Oxford Gardens Boulder

The Oxford Gardens team is hard at work in the field, fully engaged in the 2009 season. We are enjoying the challenges, surprises and delights of April in Colorado. 

When it comes to the weather, April often runs off in several different directions. There has been some “dirty” weather (as they say in Nova Scotia), as well as gorgeous, warm spring days. Due to plentiful precipitation this month, life and vitality has come to the field, as it greens up  more every day. 

This week, Jared Hagood, Oxford Gardens’ farm manager, called me over to check out some beds in our west field. I had walked by these beds a day or two before, but failed to see what was there. Seemingly overnight, the Hakurei turnips had popped, and the germination was perfect. Just like that, we were surprised by a sudden light green sea of young turnips. (Note to our Hakurei turnip cult members: Our first turnips should be at market by Wednesday, May 13th.) 

Today it rained, then hailed a bit and finally snowed as we finished our harvest for Saturday’s Farmers Market.  The mountains might get up to 3 feet from this storm, a welcome and much-needed supplement to the local snow pack. Further April surprises are likely before spring has worked through its many ups and downs.

We have put in our brassica transplants - Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cabbages, planted all of our allium seeds (onions and leeks), and have in three successive plantings of lettuce, spinach and arugula. Our main root crops of carrots, beets and turnips are coming up nicely. In short, we are off to the races…

Check out the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) pages on our web site. We still have CSA shares available for 2009 (whole and partial), so please join us for the year and support agriculture in Boulder County.

Here are the dates for our 2009 farm dinners at Oxford Gardens: June 18th, July 23rd, August 30th, and September 13th. We are working with Veronica Volny from Meadlowlark Farm Dinners again this year. Check out their site - www.farmdinners.com.

A special thanks to our 2009 volunteer team. You know who you are. These friends of the farm  have already contributed so much in the field, and are a great joy to work with.  Volunteers are welcome throughout the season. If you are interested, shoot Peter Volz an email: peter.volz@comcast.net. 

See you at the market! Don’t ever wonder if we will be there - wild horses can’t hold us back. Many thanks to our regular (and new) friends and customers at the market. Growing for you is what makes all of it worthwhile, through all of the surprises!