CSA SHARES

Grant Family Farms CSA shares available to be delivered to Steamboat Springs Residents! Call soon to secure your share. Read below for more info & check out the attachments on this email.   Note From Michael Moss: "One thing that is not spelled out on this press release is that we are setting up payment plans for folks. A $150 dollar deposit locks in the share and then we take two payments in June and July. Another option for folks is pay by the first of June and we can offer a discount."   GRANT FAMILY FARMS CONTACTS: Michael Moss Grant Family Farms Mountain Coordinator (970) 846-6233 michael@springsips.com   Andy Grant, Farmer, Grant Family Farms (970) 568-7654 andy@grantfarms.com   Community Supported Agriculture is here: Grant Family Farms delivers farm fresh produce direct to Colorado’s mountain communities   (Northern Rockies) Grant Family Farms has been feeding the nation fresh organic food since 1974. In fact, this 2,000-acre farm in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains was the first to be certified organic by the state of Colorado.   Since Lew and Andy Grant first started selling beans, tomatoes, peppers and onions at Front Range farmer’s markets more than three decades ago, there’ve been major changes in how many people think about food. While the Grant family once needed to ship their produce far and wide to grocery stores that featured organics, community consciousness has shifted: People in Colorado are reconnecting with local farmers as they seek out fresh organic food grown as close to home as possible.   Grant Family Farms is making the dream of eating locally grown food a reality for folks all over Colorado. In fact, the Grant family already grows enough organic produce to support many families – and it’s their long-term dream that eventually they’ll be able to sell the abundance of all 150 heirloom varieties of vegetables they’re growing to fellow Colorado families.   Mountain communities are an important part of the mix. Now Grant Family Farms offers mountain towns around Eagle County, Summit County, Leadville and Jackson County the opportunity to participate in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) – an up-front investment in the Grant family’s best farming practices that brings a bounty of fresh organic food to your table. By purchasing a seasonal share in the farm, you’ll eat farm-fresh greens, beans, carrots, beets, squashes and more, all harvested at their peak, for 26 weeks starting in mid June. It’s a direct connection between the farmers who are growing your food and the bountiful harvest your family eats every week.   “Our members call it ‘their farm’ and that’s the biggest compliment, because that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to forge that relationship between the farm and the consumer,” says farmer Andy Grant. “The crown jewel of our beautiful state is the mountain communities. Now we are able to grow 150 kinds of veggies down here, pick it and have it in the mountains in a day…It’s wonderful.”   Commit to a helping of fresh food that’s appropriate for your personal needs. Choose a heaping “family share” of vegetables (which works for a foursome or a couple with a weakness for veggies), a “small share” (perfect for beginners or couples, without quite as much quantity as the full family share) or a smaller “single share” (which would suffice for a single person or a couple on the go). CSA members can also buy a share in eggs from Grant Family Farms, 22 weeks of fresh Colorado-grown fruit, 10 weeks of pesticide-free flowers, and by order, farm-raised organic chicken, turkey, goose, duck, goat and lamb.   “What’s going on with local food and consciousness is awesome. It’s reconnecting people with the food that they grow. It really reconnects the consumer with the farm. It reinforces the bond between the consumer and the farmer. It’s a partnership,” Grant says, explaining much of the philosophy behind the CSA. “The shareholders are replacing banking, which is so important to a farmer. In return, our responsibility to them is to grow great food for them for six months. It’s a responsibility and a joy to grow great food for our members.”   In-market comparison shopping shows that the value of a Grant Family Farms CSA share is unprecedented – you simply can’t match the quantity and quality of an organic farm share’s produce for the price. Family shares cost $1,170 ($45/week); small shares are $869 ($33/week) and single shares are $589 (less than $23/week). A single fruit share is $396 ($18/week) and a single-dozen egg share is $128 ($4.95/week). Enjoy a colorful spray of weekly cut flowers for less than $14 a bouquet.   Every week, CSA shares are delivered directly from Grant Family Farms’ fields to local mountain communities for pick-up. Bringing this produce to the mountains is a partnership with mountain businesses and employees, so part of each food dollar goes right back into the local community. As shareholders enjoy the abundance of delicious and nutritious food, they can rest assured that they’ve made an investment in good health, a better environment and the best farming practices for the planet. It’s top-quality food direct from the farmer to your table.   When you invest in the Grant family’s produce shares this summer you’re supporting local agriculture, local communities and healthy eating – and a culinary adventure that is guaranteed sustain any mountain family well past the typically short growing season.   To sign up, visit Grant Family Farms online at www.grantfamilyfarms.com or call (970) 568-7654 and secure your 26-week share for a summer and fall table filled with delicious, local, organic food. If needed, payment plans are available to help make this high-value investment as affordable as possible for everyone.   To learn more about the fresh produce, eggs and meats grown at Grant Family Farms, plus more about our history, philosophy and farming practices, visitwww.grantfamilyfarms.com.

FRESH

Very inspiring film... watch the trailer - it goes from ugly to beautiful very quickly! Not to mention inspiring!!! I have contacted them to see what it would take to have Deep Roots be a host for this film in Steamboat Springs. I will keep you locals posted! - Lisa   FROM THE DIRECTOR - We're excited to announce the screening of FRESH across the United States.   FRESH is a call to action; it means to inspire its viewers to positive change, not scare them into a terrified complacency.  As such, the majority of the screenings will be followed by a panel discussion with local representatives from the sustainable food movement so audience members can learn what's going on in their communities and get involved. We will bring together farmers, activists, chefs, and policy-makers, all working to create a more healthy, tasty, and sustainable future.  Please join us, not just as part of an audience, but as part of a movement to better our food system, and to bring about a new vision, a new paradigm, a new reality, one that works for everyone.   Here's the trailer http://www.freshthemovie.com/ Here's the list of screenings http://www.freshthemovie.com/screenings/

TREE MULCH!!!

Hey Gardeners--Passing along from Paul Flood that he has tree mulch
(by the bucket or truck load) that he'd like to sell at minimal price
-- make him an offer.  Paul's housing development is next to the
elementary school across from Dry Creek Park.  He'll help load with
his skidsteer.  Call Paul at 846-2550 for more information.

Also a reminder that Farmer's Market meeting is this Thursday, May
28th from 5:30-6:30pm at the Hayden Library--contact Suzanne Banning
for more info at 846-0616.

Hello fellow gardeners.

We have been bumped from the Thursday Town Hall Meeting on 5/21 and have been re-scheduled for Thursday, June 4th at 7:30 pm where we will be presenting our Farmers' Market idea to the town board members.  It would be great to have as many Garden Club members there as possible.  So, mark your Calendars.

Also, I would like to hold an organizational meeting on Thursday, May 28th at 5:30 to 6:30 pm at the Hayden Library.  Please come and bring your ideas, suggestions, and energy regarding the Farmer's Market.

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to email or give me a call.

Thanks!

S.

Suzanne Banning
970 846-0616
bannings@ticus.com

Hours For Master Gardener

If you know of anyone who needs community service hours for Master Gardeners, I can keep lots of people busy on Carpenter Ranch. Eileen Coffelt and I will be working on the gardens  (landscaping, weeding, transplanting) 9- noon tomorrow morning, Tues. May 19th. Just show up ready to work, everyone is welcome. It's gorgeous out here! We will be scheduling more work days in the future.

 

Betsy Blakeslee Carpenter Ranch Facilities Manager bblakeslee@tnc.org (970) 276-4626 (Phone)   (970) 276-4625 (Fax)  (970) 846-9102 (cell) nature.org

Carpenter Ranch P.O. Box 955 Hayden, CO 81639

Hi All,

I hope you will join us for the upcoming Cayuse Classic and the celebration
of the 10th Anniversary of the Community Agriculture Alliance. 

I have dinner tickets available for sale !  I would also encourage any of
you that would be willing to volunteer for this fun event to contact Marsha
Daughenbaugh at the Community Ag Alliance marshad@communityagalliance.org
This is  truly is a fun day and supports a great organization!

This Saturday, Escape to Hayden

 

 

May 16th, between nine and noon

 

Come to the historic grain elevator

 

For the

1st Annual Seed and Seedling Exchange

 

Share your seeds and seedlings:

• Exchange them
• Sell them
• Buy them
• Or simply admire them

 

and chat about the weather.

 

For further information, call Betsy at 276 4770

Or Yampa Valley Feeds at 276-4250

Hayden farmers market!!!

Hello everyone!

 

The plans for the Hayden Farmer's Market have been shaping up.  I would like some time to discuss at the next Garden Club meeting on May 18th if possible.   

 

The vision:  The farmer's market that I envision would be a small town community event that could generate revenue for the local business that chose to have evening hours on the evening of the farmer's market, could draw the community out for a social event once a week, and could generate the sale of fresh produce, homegrown and handmade products. 

 

I have had lots of positive feedback and excitement from everyone that I have talked with regarding having a farmer's market in Hayden.  There have been discussion of having it on Walnut Street as well as having it on a weekday evening.  Most people felt that Friday's would conflict with other weekend plans and especially the restaurant's said that they could not participate on Friday evenings.  I had specifically talked to the business on the street about having in on Thursday's but as Craig has organized their market for Thursday, we will look at Wednesday's evenings with set-up starting at 4:00 pm and the market going from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm and break-down done by 9:00 pm.  The farmer's market will be on the Hayden town agenda on May 21st. So it would be great if we had a good showing from the Gardening Club members at that meeting. 

 

I am starting a list of vendors.  So, if you are interested in selling some of your products/produce, please send me an email so I can gather names, numbers, and list of products to be sold. 

 

I have not been contacted by any of the club members regarding input for the farmer's market so I would love your suggestions and input.  Please don't hesitate to drop me an email.

 

Happy gardening.

Suzanne Banning

 

 

Celebrate the Birds!
Saturday, May 9th at the Carpenter Ranch
6:30am-3:00pm

With the return of Spring, you are invited to help kick off the birding season with the 1st annual Celebrate the Birds! event at The Nature Conservancy's beautiful and historic Carpenter Ranch. This is a free, day-long, community event filled with activities for the entire family.  Some of the highlights of the day's events include: a birding tour and book signing with renowned ornithologist and author of The Smithsonian Field Guide to Birds of North America, Ted Floyd; guided bird walks led by The Yampa Valley Birding Club, the American Birding Association and the US Forest Service; a "Birds of Routt County" art show and presentation from landscape painter Joan Hoffmann; as well as games, educational programs and family activities led by Yampatika. The interpretive trail will be open all day for exploration. Participants are welcome to pack a picnic lunch to enjoy during the day.

Community Garden Update!

I wanted to fill you all in on the progress of the community garden.  By tomorrow the site should be finished with the earth-moving bits..  By next week i'd like begin to move materials on site-  we have just about everything donated so far...i still do not have a firm find on wood to build the beds but we are working on that.  Plenty of dirt!  Dave Epstein donated railing, a cistrine, and more (as needed) from the home resource.  The railing will look great painted- it's metal and rather nice!  Lynn and I decided to not rush the build date, so we'd like to push it back to the end of this month.  When that is firm we'll send out an other email.  

Thanks again for you support and advice, we'll transmit more information as it comes!

Chloe Hartstein

 

"If you're gonna have a garden ya'gotta have some dirt!"- Luna Tart

Community Gardens in Oak Creek!!!!!!

Here is the view of what exists now and what could exist in oak creek!!!!

Greens & Roots: two amazing women from Oak Creek, Chloe and Lynn, are working toward making this a reality! 

 what can we do to help?

contact chloe lee: 

subvertanything@yahoo.com