Jennifer Panariso grew up in Aurora, Colorado in a large, loud, typical Italian family where she developed a love of good food. Combined with her devotion to personal health and community building, Jennifer has merged her passions and purpose into One Eleven Neighborhood Farm where all the produce is pesticide and herbicide free and produced using regenerative and sustainable farming practices. She farms with her two loving dogs, a supportive husband who serves as her muscle, and a few hundred thousand honeybees.
What do you do for a living? What brought you down that path?
My passion project and full-time calling is the urban farm. One sleepless night, I had the impulse to scour the internet for available vacant land in Colorado Springs until I found one property that captured my imagination. I read and re-read the property’s description and explored the photos. Finally, after spending way too much time researching, dreaming, and overthinking this property that I could definitely not afford, I decided to call it a night. The time on the clock was exactly 1:11 AM. With my history of “God Winks” and my connection with the number eleven, I decided to continue my late-night research, but this time I Googled “1:11 Bible Verses”. The first bible verse that came up was:
“Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so.”
– Genesis 1:11 NIV
I knew in that moment God was encouraging me to continue my quest to start a small-scale farm for my local community. Since that evening, my husband and I have been transitioning our backyard over time – adding more grow space, five fruit trees, a large shed, a spot for a future greenhouse, and four honeybee hives – to create One Eleven Neighborhood Farm!
Tell us something that makes you stand out from the crowd? This can be a talent, life-experience, unique hobby.
I’m not sure if this makes me stand out from the crowd, but I love adventure and love to travel! I have been to 14 countries, with the most recent being Italy in the summer of 2019. My husband and I stayed on a small, family farm in the heart of Tuscany called La Bruciata! We can’t wait to go back!
What is one experience that has shaped you to be the person you are today?
I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in July of 2014. During the first several years, I wasn’t really able to move and do a lot physically as I was inflamed in every major joint in my body. I became very dependent on those around me. And being a stubborn Italian, learning to ask for help, was journey all its own. Thankfully, I’ve been in remission for the past 4 years. Beyond finding a good medication to get my RA symptoms under control, I learned my symptoms can also be managed with diet and exercise. I have found when I reduce my gluten and sugar intake and increase my lean meats, fruits, and vegetables I feel so much better! Plus, I have grown to love barre workouts at a local studio in downtown Colorado Springs, called Barre Forte. The low impact exercise has helped increase my bone density and keep the muscles supporting my joints strong!
I’ve gone from waking up every morning praying “Lord, please help me to be able to walk today” to pounding in T-post trellises and carrying 50 lb. bags of sugar for the bees. On this journey, I’ve learned to remain faithful to God’s plan, as there’s no greater plan than His, and to never take my health for granted.
What advice would you give your younger self?
You always hear “follow your passion” and I remember thinking “I don’t know what my passion is…What’s my passion? What’s my purpose?” I would tell my younger self to remain patient and open to trying new things, because each new opportunity will lead to you finding your calling in life!
What is the best $100 you recently spent? On what and why? (personal or professional)
I purchased two new honey supers! Honey supers are the medium boxes you add on top of the honeybee hive boxes for the bees to store honey. The honey in these boxes is available to harvest in the fall so the more honey supers I add, then the more honey we’ll harvest! A big thank you to Rocky Mountain Bee Supply in Colorado Springs for the great beehive equipment!
What is the one book that you recommend our audience should read and why?
You must read Love Does by Bob Goff. Bob’s stories will encourage you to live a life full of adventure, whimsy, and authenticity.
What is your favorite quote?
Based on the previous question, I would have to say this one from the book:
“That’s what love does – it pursues blindly, unflinchingly, and without end. When you go after something you love, you’ll do anything it takes to get it, even if it costs everything.”
– Love Does by Bob Goff
What local businesses would you recommend our readers support?
Colorado Coffee Merchants – Visit Eric at Colorado Coffee Merchants for a delicious coffee or cocktail! Eric is a kind, humble soul roasting coffee that’s second-to-none! He has encouraged my farm dream from the beginning and generously lets me use the front patio of his coffee shop as my farm stand’s pickup location on Saturday mornings.
Steffi’s Confections – Stephanie is a local baker in Colorado Springs and you can find her delicious baked goods around town. She has made delicious baked goods for our farm stand including zucchini bread with our farm fresh zucchini!
Rocky Mountain Bee Supply – Dolly and Leonard have a family-owned beekeeping supply store. They offer beekeeping classes and then will supply you with everything you need to start beehives of your own!
Barre Forte – A local barre studio in downtown Colorado Springs. Grab your sticky socks and try one of their low impact, barre workouts! Their inspiring atmosphere will keep you coming back for more!
Ranch Food Direct – A local retail store selling their high-quality beef and pork directly from their ranch. They love to support local small businesses and carry their products in store.
Bread & Butter – A locally owned neighborhood market in downtown Colorado Springs. They have Colorado grown produce, meats and cheeses, prepared foods, pantry staples, and wine, brews, and spirits!
What local nonprofit would you recommend our readers support?
I would recommend GoFarm out of Golden, CO. Their mission is to increase the supply of and access to affordable, fresh, healthy, local food in Colorado. One way they accomplish their mission is by offering assistance to local farmers in Colorado. They have a GoFarm Incubator program, farm equipment rentals, and a wholesale market for local farmers to sell their produce.
What is the biggest challenge you have ever faced and how did you overcome it?
Aside from my RA, I have recently struggled with how to get started on this farm journey. In a nutshell, I’m a spreadsheet-loving planner that overthinks overthinking. I’ve had to learn how to ask for help and use my resources, because I knew that if I kept making spreadsheets the dirt wouldn’t spontaneously sprout vegetables. I had to “dig in” and start planting!
In the off-season, I took training classes, attended a virtual farming conference, read farming books, listened to the No-Till Market Garden podcast, and watched numerous YouTube videos. I have also had the opportunity to combine two of my favorite things – traveling and farming. I’ve taken trips to Durango, Colorado, North Carolina, and Kentucky touring farms and meeting with small market-farmers. Even though North Carolina’s and Kentucky’s climates are vastly different from Colorado, I was able gain knowledge on crop planning, tomato trellising methods, irrigation, sales outlets, wash and pack room layouts, farm tools, marketing/branding tips, and most of all I learned – I’ll never stop learning. I was reminded it’s okay to prepare for my upcoming season, but I also need to embrace the adventure farming has to offer!
What is your most memorable childhood experience? This can be good or bad.
When I was young, my large Italian family used to spend all the major holiday weekends camping on our family’s land near Fairplay and Hartsel. We’d ride our ATVs and dirt bikes through the national forest getting covered in dirt! As a kid, I always looked forward to exploring nature and spending time with family.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
When I think about who inspires me, my mom comes to mind first. She’s always been a go-getter and resilient to the challenges life throws her way. No matter the circumstance, she leans into her faith as her source for strength to keep moving forward!
If you had a superpower what would it be and why?
I used to say I would love to read people’s minds, but I’ve re-thought that one. Now the ability to change the weather would be super useful for the farm!
What 3 (only) items would you bring to a deserted island?
If it was a barren deserted island, I’d bring fishing line, a ferro rod, and a tarp. But if it was a lavish deserted island, and I could grow all of my own food, I’d bring my two dogs, Lizzie and Camo and my husband, Ryan.
Which are your favorite 5 spots in Colorado?
- My farm
- Local coffee shops with friends
- Any bookstore for tranquility or calmness
- The airport (because that means I’m going to travel somewhere new!)
- Anywhere in our beautiful, Colorado mountains!
Which is the next destination on your wishlist?
I would love to travel back to Italy to visit La Bruciata again, along with going to other small agriturismos throughout the Tuscan region. Tuscany was a small piece of heaven on earth and to be able to learn growing methods from small-scale Italian farmers would be a dream!