Our Story Impact

Eden Vardy is dedicated to doing his part in solving climate challenges so that future generations can thrive. He grew up in Colorado, has a BA in Sustainable Food Systems and an MS in Integrated Eco-Social Design, and founded the Farm Collaborative in 2008. Under Vardy’s leadership, the organization connected thousands of children to farming, made 0% interest loans to nearly 60 burgeoning farmers and food entrepreneurs through a pioneering “gift-circle investment club” model, launched a multi-stakeholder support ecosystem to grow new farmers, took ownership of the award winning edibleAspen magazine (where Vardy served as publisher), hosted a program focused on innovating in crop production and stewarding regenerative agriculture regionally, and is now building a first of its kind regenerative learning campus in Aspen.

In 2019 Colorado Governor Jared Polis appointed Vardy to the state’s Parks and Wildlife Commission to represent agriculture. Vardy was appointed for a second term in July 2022, and confirmed with rare bi-partisan support unanimously by Colorado’s congress. In 2021, Vardy was selected as the Eisenhower Agricultural Fellow and met with policy makers, farmers, and community leaders in the EU and Brazil to exchange ideas for best practices to support the next generation of smallholder farmers. In 2022, Vardy was selected as a “Food Leaders Fellow” as part of the inaugural cohort by the Aspen Institute, and in 2025 he was selected to the forum for the future of agriculture where he generated trans-atlantic policy for the integration of agriculture and renewable energy.

Vardy is an avid percussionist and a proud father.

Raised in Snowmass Village, Colorado, Sonya Ferguson earned her Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and a Minor in Business from the University of Colorado at Boulder. After college, she moved to the Seattle area to begin her career.

Sonya started in the veterinary field, where she spent 13 years as the Hospital Manager for a large and successful clinic. During her time in Washington, she developed a deep passion for animal care and team leadership.

However, after years away from her home state, she began to miss the mountains and sunshine of Colorado. In early 2020, Sonya made the decision to return to the Roaring Fork Valley. Seeking to combine her love for nature and the environment with her professional experience, she joined The Farm Collaborative in April 2020.

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Raised in Aspen, Corina Person Minniti has grown up exploring and soaking in the mountain glories of the valley. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts with a major in environmental studies and a minor in black & white film photography she came back to Aspen permanently in 2011. She has worked in education ever since she moved back, there is so much magic in play and exploration and Corina continues to grow with the children she teaches. 

The Education Director at The Farm Collaborative, Corina enjoys spending the entire summer outside running Earth Keepers camp. Corina is also the incredibly proud mother of 2 amazing mountain children who get to be with her all summer at camp.

Corina has an eclectic collection of art skills and passions. Her most fervent artistic love is fiber arts. Knitting, weaving, spinning, felting, embroidery, natural dyeing, and eco printing are happily filling all her free moments. Black and white film photography has continued to capture Corina’s wonder and she develops film in her home and scans the negatives for a mixture of the old and the new.

Francesca Benedetti is the Agricultural Programs Specialist and farmer at The Farm Collaborative. With two decades of combined education and experience in sustainable agriculture, on-farm education, farm direct market sales, and non-profit management, Francesca brings genuine field expertise and enthusiasm to the team. She oversees field based educational programming for teenagers and adults, as well as implementing a production crop plan that integrates those education programs into the operation of the farm systems. 

After gaining her degree in Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems at the University of California – Santa Cruz, she gained 15 years of experience managing organic production farms and farmers markets in Portland, Oregon and Boise, Idaho. Francesca and her family moved to the Roaring Fork Valley in 2022 and have found connection with the community through food, art & music, and appreciation of place. She enjoys sharing her love of good food and wild places with her husband, son and extended family that  have also planted their roots in the valley over the last 20 years.

Alex oversees the maintenance and repair of our farm site. With a strong background in property management and renovation, Alex brings the practical skills needed to keep our facilities running smoothly. While he will also be helping with the care of our animals and the vegetable production on the farm, site upkeep will be at the core of his work, ensuring that everything from our infrastructure to our growing spaces is well-maintained and ready for our programs. He takes pride in the opportunity and is working hard to make Cozy Point the best it can be. 

Prior to joining The Farm Collaborative, Alex worked as a Product Manager in the tech industry, where he led cross-functional teams to deliver software solutions. After years of working behind a screen, Alex felt a calling to connect more directly with nature and contribute to the regenerative practices at the heart of The Farm Collaborative’s mission.

In addition to his professional background, Alex has over a decade of experience managing home repairs and renovations, which will be invaluable in maintaining the farm’s diverse buildings and infrastructure. This hands-on expertise, paired with a deep appreciation for sustainability, aligns perfectly with the farm’s goals of carbon sequestration, community connection, and ecological stewardship.