Postcards From Palisade

Augusto Latorre, Mesa County gleaning and food systems coordinator for UpRoot Colorado, joins Lisa to talk about the important role that gleaning plays in our food systems. UpRoot’s mission is to increase the nutrition security of Coloradans by harvesting and redistributing surplus, nutrient-dense foods while supporting the resilience of farmers. Learn all about it and what drew Augusto to this organization on today’s Postcard From Palisade.

The 15th annual Colorado Lavender Festival is fast approaching! This year’s treat for the senses will be held from June 26th to June 28th. Friday, June 26th is the VIP farm tours, Saturday, June 27th is the main festival in Riverbend Park, and Sunday, June 28th is the day for self-guided farm tours.Today, Olivia Coe and Lee Ann Nielsen join me to preview what’s planned for the festival this year. We also chat about why Colorado has the perfect climate to grow lavender and how you could even become a lavender grower yourself!You can find the full festival schedule and get your discounted tickets in advance at https://coloradolavender.org/annual-lavender-festival/, or just head down to the park and get your tickets at the door on Saturday the 27th.

A group of Palisade locals is heading up a brand new festival that is set to take over downtown Palisade and Veterans Park on May 2nd, 2026: Palisade Farm Fest. Find out about all the fun opportunities to celebrate Palisade’s agricultural heritage at the upcoming Palisade Farm Fest at Veterans Memorial Park and Farm Fest Market!And...we’ll also get a sneak peek on what Cygnus Crossing and the Milky Way are planning for the property by the high school!

In part two of the Palisade town grouch series, hear all about the history of Palisade’s town grouch contest and its tragic, funny, and silly stories, get the dirt from previous grouches, and find out who our sister city grouches are!Post-release note: this episode has been updated to remove the reference to 1991’s grouch. It turns out he was convicted of committing a terrible crime in 2002. And while I don’t completely agree with erasing history, I do agree with not honoring a convicted murderer.

Welcome to Palisade, Colorado: 2,692 friendly people and 1 grouch. What’s the story behind Palisade’s grouch contest, and who would want to be one? I talk with the current town grouch and a town grouch hopeful to find out.