Mariposa Ascendente was envisioned and developed as a project of the Colorado Farm & Food Alliance – Just Good Food programming, which cultivated the space from 2023 to 2025.
As of October 2025, it has emerged fully as its own collaborative project, stewarded by the community and hosted by Viva la Vida Foundation, our nonprofit sponsor.
Sarsa Buck
Sarsa is a longtime advocate of regenerative living, blending over two decades of experience in yoga, sacred movement, garden management, and community wellness.
In Paonia, she supports rural resilience through the Colorado Farm and Food Alliance and Mariposa Ascendente—a living garden that serves as both a demonstration site for regenerative farming and a community classroom for connection, learning, and resource-sharing. Her work links farmers to vital support, including grant support, education, and behavioral health resources, nurturing both land and community through holistic, heart-centered solutions.
Amber Van Cleave
Amber grew up in the forest in Southern Oregon, where she developed a strong relationship with the natural world. She majored in Environmental Studies and Creative Writing in college with a minor in French. She participated in the Tahoe-Baikal Institute’s summer environmental exchange program and went on to work on the American side of the program for several summers.
Amber is an avid gardener and loves gathering community together for meaningful experiences of connection to the land.
