Rain Crow Farm is located near Paonia in western Colorado.  The owners, Kerry Noonan and Jason Beason, have lived here since April 1st, 2005.  They moved in two days after their son, Otus John Beason, was born.  On Christmas day in 2007, little Twyla Mae joined the clan.  Before the family settled in Colorado, Kerry worked on farms in Montana, California, and Connecticut.  Jason, an ornithologist, also does many farm chores, such as mowing, tilling, and irrigating.

The farm is located in the beautiful North Fork of the Gunnison River valley. Some of the peaks of the West Elk Mountains are visible from the farm (especially Mount Lamborn and Mount Gunnison). They grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers without the use of chemicals or petroleum-based fertilizers. Their main crops are salad mix, carrots, beets, kale, chard, cucumbers, basil, spinach, radishes, leeks, potatoes, and cut flowers. Their farm is certified Naturally Grown (learn more at www.naturallygrown.org). The family raises chickens for eggs and goats for milk. Kerry and Jason sell their produce at the Crested Butte Farmer's Market www.cbfarmersmarket.org and flowers at the Carbondale Farmer's Market in the summer. They also sell produce to Fresh and Wyld www.freshandwyld.com and Delicious Distribution.

Kerry and Jason take great pride in creating habitat for wildlife and enjoy playing host to a beaver pond on the property next to the river. In 2007, they planted an acre of native shrubs and trees to attract birds to the property (see Habitat Restoration page).

Jason enjoys working as a professional field ornithologist for the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory.  The farms namesake, Rain Crow, is a folk name for the Yellow-billed Cuckoo which is Jason's favorite bird. Yellow-billed Cuckoos have been heard and seen along the river near the property several times.  Jason initiated a project in 2008 conducting surveys for cuckoos in the North Fork valley.  The Rain Crows were located at several sites in the Hotchkiss and Paonia area.  The field crew even found a nest with two nestlings near Hotchkiss on July 21st, 2008.  Rain Crow farm has been nominated for inclusion on the Colorado Birding Trail www.coloradobirdingtrail.com. We welcome visitors; please give us a call if you would like to visit.