Growing food at 10,000 feet isn’t easy—but you don’t have to do it alone. C4 is proud to provide Lake County gardeners with the resources and support to grow food, build skills, and strengthen our community.
Cultivating Community
THANK YOU for a successful 2025 season of growth & community!
As of the end of October, we’ve wrapped up all workshops, volunteer opportunities, and weekly farm markets.
Farm Markets
Thursdays 4—7 PM
Self-Serve Fridays 9 AM-4 PM
Fresh local food & pay-what-you can prices
We’re tallying the outcomes of an incredible growing season & can’t wait to share!
Volunteer
Wednesdays 3-5pm; Fridays 10am-noon; Every other Saturday 10am-noon
Thank you to the 100+ volunteers who spent more than 350 hours supporting the farm this summer
Workshops
From pollinators & power tools to permaculture & pests, our free weekend workshops have something for everyone.
Thanks to the 107 participants who joined us at 6 summer workshops
Community Soil Bank
C4 offers compost at pay-what-you can prices. Suggested donation $3-5 per gallon bucket. Make your donation here.
The Soil Bank is self-serve and open 24/7; just look for the donation box and pile of compost along the Cloud City Farm driveway (440 McWethy Drive).
BYOB—please bring your own bucket to fill up!
Get Growing in Your Own Backyard with a Free Raised Bed!
Applications are now closed. Thank you for your interest!
In partnership with Colorado State University Extension, C4 is excited to offer a limited number of free raised bed gardening kits to eligible Lake County residents.
What’s included? Each kit includes a fully assembled raised bed, complete with a cover and enough soil to fill it up!
The goal? To make backyard gardening easier, more accessible, and more affordable for our community.
Who’s eligible? Lake County residents whose income falls under the Area Median Income (AMI ) are invited to apply.
Other Recommended High-Altitude Gardening Resources
Garden Planning Tools
Seeds
Lake County Public Library Seed Bank
Lake County Conservation District
Colorado Seed Companies
Raised Beds
Fabric pots: smartpots.com; geopot.com; aurorainnovations.com
Also consider asking at distilleries for used barrels/totes
Wood: best to use untreated lumber
Redwood & cedar are naturally rot resistant, but most expensive
Ace Hardware, Leadville: Limited stock, but can order
Alpine Lumber, Buena Vista/Summit: Lots of options; delivers
Fabric & Plastic Coverings
Recommend fabric 1 oz and up. 1 oz and less can be left on during the day. Higher than 1 oz may be too much shading for some plants
Greenhouse specific plastic or UV protected plastic is best to use
Ace Hardware/ local garden stores may have smaller sections
Larger seed companies and greenhouse supplies online stores
C4 may have used fabric and plastic when available.
Soil & Compost
Neil’s Lunceford (Silverthorne)
Elements Compost (Salida)
ACA Products- topsoil (Buena Vista)
Summit County Landfill
Garden Stores & Businesses
Ace Hardware and Big R
Merrifield’s Garden Hut, Buena Vista
Mountain Grown Gardens, Alma, CO
Hydroshack, Frisco
Alpine Earth Gardens, Silverthorne
Neil’s Lunceford, Silverthorne

