Ahavah means "love." Not just any love, however.
In Hebrew, the definition is very specific: “To give of oneself.”
Yosef and Havah Camire and their seven children have done just that with their farm east of Colorado Springs. This land started out as a second property, meant to be a peaceful getaway spot, for this family.
“There was nothing here,” Yosef says. “There was a broken-down blue mobile home and a shed. No kitchen. No bathroom. It was really, really bad. We found 45 mice the first night.”
When they stopped into Don’s Garden Shop to buy supplies, the owner asked whether they were building a farm. Yosef, a biomedical engineer, explained that they were simply constructing a garden for their family. But the question got him thinking.
What If?
Yosef read 18 books on the subject that winter and the family moved full time to the Peyton farm. His wife suggested they start a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm to help offset costs for their garden. They extended an offer to a handful of friends and family members, who paid a set amount for fresh produce from the garden.
They started out with 12 members, had some produce left over and decided to try selling at a farmer’s market.
“At the farmer’s market, we killed it,” Yosef said. “People came up to us after two weeks with tears in their eyes, thanking us for the pure food.”
The Camires quickly decided to make their food “pay what you can afford.” They stopped worrying about inventory, focusing instead on building a sustainable homestead and getting good food into the community.
They grow everything close together, without chemicals. In fact, they don’t even use any of the 36 chemicals allowed in organic farming. Everything is biological here. No chemicals. No fertilizers. No pesticides or synthetics. The plants essentially feed themselves.
“Our yields are huge,” Yosef says.
Today
Ahavah Farm has grown steadily over the last decade. Today, it’s a 300-member, four-season CSA – an ecological and educational farm. It’s 100 percent solar and carbon negative with 15 greenhouses and various outdoor garden areas.
The Camires grow more than 100 varieties of plants, including many heirloom varieties and microgreens.
“The goal has been to produce as much food as possible to feed as many people as possible – without any compromises. … We’re not here to get rich. We’re here to raise our children and serve our community,” Yosef said.
Everything they do serves one of three areas: the earth/environment, the local community and/or their health.
They rely on volunteers to make the farm work and they always welcome more. On a recent day, about 20 volunteers organized by financial advisor Stephanie Colgate helped weed the greenhouses and clear an outdoor garden area of what was left over from last year’s harvest – one plant at a time.
Wheelbarrows brimming with bright green weeds feed the chickens, horses, alpacas and other animals. Nothing goes to waste at Ahavah.
Four Missions
Ahavah is more than a farm. Sure, it offers weekly small, medium and large veggie shares available for pick up at locations throughout the region. Same with microgreen shares.
It also hosts numerous events, tours and events throughout the year.
And it has a nursery and garden center, where people can buy organic Ahavah plants to grow at home. The farm is worth a short trip, but if you’d prefer to buy closer to home, Ahavah also operates a mobile nursery that makes stops along the Front Range.
But one mission stands above the rest, in Yosef’s eyes: the Ahavah Community Initiative, a program designed to get food to families in need. People apply to receive donated veggie shares, a board reviews all applications and those who are approved become Ahavah Farm members with all privileges – no different from a paying customer. Since 2018, ACI has given nearly $500,000 worth of produce to people in need.
“I think it’s the best non-profit out there,” Yosef says.
Ahavah is simultaneously a farm of the past and of the future.
“What we do is something really special,” Yosef says. “It’s really unique.”
Website: https://www.ahavahfarm.com/
Facebook + Instagram: @ahavahfarm