Farming in Colorado, with an eye on the world

Five questions about study, life and work

Lilia Justman graduated summa cum laude with a degree in international affairs in 2009. She lives in Paonia, Colo., a region known for its delicious fruit and wine and opportune growing season. Her family is from Austin, Texas, and moved here in 2003 to grow more food, have a smaller community and to be more "self-sufficient."

She describes the family as “in love with their life here and have created quite a gorgeous farm on over 40 acres that nests along the North Fork River.” The family grows five different varieties of certified organic apples, as well as pears, peaches, blackberries, raspberries, goji berries, strawberries, nectarines, plums and “all of the vegetables you could imagine.”

I knew this career was right for me, because I developed a deep passion in college for local food systems and sustainable agriculture." The family has a greenhouse that stays productive year round and three acres of Pinot Noir grapes that fuels its micro-winery, Peony Lane Pinot Noir, grown with organic grapes and no added sulfites. “We raise chickens and have four sheep and four goats. My dad also hunts one deer and one elk for the year. We catch fresh trout in our backyard. Our house is passive solar, and we have several solar panels.

After many "foodie" jobs post-college, at farmers markets, organic restaurants, farms, etc., “I decided it was time to move to my family's farm just this last year, and settle down and begin to learn the workings of the farm. I'm the only child of the four that has an interest in doing this, and as my parents age, I thought it would be good to put down roots.”

Justman sells and markets the family’s wine, sells and markets the apples and some vegetables, and works in the gardens, with the trees, and has “a nice life here.” She also tutors in Spanish, takes classes in French, and is going back to school to learn massage therapy.

“So I'm not a 9-5 farmer ... I moved here for the lifestyle—it's very affordable, community-oriented, and I can spend most days in the mountains skiing and hiking.” She is breaking ground for her personal passive-solar studio in April. “My dream is in fact to have a home base here, and spend parts of the year in other countries such as Brazil and France, working as a nanny or a massage therapist, and bettering my French and Portuguese. I would like to be fluent in four languages within the next two years. I am a little bit obsessed with learning languages.” Here are her answers to our questions:

1. When did you first know that the career you now have was right for you?

I knew this career was right for me, because I developed a deep passion in college for local food systems and sustainable agriculture. A large part of my senior thesis surrounded these subjects, and when my dad transitioned from an architect in Austin to a Colorado farmer, my passion and curiosity increased. It felt natural to create a career close to family and within a subject close to my heart. Plus, I love being outside and exerting physical energy, and the Western Slope is an ideal place to grow lots of organic food.

2. What notable obstacles did you overcome as you established your career?

My career is by no means conventional. I work with the seasons, each day I need to adapt to varying circumstances, and my schedule is never the same. I like routine, so this was a bit challenging for me at first. I also sometimes felt like I wasn't doing enough and felt bad spending too many hours skiing or in the mountains. But I had to learn that that's the glory of this lifestyle. I put in 12-hour days when I need to and celebrate where I live when I have the time.

3. What advice would you have for students about how to make the most of their education?

I've missed college since the day I graduated. I'm a viciously curious person and love learning new things. When you graduate, unless you continue taking classes, it's extremely difficult to maintain the intellectual stimulation you had from your classes and intelligent people surrounding you. It's a challenging outside world.

So my advice is to absorb and relish everything that is thrown your away. Pay extremely close attention to the subjects that really make your heart jump. Save those books, pursue those subjects even if you don't choose that line of work when you graduate. It's very important to hold onto your intellectual curiosity once you leave college. It keeps you young and healthy.

4. What role did your studies at CU-Boulder have in your career success?

CU Boulder exposed me to too many incredible things to mention. It fed my curiosity, it challenged me and ultimately opened up my world. It enabled me to delve deeper into subjects I didn't even know exist. Through the PUKSTA program and the President's Leadership Class, I was able to explore issues in the community alongside my studies. I think the overall “grandness” of the CU-Boulder experience was so satisfying, that it allowed me to really know what was in my heart and how I wanted to follow it.

Feb. 27, 2015