About Us

What We Are

Founded in 2014 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational project, Dharma's Garden​ has since grown into a thriving center of connection within the local community.  Here, people are connected to each other—through meaningful work, seasonal festivals, and social activities.  Just as importantly, people are connected to the natural world—through educational programs, hands-on activities, and immersive experiences.

Through our productive half-acre garden, lively onsite markets, popular seasonal festivals, and diverse educational programs for adults and children of all ages, Dharma's Garden is a project of the community, by the community, and for the community.

Dharma's Garden brings a direct connection to sustainable agriculture right into the heart of the city, fully integrated with the community, accessible and inclusive, offering freely to visitors an immersive experience that is all but lost in the modern world today. Using organic, biodynamic, and regenerative agricultural practices, this living homestead serves as a model for ethical land stewardship, with wild areas and cultivated areas both integral to the whole.

Our Mission

To demonstrate, educate, and inspire others to take on the noble work of tending the earth.

What We Offer

We grow many different kinds of fresh vegetables, herbs, and flowers — and duck eggs, too!  We share with the surrounding community through our onsite markets, June to October. We occasionally have additional produce available at our self-serve Little Garden Stand. ​

We sometimes offer seeds and live plant starts in the spring, and various other products throughout the year including herbal products (salves, bath salts, etc), and a limited selection of canned or prepared foods (as allowed by Colorado's Cottage Foods law).

We offer many classes & workshops for both adults and children,  apprenticeship opportunities, and seasonal events.

Mainly, though, our focus is on sharing the experience of tending the land, connecting with nature, and connecting to each other, through small-scale sustainable agriculture.

Our Story

Dharma's Garden is situated on a 5-acre parcel of land traversed by Wonderland Creek in northwest Boulder, Colorado.  Sheep grazed this land in the mid 1900s, and it has been largely untouched since then.  In 2014, Boulder native Tim Francis and his wife, Kerry, settled onto the land and cultivated a half-acre garden with the intention of sharing some of its magic with the surrounding community, as well as the wider world.  The garden we call Dharma’s Garden—named after a deer who was born where the garden now stands (more on him below).

In 2021, over 600 families came together to contribute towards saving Dharma’s Garden, allowing our nonprofit to purchase this property with the intention of protecting it in perpetuity. Learn more about our land acquisition story below.

This dream continues to unfold with the generous support of our community. 

Meet the Team

  • Tim Francis

    CO-FOUNDER
    Tim is our resident garden manager and director of the Dharma's Garden project. A lifelong gardener, landscaper, and nature lover, Tim studied biodynamic farming under Jim Barausky here in Boulder. Before Dharma's Garden, Tim worked as the garden manager of Koanga, a permaculture institute in New Zealand.

  • Kerry Francis

    CO-FOUNDER
    Kerry runs the educational programs here at Dharma’s Garden, works the farm, cares for the animals, runs the onsite markets, answer emails, post pictures to social media, and a gazillion other things that constantly leave Tim in awe of his wonderful wife. Kerry is a Waldorf preschool teacher as well as an editor, birth doula, and so much more.

  • Dharma the Deer

    "Dharma" was the name given to a baby deer born on this very same land in 2011, to the wonderment of the kindergarten students next door. We think of him every time we walk through the meadow grasses around the garden.

  • Priya

    We welcomed Priya to the farm in 2021 and she has been our sweet pup ever since. She stays on top of her duties: barking at squirrels, watching passersby, and chasing bunnies.

  • Ollie

    The newest addition to the farm family, Ollie joined us April 2022. Ollie works hard at his favorite activities: snuggling his humans, following his big sister around the farm, and being cute.

  • In Memory Of Oki

    Oki was our first dog, he moved with us to this land, and he died after a good, long life just a couple of days before our land acquisition. Oki was a superdog, traveling the world as Tim’s companion from Costa Rica to New Zealand, from Maine to Oregon. Oki was a service dog, and could detect an impending seizure of his person from hundreds of yards away. He also loved to run along side our car, and we once clocked him at 31 mph in the Nevada desert. When Oki lost a leg to cancer and became a tripawd in his later years, he bravely adjusted to his new life, and never looked back. Superdog indeed.
    We love you, Oki.

  • In Memory Of Zeeko

    Zeeko was a beloved friend for many years, and moved with us to this land. He followed Kerry around everywhere, played gently with all children, and loved always being nearby. Zeeko saved Kerry from a broken heart, and really never left her side in all his 10 years.
    ”You were such good company amongst the long rows of onion, strawberry boxes, fires, movie nights, processing turnips, making teas, wonderfully delicious meals and conversations. I will miss you, sweet funny dog whose eyeliner kept you always elegant and looking nonchalant after eating stolen muffins.”
    Rest well, dear Zeeko.

What People Say about Dharma’s Garden

  • Katherine S.

    “Dharma's garden is an invaluable resource to the North Boulder neighborhood. It has had the most impact on my life through the children I work with at the neighboring school. They take daily walks to see the ducks as they swim in their pond, they play in the apple trees, and climb over giant piles of mulch. It brings us all great joy to experience a working farm! Dharma's garden is also a center of community for me.”

  • Ginny B.

    “I so appreciate having Dharma's Garden in my neighborhood... within walking distance! Knowing the food and flowers are grown consciously, organically and biodynamically is a huge plus too. All this at a time when it seems much of the world is "going to hell in a hanging basket", as my daughter used to say as a teen. Every little (or big!) positive step is important!!! Thanks for doing this and being who you are...”

  • Madeline N.

    “I am so unspeakably grateful for the work I got to partake in that summer and to this present day. I am still riding the high of planting that first basil start every time I step foot in the garden, but my love for this land has grown because of the people that tend to it. Among the dahlias, carrots, and blackberries is an abundance of intergenerational wisdom, laughter, and healing being shared.”

  • Nancy P.

    The sense of community around food at Dharma’s garden is palpable. It is a joy to visit on Saturday mornings and commune in the glory and rich array of vegetables and flowers. It’s always a lovely mix of kids, dogs, food, neighbors – Picking up food for the week is a pleasure. I feel blessed to be able to support this kind of ultimate local farming—a 10 minute walk from my house. We need literally hundreds of individual Dharma’s Gardens in Boulder County and our county would be a better place. Let’s start ripping up parking lots and making more farms now

  • Erin R.

    “Dharma’s Garden is truly one of the most deeply inspiring and joyful parts of our year. Our family is so grateful for the beauty, nourishment and community Tim and Kerry create through the farm and flower shares. The quality of the veggies and flowers, the cooking demonstrations and the community involvement opportunities are such a gift and so needed to keep families grounded in these increasingly technological times. We are going to continue our support and involvement. Thank you.”

  • Barb C.

    “Every Saturday I look forward to the heart-stoppingly beautiful dahlias and bouquets, the pungent basils, the delicious treats and the artfully arranged vegetables at Dharma’s Garden farmstand. But even more importantly, Dharma’s Garden has created community, both within our little neighborhood and greater north Boulder. We see old friends and make new friends, chat, catch up, learn about each other’s lives, figure out how to cook that rutabaga or celeriac or other mysterious vegetable—Dharma’s Garden offers us the chance to nourish our bodies and our spirits by bringing us together. I feel so grateful and so lucky to be part of this urban farm family.”

  • Mason (age 13)

    “We’ve learned the process of how we get our food and how much work it is. It makes me feel that there are so many hard workers out there and that we shouldn’t take it for granted.”

  • Annie (age 8)

    “It’s a place we love full of love and laughing and community. We’re outdoors all the time. We plant. It’s a big community. We’re always meeting new people.”

  • Elizabeth A.

    “Dharma's Garden is a true gem in Boulder. Tim and Kerry do all of their work tending to the land, farm and their community with so much heart and care. We love having a farm share with Dharma's Garden. The produce is wonderful, and we love their farm-share model, selecting the food we need on weekends that work for us. It is so important to keep up organic, heirloom, native gardening and food cultivation in our local communities! Tim and Kerry offer so much through workshops, community gatherings, and creating healthy food. We are so grateful for them and their work in Boulder.”

  • Liz K.

    “I have been bringing my Kindergarten class children for daily morning walks on the land around Dharma’s Garden for the past few years. To witness what is happening each day on a working farm—to witness the frosty icy covered open space during winter time, the frozen duckpond and tracks to follow in the snow and only the evergreens alive; to the excitement of spring time when we see the farmers out in the field working and the tiny green plants slowly waking up, birds occupying nests, and baby ducklings; to the abundance of summertime with overflowing gardens, busy farmers, full farmstands, shade- seeking; to fall time when we watch the abundant last harvests come in, so much apple eating and the land begin to turn golden and the quiet of the first frost—this witnessing leaves the children with a better sense of the seasons, the land around them and therefore, their place in the world. It is the most important activity that we do with the children.”

  • Nadia K.

    “I felt highly inspired by Kerry and Tim's lifestyle. It is great to put the hands into earth and see what is growing. And especially to taste what you've grown. You cannot compare to the products out of a store. Not to mention how much healthier some fresh biologically grown vegetables are. I wish that everyone would again appreciate food more. We're made of what we consume.”

  • Paulette E.

    “So many sweet memories on that land. We’ve watched our children grow up straight and strong in that field. Our bodies and hearts have been nourished through this project and the food and community you’ve created. To have a pocket of wild and growing land in the neighborhood has anchored the area with something real and it is rare and precious in these times. Thank you for putting your whole hearts into the land and into all of us.”

  • Carolyn M.

    “I'm enjoying the vegetable pickup each Saturday and the frenzy of cooking that follows as I try to make sure every last piece of vegetable is eaten or preserved.You have deepened my interest in how to live locally and seasonally and I am eager to learn more. I've only volunteered once so far - this past Friday I helped pick the harvest. It was the perfect antidote to a stressful week of work at a computer.”

  • Anie R.

    “I personally enjoy volunteering on the farm. It helps me de-stress from a long day of work. Dharma's Garden is the perfect place to find some quiet time, but at the same time develop bonds with members of the community. I love my time volunteering at Dharma's Garden - during this time I have made new friends, had long conversations about sustainable farming, shared recipes for the vegetables and herbs in season, and learnt a lot about growing your own food.”

  • Veronica H.

    “The knowledge Tim and Kerry share through the tours and work days has educational value that transcends anything students get from our class texts or documentaries. For these university juniors and seniors, many of whom have never been to a farm before, visiting a homestead in the city is a transformative experience. They see the ducks, they dig the soil and peal the garlic for planting, they walk the rows of crops and the surrounding fields, they taste the sweet blackberries. Their sense of place and connection to Boulder is deepened in profound ways through our trips to the farm. Semester after semester, students cite it as a highlight, not just of our course, but of their time at CU.”

  • Sheena M.

    “I have so enjoyed our partnership with Dharma's Garden and Tim, the gardener!" It is important for kids to make connections between what they are learning, the practical applications and the motivation for being lifelong-learners. The Centennial community values our neighbors and enjoys a lovely partnership that benefits photography classes, 'outdoor education' and the connection to being a local farm-to-table enterprise. It is so vital to the connectivity of our community to explore these partnerships; and for that, I am grateful.”

  • Seneca M.

    “Spring Fair was wonderful community gathering. I learned a lot from the seminars in the morning and was delighted with wonderful food for lunch. My children loved the arts and crafts projects. I love having a community garden learning center that I can walk to in my neighborhood.”

  • Matt H.

    “What a gift to our community the Spring Fair was! Our young daughters got their hands dirty making beautiful art projects out of soil, rocks, and plants, guided with care by wonderful instructors who provided lessons about nature during the creative process. Meanwhile, our whole family got to spend an afternoon outdoors with neighborhood friends and making new friends. We walked home feeling so fortunate to live in this remarkable city and have experiences like the one we had at Dharma’s Garden!”

  • Alice P.

    “The past year for me has been very hard, and a friend recommended to come harvest because of how much it made her feel at peace. The moment I visited the garden I immediately felt that peace too. It means so much that I got to find that in a time of hardship in my life, and I have y'alls immense warmth and kindness to thank for that. I hope that I can see you all again and soon.”

  • Miriam G.

    “I wanted to let you all know that as I was reflecting on my time the past few months at Dharma’s Garden, I realized that part of my journey was in discovering how people live meaningful and ethical lives, while also trying to figure out what that looks like for myself. I am so inspired by your courage to be part of the mess that is our world rather than running away from its problems (which is so easy to do). I’ve found for myself that trying to bring some goodness in the middle of all the crazy is the harder and most important thing to do and I’m seeing that so many people who try to do good are still not able to do it in that way! I know that you’ll continue to spread love and light and goodness to the community around you! Thank you so much for helping me to see what it looks like to be meaningfully and lovingly entrenched in our messy world.”

Saving Dharma’s Garden

When we moved to this beautiful land in 2014, we knew that as renters, our tenure on the property was not totally secure. Still, we were inspired to put in a garden, and to share the abundance with the surrounding community. Over the years, we added educational programs and festivals, onsite markets and special events, and we noticed that this land was not just meaningful to us — it had become beloved to our community as well.

When the owners decide to sell in 2019, we knew had to do our best to try to save this land from being developed. We hoped our community would be inspired to help.

After two years of near-constant work, behind-the-scenes strategizing, community pledge-raising events, chats with conservation experts, attorneys, engineers, ecologists, and farmers, we succeeded in raising the funds so that our nonprofit could purchase this property.

On the autumnal equinox in September of 2021, our nonprofit officially acquired this magnificent 5-acre property that we had been stewarding for over 7 years.

So Dharma’s Garden continues, thanks to the incredible outpouring of support of over 600 families who collectively contributed more than $4.5 million to make this miracle happen.

Read more about our land acquisition story in this article by Sarah C. Beasley, “Cultivating Wild: The Miracle of Dharma’s Garden!”

Learn More About Dharma’s Garden

  • Find our location, how to arrange a visit and volunteer, how to donate to our project, how to get our veggies, and see our upcoming events.

    Get Involved

  • Learn more about our farming practices here at Dharma’s Garden, including more about biodynamic agriculture.

    Our Practices

  • Find out about our children’s programs, which include different opportunities for toddlers all the way up to teens here on the farm.

    Children's Programs
We loved hosting this University of Denver’s “Food Matters” class. What a lovely group of people, willing to learn about biodynamic farming and to jump into the work too!
We loved hosting this University of Denver’s “Food Matters” class. What a lovely group of people, willing to learn about biodynamic farming and to jump into the work too!
#sheepentertainment
Didn’t expect to fall in love quite this much with our sheep, but I guess that’s what life has been since we moved to this land…a series of great loves, one after the other. #fortheloveofsheep #whiskythelamb #marriedtoafarmer
Didn’t expect to fall in love quite this much with our sheep, but I guess that’s what life has been since we moved to this land…a series of great loves, one after the other. #fortheloveofsheep #whiskythelamb #marriedtoafarmer
Meet Whisky, our littlest lamb! We have wanted to have sheep here for many years now, and finally it has happened. Had to drive all the way to Albuquerque to get these special sheep, but it was worth the trip. Whisky is a purebred Soay, an old world
Meet Whisky, our littlest lamb! We have wanted to have sheep here for many years now, and finally it has happened. Had to drive all the way to Albuquerque to get these special sheep, but it was worth the trip. Whisky is a purebred Soay, an old world heritage sheep breed that originated from the far northwest Scottish islands. And the other sheep are mamas and their babies, all Black Welsh Mountain sheep, known for their high quality wool for spinning, their hardiness, their relative small size, their friendly personalities, and their good mothering skills. Stay tuned for wool spinning classes, sheep visit days, and more!
The many cozy positions of our resident squirrel, Champ. #squirrelcuteness #wildinthecity
The many cozy positions of our resident squirrel, Champ. #squirrelcuteness #wildinthecity
Everything I need to know, I learned by watching the Squirrel Cam at Dharma’s Garden: 1. A nest is much cozier when you share it with your best friend. 2. If it’s cold out, just stay in bed all day. It’s warmer that way. 3. Be sure
Everything I need to know, I learned by watching the Squirrel Cam at Dharma’s Garden: 1. A nest is much cozier when you share it with your best friend. 2. If it’s cold out, just stay in bed all day. It’s warmer that way. 3. Be sure to stretch every morning. 4. If your ear itches, just scratch it. 5. You don’t have to try to be cute, you ARE cute.
 Want to watch too? When you sign up for our Owl Cam, you get a bonus squirrel cam view of their nest! Link in bio. #squirrelcam #wildinthecity
Owl eggs hatching any day now! Want to watch it happen? Sign up for our Live Owl Cam. Link in bio! #4eggsinthenest #greathornedowls #owlets
Owl eggs hatching any day now! Want to watch it happen? Sign up for our Live Owl Cam. Link in bio! #4eggsinthenest #greathornedowls #owlets
On the spring equinox, we invited Tara High School students to join us in welcoming spring as we dug up, stirred, and distributed the biodynamic prep on our land that we had buried at the autumnal equinox. The high school students jumped right in, and we were moved by how joyfully they engaged in the whole process. As their teacher later wrote to us, "What you shared with us was incredibly special and unforgettable in the arc of these students' lifetimes." Thank you, Tara High School students, for welcoming in spring with us!
So honored to be invited by Chef Daniel Asher of River and Woods fame to be interviewed on his KGNU radio show, Kitchen Table Talk. We were joined by the legendary farmer/author Michael Ableman on air. What a lovely conversation! Link in bio to list
So honored to be invited by Chef Daniel Asher of River and Woods fame to be interviewed on his KGNU radio show, Kitchen Table Talk. We were joined by the legendary farmer/author Michael Ableman on air. What a lovely conversation! Link in bio to listen.
Love this book, love this author. AND…she’s coming to Boulder on Tuesday!!! Link in bio to get tickets to hear her speak!
Love this book, love this author. AND…she’s coming to Boulder on Tuesday!!! Link in bio to get tickets to hear her speak!
Up close and personal with a flicker friend! #wildlifecorridor #wildinthecity #flicker #owlnest
Gratitude for our community. We at Dharma’s Garden are forever grateful.
We are so thrilled that Dharma's Garden will be screening this amazing documentary at The Boedecker Theater on Wed, December 7th! With inspirational chat beforehand from local director, Pamela Tanner Boll. Get your tickets NOW - link in bio.
We are so thrilled that Dharma's Garden will be screening this amazing documentary at The Boedecker Theater on Wed, December 7th! With inspirational chat beforehand from local director, Pamela Tanner Boll. Get your tickets NOW - link in bio.
We are OVER THE MOON excited to be bringing you the legendary farmers/authors Michael Ableman and Mark & Kristin Kimball for a very special evening here in Boulder this December! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see these superstars of
We are OVER THE MOON excited to be bringing you the legendary farmers/authors Michael Ableman and Mark & Kristin Kimball for a very special evening here in Boulder this December! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see these superstars of the urban farming/regenerative agriculture world under one roof. Get inspired by their stories of farming, hope, and community. Link in bio to get your tickets NOW!
I imagine the meadow feels quite big to little ones. I wonder if the autumn colors sink into their souls the way they do mine, ambers and yellows and golden hues flickering within.
I imagine the meadow feels quite big to little ones. I wonder if the autumn colors sink into their souls the way they do mine, ambers and yellows and golden hues flickering within.
(50% OFF FOR FARMERS!) For anyone interested in connecting with land! In what he considers, “The Most Important Conversation in Agriculture,” Land Whisperer Patrick MacManaway will discuss in this 2-day workshop the implications of bringi
(50% OFF FOR FARMERS!) For anyone interested in connecting with land! In what he considers, “The Most Important Conversation in Agriculture,” Land Whisperer Patrick MacManaway will discuss in this 2-day workshop the implications of bringing our attention to understanding subtle energies and creatively engaging with the intelligence and life forces of landscape, and therein the enormous potential for our agriculture as well as for our experience of participating in it. We will come to view this connection with the land as a serious engagement in a co-operation that literally sustains life. Link in bio. #landwhisperer #geopathicstress #regenerativeagriculture #patrickmacmanaway #connectwiththeland
Thank you to everyone who came out to @taraheartsandhands market today! We had so much fun hanging with the other craftspeople in our lovely community on a beautiful autumn day. And a big THANK YOU to all the helping hands and hearts behind the scene
Thank you to everyone who came out to @taraheartsandhands market today! We had so much fun hanging with the other craftspeople in our lovely community on a beautiful autumn day. And a big THANK YOU to all the helping hands and hearts behind the scenes! It was a big undertaking for our team to prepare all these products this time of year, and we did it! We still have herb salts and teas for you all who would like some…stay tuned for when our holiday store goes live!
These are a few of my favorite things! We love our community - our members, our helpers, our animal friends, our teachers.
These are a few of my favorite things! We love our community - our members, our helpers, our animal friends, our teachers.
We hope you will come celebrate our one-year anniversary of land acquisition at our autumn festival! Get your tickets ($5 donation per ticket)! Link in bio.
We hope you will come celebrate our one-year anniversary of land acquisition at our autumn festival! Get your tickets ($5 donation per ticket)! Link in bio.
We loved hosting this University of Denver’s “Food Matters” class. What a lovely group of people, willing to learn about biodynamic farming and to jump into the work too!
#sheepentertainment
Didn’t expect to fall in love quite this much with our sheep, but I guess that’s what life has been since we moved to this land…a series of great loves, one after the other. #fortheloveofsheep #whiskythelamb #marriedtoafarmer Meet Whisky, our littlest lamb! We have wanted to have sheep here for many years now, and finally it has happened. Had to drive all the way to Albuquerque to get these special sheep, but it was worth the trip. Whisky is a purebred Soay, an old world The many cozy positions of our resident squirrel, Champ. #squirrelcuteness #wildinthecity Everything I need to know, I learned by watching the Squirrel Cam at Dharma’s Garden: 1. A nest is much cozier when you share it with your best friend. 2. If it’s cold out, just stay in bed all day. It’s warmer that way. 3. Be sure Owl eggs hatching any day now! Want to watch it happen? Sign up for our Live Owl Cam. Link in bio! #4eggsinthenest #greathornedowls #owlets
On the spring equinox, we invited Tara High School students to join us in welcoming spring as we dug up, stirred, and distributed the biodynamic prep on our land that we had buried at the autumnal equinox. The high school students jumped right in, an
So honored to be invited by Chef Daniel Asher of River and Woods fame to be interviewed on his KGNU radio show, Kitchen Table Talk. We were joined by the legendary farmer/author Michael Ableman on air. What a lovely conversation! Link in bio to list Love this book, love this author. AND…she’s coming to Boulder on Tuesday!!! Link in bio to get tickets to hear her speak!
Up close and personal with a flicker friend! #wildlifecorridor #wildinthecity #flicker #owlnest
Gratitude for our community. We at Dharma’s Garden are forever grateful.
We are so thrilled that Dharma's Garden will be screening this amazing documentary at The Boedecker Theater on Wed, December 7th! With inspirational chat beforehand from local director, Pamela Tanner Boll. Get your tickets NOW - link in bio. We are OVER THE MOON excited to be bringing you the legendary farmers/authors Michael Ableman and Mark & Kristin Kimball for a very special evening here in Boulder this December! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see these superstars of
I imagine the meadow feels quite big to little ones. I wonder if the autumn colors sink into their souls the way they do mine, ambers and yellows and golden hues flickering within. (50% OFF FOR FARMERS!) For anyone interested in connecting with land! In what he considers, “The Most Important Conversation in Agriculture,” Land Whisperer Patrick MacManaway will discuss in this 2-day workshop the implications of bringi Thank you to everyone who came out to @taraheartsandhands market today! We had so much fun hanging with the other craftspeople in our lovely community on a beautiful autumn day. And a big THANK YOU to all the helping hands and hearts behind the scene These are a few of my favorite things! We love our community - our members, our helpers, our animal friends, our teachers. We hope you will come celebrate our one-year anniversary of land acquisition at our autumn festival! Get your tickets ($5 donation per ticket)! Link in bio.