How Sandy Seed Farm is Cultivating a New Future for Urban Agriculture

It started with a small plot of land, barely a 1/16th of an acre, nestled near Old City Park in Moab, Utah. The soil was dry, the space was limited, but for Dyan Fadgen and Nicole Kreiser, it was enough. Enough to plant seeds—both into the ground and about what’s possible when you rethink farming.

"We wanted to show that you don’t need acres of land to grow good food,” Dylan explains. “You just need creativity, community, and a willingness to experiment.” 

Dylan first heard of the peri-urban farm concept on a podcast with Curtis Stone, who was pioneer for the movement. Dylan didn’t have much of an agricultural background and he learned quickly how difficult it was to finance and obtain agricultural land. His first rendition of Sandy Seed Farm got its name from its origins in Moab, where Dylan and Nicole first started garden beds in a friend’s backyard. 

Today, Sandy Seed stretches across two locations in Montrose and now encompasses a half acre of carefully cultivated land. Their mission is simple: use regenerative farming practices to grow food on unutilized urban land. 

Sandy Seed Farm is part of a much larger shift in the way people think about food production. Across the U.S., urban farming has increased by more than 30% over the last few decades. In cities like Detroit, New York, and Washington D.C., vacant lots and rooftops are being transformed into community gardens and high-tech hydroponic farms. Globally, urban agriculture now accounts for nearly 20% of the world's food supply.

Why the surge in interest?

“We saw it during the pandemic—people started realizing how fragile our food systems can be,” Dylan says. “Urban farming brings food closer to home, reduces dependence on big supply chains, and gives people more control over what they eat.” 

For aspiring urban farmers, getting started can be as simple as a backyard garden, a few raised beds, or even a collection of containers on a balcony. Many, like Nicole and Dylan, begin by working with what’s available—underutilized spaces in their own neighborhoods. Innovative approaches like hydroponics, aquaponics, and vertical farming are also making it easier for farmers to produce food in urban environments with limited space. Some cities are even supporting urban agriculture through zoning changes and grant programs.

“It’s about looking at land differently,” Dylan says. “People see lawns, empty lots, even parking strips, but we see potential farm space.” 

That’s exactly what Dylan did when he learned that some friends were buying land to build on in Montrose. He worked out an agreement with his friends, and they had garlic planted before the house was built. It allowed them to figure out a plan for irrigation before they laid out a sprinkler design, and his friends are happy to have that much less lawn to maintain, and can feel good that the space is going towards feeding the community. Since they started Sandy Seed, three different community members have offered up their land for Dylan to use for free. “If people see what you're doing and trust you enough to have you working out in their yard at all hours of the day, I think there's a lot of potential for farmers who don’t have access to land. There are people out there that are stoked about this, that have the resources to help,” said Dylan. 

Han-nō, Han-X (half-agriculture, half-X)

It’s not just about looking at land differently. To shift the food system, there also needs to be a shift in the way farming is perceived as a profession. The Japanese concept of "han-nō, han-X" ("half-agriculture, half-X") encourages people to grow their own food while pursuing their own passions. Dylan believes that if more people embraced this idea of supplementing their income with farming rather than feeling like they have to fully rely on farming as an income, it could help build up a local food economy. This sentiment has been echoed among many young farmers in the region.

At Sandy Seed Farm, the work is about more than just growing vegetables—it’s about growing connections. They supply fresh produce to local markets, educate neighbors about regenerative farming, and inspire others to think differently about food. “Urban farming isn’t just about feeding ourselves,” Dylan says. “It’s about feeding our communities, restoring our land, and showing that a different way of farming is possible—even in the city.” 

With a little creativity, a lot of determination, and a willingness to get their hands dirty, Nicole and Dylan are proving that urban farms aren’t just a trend—they’re the future.

Western Colorado Alliance