Meet Chip Mattingly

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chip Mattingly. 

Hi Chip, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
 Six years ago, through our partnership with a local food pantry, we became aware that there was a huge need for healthy fresh produce for food-insecure families in El Paso County which accounts for roughly 15% of our population. This need was especially acute during the winter months when there was little to no fresh produce available to the patrons of our local pantries. 

This coincided with one of our outreach teams helping a gentleman build his own aquaponic greenhouse on the south side of town. After touring his greenhouse and seeing how fruitful it was, we began exploring the idea of doing one ourselves on our church campus. 

After lots of consulting, planning and prayer we decided to break ground in June of 2015. What we assumed would be a pretty straightforward 3-month construction process became a very disheartening and challenging year of one setback after another due to unusually rainy weather and lots of unforeseen regional building code obstacles. 

Through the perseverance of a lot of dedicated volunteers, we planted our first seeds in June 2016 and have never looked back. Each year has had its challenges but by the grace of God, we have managed to honor our vision of providing year-round healthy fresh produce options for thousands of food-insecure families in our community. 

The aquaponic garden has also become a wonderful place for building community for the generations and for providing a place of healing through our intern program with a local human trafficking restoration ministry. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has gotten a little easier with each year but aquaponics is not for the faint at heart. It’s an intricate ecosystem that is even more challenging with the extreme weather we experience here in Colorado. Through lots of trial and error we’ve become pretty good at telling people what not to do as it relates to systems, fish care, and the types of produce to grow. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We grow a variety fresh produce (mostly leafy greens) in a 1500sf automated aquaponic greenhouse. About 90% of what we grow is given away to some local food pantries that we partner with. We currently grow the following: 4 varieties of lettuce, 3 types of kale, spinach, cilantro, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, sugar snap peas, dill, oregano, basil, bok choy, rosemary, mint, and a variety of microgreens. 

To support our mission, we provide a garden market on the first Sunday of every month. 

We have an incredible dedicated team of about 60 volunteers that maintain the garden year-round. We also work with a human trafficking ministry to provide an intern program for their teenage girls that have been rescued from sex trafficking. In return, we make monthly donations that are made available to them when they graduate from the restoration program. We also provide scholarship monies for their post-high school educational pursuits. 

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I don’t think so… if I did, they can find it on the website! 

Contact Info:

• Email: missions@mountainsprings.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Aquaponic-Garden-102442208200815