Mile High Urban Farming
Denver, Colorado
Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do:
Michele: Mile High Urban Farming
I'm Michele, the owner of Mile High Urban Farming. I grow veggie, herb, and flower starts for sale at farmer's markets throughout Denver; as well as growing succulents we use in our dish gardens that are for retail sale, and in our handmade resin planters and vertical gardens. I also run our urban farm in Denver, Astro Azules Farm, where we grow veggies and microgreens for retail and for restaurants in Denver. We also provide garden designs for clients seeking to create edible landscaping, xeric gardens, and pollinator friendly garden spaces. When not creating and planting, I love spending time hiking and camping with our pups Apollo, Athena, and Brutus, who are regulars on MHUF's social media, and traveling with my husband Alan. I have some pretty artsy hobbies, including sculpture and embroidery/cross stitch, and am teaching myself to sew. I also love to read.
Let us know more about your business name - how did you come up with it?
Although my products on Local Undercover are living décor and handmade planters, I am a farmer at heart. As a lover of things local, and my adopted hometown of Denver, I wanted to incorporate some sort of element of Denver into my business name. Denver's nickname is the Mile High City as our official elevation is 5,280 feet. As a farmer, and a landscaper that focuses their niche on urban farming and homesteading, the name just came together to embody not only what we do as a company, but our passion for locally grown produce and plants.
What is your signature style / item? How did it become so?
My retail products absolutely lean into what I lovingly call 'geek chic'. My creative rule of thumb is--I only sell things I would, and do, have in my own home. My dinosaur planters are my signature item, and I lean in hard to being known as the Dino Lady with all sorts of dino tees, jewelry, and masks I wear to markets and shows. The dinos originally were up-cycled toys I machined into planters as I was arts and crafting with my niece. I discovered lots of plastic toys are hollow, making them easier to transform into cute, unique planters. My dinos are now handcrafted from resin, from molds I cast from clay figures I created. Literally every aspect of my planters are made in house by me. The geeky, quirky planters quickly expanded into a few fandoms, such as Star Wars, Pokemon, and Dr. Who, and have some fun new molds in the pipeline for 2021.
Photo Credit: Matt Rathbun
What makes your business unique to the industry?
I not only grow the plants, but create the planters as well, which is pretty unique. This lets me speak to not only the crafting process, but how to best care for your new buddies. There are very few BIPOC food producers in Colorado, much less grown in Denver, making us a hyperlocal food source (food grown within 10 miles of purchase location) for our markets, and a great way for Denver to support BIPOC owned businesses.
What's been your biggest roadblock when it comes to business and how have you been able to overcome?
One of my initial challenges was in hindsight, a total blessing. I knew I needed a way to engage with potential clients at the farmer's market after the early summer, once the demand for veggie and herb starts waned, which gave birth to the retail component of my business with planters and terrariums. This not only gave my business a whole new revenue stream beyond landscape design, it also let me really nurture my creativity as my 'off season' income source took off.
How has your business had to adapt amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic? What are you doing to navigate the situation?
Fortunately, my business has a natural pivot--food production. With COVID shutting down artisan shows nationwide, we have had to shift our focus to online sales. Denver designated Farmer's Markets as essential businesses, so during the late Spring well into Fall, I had a regular opportunity to engage with customers. The loss of holiday shows has been a huge burden for all artisans, as retail businesses generate a huge percentage of their revenue during the six weeks of holiday shopping. We have pivoted to expanding our retail food production, as our restaurant clients have had to scale back as well during forced shutdowns, limited capacity, and well, outdoor dining options in Denver are pretty limited. We are very excited to bring some Denver grown produce to market this season. We also are offering contactless delivery as well to help keep customers safe. All items are made and packaged with us wearing masks and gloves to boost customer confidence.
What is your favorite part of what you do?
Honestly? playing in dirt. I adore watching plants grow from seed to bringing joy to people in their forever homes. I love helping people grow their own food, and bring their urban oasis from vision to reality. I always say, there is no such thing as a black thumb. Anyone can grow a plant. The key is knowing their ideal growing conditions, matching people up with plants that work in their space, and providing healthy, quality plants to customers, as well as being a resource for my customers down the road.
What is your *must do* local activity?
Everyone should see at least one show at Red Rocks. Just outside of Denver in Morrison CO, nothing is better than a panorama of Denver behind the stage, the Rocks glowing as the sun sets, and the stars emerging overhead as the headliner takes the stage. Chances are, your favorite artist has a live album or concert filmed at Red Rocks. Anyone visiting CO should go to Rocky Mountain National Park just outside Estes Park, and check out the Stanley Hotel, the inspiration for The Shining.