero temps, a talented farm team, and a whole lot of determination? A winter farming experiment that actually worked. 💪❄️

Take a behind-the-scenes peek at recent expansion at Cloud City Farm—and find out what our plants taught us about patience, resilience, and growing food during high-altitude winter.

What is the Tool Library? How can I start using it? What does it have to do with sustainability? The Lake County Public Library offers an abundance of innovative programs and special resources for Lake County community members to take advantage of at no cost. Learn more about these programs and how you can start benefitting today!

Is it worth it to recycle? What happens to all of my recycling anyways? Who takes it, and where does it go?? How can I make sure I’m making a difference and that it’s going to the right place?

The Leadville Herald recently reported on C4’s Zero Waste program and partnership with the Leadville Race Series. Read more about our results, including collecting 15,300 pounds of waste from the Leadville Race Series alone, including diverting 75% of that waste away from the Lake County Landfill and into compost & recycling.  

This fall, the Lake County Conservation District (LCCD) and Cloud City Conservation Center (C4) wrapped up the first year of a collaborative project aimed at reducing barriers to urban agriculture for Lake County residents. The project titled “Growing Gardens, Cultivating Community” was funded by the National Association of Conservation Districts’ Urban and Community Conservation Grant Initiative. 

The Board of County Commissioners selected The Brendle Group’s proposal to help the county develop a climate action plan, a locally adopted policy tool that outlines actions a community can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as counter the negative effects of climate change.

Cloud City Conservation Center’s (C4) Zero Waste initiative has collected over 30,000 pounds of waste so far in 2024. From the 2024 Leadville Race Series alone, the initiative collected 15,300 pounds of waste, 75 percent of which was diverted away from the Lake County Landfill.