From the Ground Up: How Re:Vision’s Urban Farms Are Feeding a Community & Inspiring Local Chefs
In the heart of southwest Denver, Re:Vision, a nonprofit rooted in food sovereignty and cultural heritage, is growing more than just produce. Through its network of four urban farms and almost 200 community gardens, Re:Vision is cultivating a community of hope, opportunity, and resilience in one of the mile high city’s most underserved neighborhoods.
One of Re:Vision’s four urban farms in southwest Denver.
Operating within what’s known as a food desert, Re:Vision’s urban farms serve a critical role in providing their neighbors nutritious sustenance and self-sufficiency. Each week, they partner with Food Bank of the Rockies to provide nutrient-rich and culturally relevant produce from their urban agriculture model to approximately 850 families, many with strong Latinx heritage and generational ties to traditional Mexican cuisine. Ingredients are carefully chosen to reflect and honor this heritage: tomatoes, chiles, peppers, corn, cabbage, beets, and more.
Their ethos is simple yet powerful — food both feeds the body and strengthens communities.
Growing sustainably also means growing smart. Re:Vision includes garlic in its crop rotation to naturally enrich the soil, helping to repel pests and improve long-term fertility. While garlic bulbs are widely used in Mexican cooking, the garlic scapes (the tender green shoots that emerge in late spring) are less common in traditional recipes.
Rather than letting these flavorful, nutrient-packed scapes go to waste, Re:Vision donates their abundance to Colorado chefs who share a commitment to community and sustainable sourcing like John Wilson, Executive Chef and Co-Owner of Bella Colibri in Golden.
John Wilson, co-owner and executive chef of Bella Colibri in Golden, Colorado.
Known for his Southern Italian-inspired menu using seasonal ingredients, Wilson welcomed the opportunity when Behind the Apron Media connected him with Re:Vision’s Executive Director, Mariana Del Hierro and their farm team.
"Using fresh ingredients is important to me to provide the best quality dishes to our guests," Wilson said. "I'm looking forward to using [the scapes] to make items like pesto and charring them to pair with fresh ricotta. I'll also likely use them at my other restaurant, Old Capitol Grill and Smokehouse. There’s a lot of fun things you can do with these ingredients, and I’m excited to help promote Re:Vision and their services along with it."
On June 5, 2025, Wilson joined Mariana, Farm Manager David de Santiago and others in the fields to help harvest the garlic scapes himself, adding another layer of connection to the ingredients he brings into his kitchen.
Beyond feeding people, Re:Vision strives to change the food system from the ground up by honoring culture, protecting the earth, and building community through shared effort. With their thriving urban agriculture model and strong local partnerships, Re:Vision proves that even in places where access is limited, they can make a difference.
To support Re:Vision and the vital services they provide to the Southwest Denver community, consider making a donation at https://www.revision.coop/donate.
For additional information, visit www.revision.coop.
Re:Vision
3800 Morrison Road, Denver, CO 80219
https://www.instagram.com/revision_coop
No-Cost Grocery
3738 Morrison Road, Denver, CO 80219
Tuesdays from 11:30am-6pm and Wednesdays 10:30am - 2pm at Re:Vision.
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