Green: April theme

Cactus Jack's Saloon in downtown Evergreen and its owners, Megan & Gary Mitchell, won a Colorado Environmental Leadership Award from Gov. Bill Ritter in October for being "green."

1st Place Winner

Cactus Jack’s Saloon

A tavern in the heart of Evergreen won the approval of Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, who honored Cactus Jack’s with a Colorado Environmental Leadership Award in October.

Cactus Jack’s is almost completely green. Owners Gary and Megan Mitchell and their staff are committed to recycling, decline to use Styrofoam containers and clean with bio-degradable products. It has used non-trans fatty oil since October 2005. Fryer oil is donated for bio-diesel production. In the restrooms, motion sensing light switches and waterless urinals help to conserve natural resources. Excel Energy’s Windsource program powers the establishment. All natural organic beef is used, plus produce and bread comes from local sources, thus minimizing the petroleum impact. All leftover food waste is vermi composted, meaning composted by worms.

Yes, Megan will teach you how and sell you the worms, if you’re going green. Megan is a master composter and wants to help people who are interested get started living a more green lifestyle. Megan is co-founder of the local chapter of Greendrinks International and offers classes.

2nd Place Winner

Evergroove Studio

What’s makes Evergroove Studio, a past Best Of... top winner, the “greenest recording studio in Colorado, and one of the greenest businesses in the foothills”?

According to owner Brad Smalling, the answer is: “We recycle as much as possible. We compost all we can. We purchase high-quality used equipment whenever possible. We support businesses with green initiatives. We built our facility in such a way as to reduce our energy usage. We are the only solar-powered recording studio in Colorado, and one of the few in the nation.

“Not only is Evergroove forever green,” Brad said, “we are also one of the fastest-growing recording facilities in the area. Whether you need voice-overs, a radio spot, a basic recording, consulting, or an entire album, Evergroove will exceed your expectations in a way you can feel good about.”

3rd Place Winner

TaTonka Farms

TaTonka Farms is one of the rare double winners in the annual Best Of...contest. It took the top honor in the Bloom category, as well as third in this Green category.

TaTonka Farms’ greenhouses acclimate young plants and flowering hanging baskets so they can survive the area’s fluctuating temperatures.

The four greenhouses are located off Highway 73 between Barkley Road and Highway 285.

TaTonka Farms is open seasonally. The next selling season starts in April featuring all mountain grown annual and perennials, which are typically sold out in mid-July.

10871 Highway 73, Conifer 80433

303-816-4312

 

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