Welcome to Socolofsky Farms

We're John and Jennifer Socolofsky. Both of us grew up in the Midwest, but John's career took us around the country and around the world. We moved to Colorado in 2002 from the Northeast, in search of the simpler, lower-key lifestyle we grew up with. While we did not grow up on the farm, both of us are one generation removed from farming. Jennifer's roots are in the panhandle of Texas, and John's are in central Kansas. The memories of summers spent on the farm with cousins and grandparents run strong, and drew us toward a country life when we moved back West. We settled in Larkspur, to be near John's parents in Monument, but far enough out of the city to enable having a few animals.

John has always had a strong desire... a calling, really... to farm. When we bought our first pigs in 2003, our intent was to put wholesome food on the family table. We wanted to feed our kids good-tasting meat that was not raised with antibiotics or laced with other drugs. While there continues to be debate about the trickle-down effects to humans of the drugs used in the production of commodity meats, we did not want to take chances. Besides, to us there really is no good reason to give our animals drugs. They are raised outdoors in healthy environments without overcrowding. We've discovered that there are a lot of people in our area that feel the same way about this issue.

Since those first few pigs, we have grown a bit, marketing our products direct from the farm. We got started with sheep in 2007, and while the flock is small, we are enjoying getting to know these gentle creatures. Well, at least the ewes are gentle. Lester, our ram, has an overprotective streak and likes to butt. We also started raising meat rabbits in 2007, and we currently have around 100 breeding does in our herd.

In 2008 we added greenhouse vegetables. We've discovered through several years of gardening that the harsh climate at our 7250 ft. elevation, the short growing season, and our dessicating winds make it difficult to grow certain vegetables out of doors. We still grow our vegetables in dirt, but our greenhouses provide enough shelter to help the vegetables have a chance against the elements.

We have certain values which we put into practice on our farm. First and foremost, we believe God put us on this planet as caretakers of His creation. We believe great tasting, nutritious meats and vegetables can be raised without artificial chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides. We believe genetically modifying plants is neither necessary nor desireable. We believe in a cycle of life that includes animals and crops synergistically supporting each other. We believe in improving the land over time by taking care of its resources, leaving it in better condition than when we started. We believe hard work develops character, honors God, and teaches values to the next generation. We believe food raised locally tastes better and is a wiser investment than food trucked or flown in from great distances. We believe a thriving small farm can feed quite a few people and help create a vibrant rural community. We believe people should take a greater interest in where their food comes from and understand their connection to the earth and their place in the food chain. We believe diversity in agriculture preserves our national heritage and helps insulate us all from risks associated with monoculture, commodity food, and dominant control by a few large corporations.