Round Earth

Today eight students from the Life Skills program visited Round Earth Farm. Sunny and about 45 degrees, it was a beautiful day to be on farm. Adam gave us a tour of his operation amongst the 80 year old apple trees. The students were able to observe the frost damage from the night before (temps dropped into the teens!), check out the farm's 1949 Allis Chalmers, and the new small fruit grant project.

Before we left, we helped out with a quick mulch project. Round Earth will keep their costumers in beets well into the winter. We learned (and practiced) the why, what, how of mulching.

A Visit From the Kindergartners

Last Wednesday 26 kindergartners from the North Fork Community Montessori School came out to Zephyros. The weather could not have better. In years past we've been forced into the greenhouses for shelter or into the house for warm coco... but not this year! It was a brisk 60 (ha) that morning and by the afternoon we were in tee-shirts. The winter crops looked brilliant in the low autumn light, children walking up the rows. The days activities included: bean picking and tasting, giant carrot pulling, goat feeding and milking, and potato digging. After snack we had another chance to run around with a fun farm scavenger hunt in the north field.

It was great to see all of the parent involvement, and cooperation with carpooling.

Goodbye Tomatoes of 2010

On October 20, seven brave 7th and 8th graders (and their chaperones) demolished 100s of tomato plants. We thanked the plants for their unwavering (although so-to-start) production that lasted late into the year. The students learned about "putting the garden to rest" and the importance of field maintenance. And we dug some more potatoes...

Time for a taste!

On October 6th Mark and I went to the K8 for another round of seed saving with the 1st graders (our 4th generation) and brought some tomatoes for tasting for the 2nd graders.

The 1st graders got a quick and dirty lesson on saving tomato seed. They all had tomato-y hands, and were looking forward to watching (and smelling) the seeds rot in mixture of water and seed in the gallon jars that we brought. We came back after fall break, about 10 days later, to wash and dry the seeds. We will be back in April with soil, pots and water for the next turn in the cycle.

The 2nd graders enjoyed a colorful treat on the lawn (It's been a fabulous Indian Summer in western Colorado). The students were encouraged to observe the differences between the tomatoes that came right off of the farm, and the ones that they see in the store. They noticed, size, shape, color, and aroma. One tomato was the size and color of a small pumpkin, and it was suggested that we carve it. We did, and enjoyed every bite!

Potatoes at Zephyros!

Nearly 150 pounds of them-- in three different varieties!

The Hotchkiss K8 Life Skills class made it out to Zephyros Farm and Garden for a visit this fall. We learned about potatoes, sampled some late season nectarines right off of the tree and made friends with some lambs in the orchard.

We also harvested some tomatoes before the students had to jump back in the van to catch the bus home! The diverse variety of heirloom tomatoes were a hit!

A picture

The Sauce Plot

This idea was hatched last May-- To partner with Thistle Whistle Farm and the Kids' Pasta Project to create a learning garden and grow 100s of pounds of tomatoes for the Kids' Pasta Project dinners. It was a win-win-win situation.

Thistle Whistle fulfilled a goal to bring more of the community to the farm.

KPP would be able to use local, organic foods for their dinners.

I would achieve the goal of hosting a summer program gardening with kids!

We did a lot in our 14 sessions: we designed, seeded, transplanted, trellised, weeded, composted, collected eggs, harvested honey, studied basic plant biology, laughed, got sunburns, irrigated, and a lot more. I will post a series of photo from throughout the season.

Now it's time reflect and plan for next season!

Summer 2010 Update

It's hard to believe that its been 4 months since my last post. Not that there has been a lack of things happening... the blog just took a back seat. Here's a quick update of season highlights!

We hosted a 14 session summer garden 'camp' at Thistle Whistle Farm.

Placed in the 4th of July Parade in Paonia.

Grew several hundred pounds of tomatoes... among other things.

Partnered with WCFAC to bring the North Fork elementary schools local food (and lessons) to their cafeterias.

Then there was Harvest Festival...