The History of
Light Root Farm & Learning Center
Light Root Farm began as a shared vision between two young farmers who believed that tending the land with care could help heal both people and the planet. From the beginning, Cameron Genter and Daphne Kingsley were guided by a simple but powerful idea: that healthy soil, plants, and animals are the foundation of nourishing food, strong communities, and a more hopeful world.
They met as apprentices on a biodynamic, draft horse powered farm in Northern California, where long days in the fields sparked not only a deep respect for the living earth, but also a commitment to farming as a way of life rooted in responsibility, relationship, and reverence. With devotion, grit, and fortitude, they carried this vision across the country–from California, to coastal Maine, to Vermont, and to Wisconsin, where they spent almost a decade establishing an off-grid solar and wind powered farm and homestead. They learned from a variety of farms, landscapes, and mentors along the way, and gathered seeds of practical skill and hard-earned wisdom.
In 2014, that journey brought them and their family to Boulder, Colorado, where the vision for Light Root Farm was born on a small leased property on the edge of town. Building a farm near an urban center shaped this vision that a farm can offer more to the community beyond producing fresh local food and healthy stewardship of agricultural land. Light Root became a place that the community wanted to be a part of, so in addition to producing dairy, vegetables, and eggs, they began offering education programs, workshops and community events. By 2017 the social mission of the farm was growing steadily, and it was clear that this work was needed in the community. Living Earth Agriculture Foundation was established as the farm’s 501-c3 nonprofit organization, known today as Light Root Farm & Learning Center.
In 2018 they secured a lease with the city of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks, and moved Light Root Farm to a 65-acre historic farm and dairy in east Boulder. This property had been uninhabited for decades, with the fields only being kept up for hay cropping and some vegetable production. The historic infrastructure needed a lot of improvements to function as a working farm and dairy. What began as a dream took root in real soil. Over time, the land has grown into a diverse farm and small dairy, shaped by holistic and sustainable practices and guided by a commitment to care for the whole ecosystem.
In 2020, as the world closed down due to the covid-19 pandemic, the farm became even more of a place for refuge and sanctuary in nature. The demand for kids outdoor farm education programs surged, and we launched our first season of farm based mental health programming for adults in partnership with Boulder Community Health. Since that time therapeutic programming has continued to grow and be developed as a central part of the farm’s mission and impact in the community.
Today, Light Root Farm & Learning Center is a place where farming, education, and healing meet. Through land-based learning, hands-on workshops, and therapeutic farm programs, we invite people of all ages to reconnect with the living earth—by tending soil health, learning sustainable food production, caring for livestock with intention, and rekindling our human relationship to the earth.
At its core, Light Root Farm is about healing: healing land, healing food systems, and healing our relationship with the earth and one another. Our mission is to heal humanity by engaging in the work of holistic agriculture. We are deeply grateful for the community that makes this work possible, and we hope you will join us as we continue to grow something good and beautiful together.