Three Perspectives on Sustainable Living from Young Adults to Seasoned Ranchers
By: Kaitlyn Mixon
“We operate the ranch organically-no pesticides, no insecticides. We allow all animals to function in their native state. We do not control any, including coyotes, prairie dogs, or any others,” Dallas May said, “In 50 years, we have not killed a coyote on the ranch, only allowed them to function normally, and have had tens of thousands of calves born and not lost one to coyote predation. The coyotes have a natural prey base since we do not kill prairie dogs, rabbits, gophers, or any other animals”.
Dallas May watched the remaining ranches around him turn into farmland growing up. Though he was thrilled by the advancements in farming agriculture, he was troubled by the diminishment of wildlife and natural ecosystem destruction. He then decided that he would dedicate his future to finding a way for wildlife, farming, and ranching could co-exist.
He decided that he would open a ranch that focused on natural ecosystem livelihood while providing future generations with ways they achieve a sustainable and affordable supply of food while protecting the environment. The ranch is now coined as the May Ranch.
He desires to find ways to sustainably conserve wildlife, habitats, water, and farming and ranching families whose values lie within his own.
“We view it as our responsibility to improve and maintain the wildlife habitat on the ranch. Ranching and wildlife can and should be complementary, not competitive,” May said. “We do our best to manage our grazing so that it contributes to the natural environment that is needed for biodiversity.”
His philosophy focuses on the growth of biodiversity and sustainable agriculture in ranching and farming, as he finds that ranching and wildlife practices should complement one another.
May has taken action in developing his practices, as he said, “Years ago, we placed a conservation easement on the land with Colorado Cattleman’s Agricultural Land Trust so that it will never be converted from native grass and remains a working cattle ranch.”
He simultaneously began a privately funded carbon credit offset program in cooperation with Ducks Unlimited that allows us to sell carbon credit offsets around the globe. The ranch is Audubon Conservation Ranching certified which is certified and requires that it is operated to maximize habitat for birds which guarantees all species will benefit.
The health of grasslands is vital for the fight against climate change, and the May family is fully aware of this. Therefore, they allow their grasslands to flourish and grow tall, which permits the increased amount of carbon that the grass maintains. Instead of releasing carbon into the atmosphere, the soil stores it and increases carbon uptake in place of spewing it out.
“We are Global Animal Protection certified through the USDA,” May said, “Which guarantees that our animals are raised humanely and without physical alterations-no branding, dehorning, and natural weaning.”
May’s humanely raised production, through the Audubon Conservation Ranching marketplace, has been distributed through numerous Colorado markets. One of which is the Fort Collins Co-Op Marketplace, also known as the Mountain Market.
Stephanie Bublitz, a member of the management of the Fort Collins Food Co-Op Mountain Market, said that her market is “Built on the idea of the triple bottom line, so in our bylaws, we strive to help people, the planet, and nonprofits.”
Bublitz and her organization align with not only May’s views on agriculture but also many people in the community that are focused on sustainable agriculture and practices that benefit the environment.
Pangaea Kann is a student at Colorado State University that strives to attain similar values while using sustainable practices in her everyday life.
Kann is a Nebraska native though her grandparents have a farm in Colorado, so she has spent lots of time learning about the agriculture and ecosystem in the area. In addition, she has been attempting to find the most effective ways to attain sustainable agriculture through her horticulture background and her past with plant propagation.
Between plant propagation and learning how to sustainably grow agriculture in her small Fort Collins apartment, she also has many tips and suggestions about the best ways to have a more sustainable lifestyle as a college student.
When she isn’t spending her time on her homework, she is finding ways to be sustainable. In going to farmers’ markets and buying from markets such as the Fort Collins Co-OP, she has successfully built herself a way of life that is helpful to the ecosystem around her.
“The containers that I use for my seedlings are all recycled containers, like coffee creamer, dawn dish soap, the top of other various plastic items cut off to plant things in,” Kann said, “The candles we use, we soak the rest out, and use them as dishware. All the wax melts to the top, and we take it off, and it’s a perfect little cup or little dish; it’s amazing how much we can do with old plastic.”
Kann has been taking up a plastic-free lifestyle and says that even though it is difficult, it is attainable and helps the environment more than most people realize. She has been very interested in farming practices and finding ways to grow her own food, “The ones we’ve got in there right now are spinach, arugula, mint, lavender, basil, chives, zucchini, peas, and milkweed for the butterflies,” Kann said. “Milkweed is so important because it can be a weed, but it is so good for the monarchs and the butterflies to help keep them populated because they’re going extinct, and we need to help our butterfly population. We’re going to start them here and put them into garden beds when we move them over to our new apartment in August.”
Using old beer cans for the saplings and growing not only crops that benefit her lifestyle but also that benefit the ecosystem around her. Kann is attempting to mimic May’s line of work and succeeding.
While giving a tour of her current propagations, Kann said that “It’s just little things like using small old plant leaves and propagating them to have better oxygen flow in your home. It’s better to have good things in your environment to help with your mental health, and you know your physical health too.”
Kann, May, and Bublitz are all striving to achieve the same goal of having a sustainable method of agriculture while keeping the ecosystems happy and healthy. With the use of the suggestions from Kann, buying ecosystem-friendly produce from May, and purchasing from friendly markets such as Bublitz’s, the food system and the planet will be in better shape than before.
