Oxford Gardens Boulder

The Oxford Gardens team has been busy as bees out in the field, and at the Boulder Farmers market. (Too busy to do much writing. Sorry about that.)

The cool, damp weather over the past 5-6 weeks in this part of Colorado has mostly passed now, although our stream still flows high and strong.  Hot summer days are here.  Oddly, the hot summer weather seems to have started on the first day of summer.  The British author W. H. Auden once said that the two most beautiful words in the English language are “summer afternoon.”  It is hard to argue with him these days out in the field.

The cool weather slowed down some of our vegetables, but it also extended the growing season for our spring crops (spinach, boc choi, lettuce, arugula).  In this dry Colorado climate, moisture is always good, and we all relished the wettest May and June in 25 years.

In the field at Oxford Gardens, we have gorgeous, tender carrots and sweet, juicy Hakurei turnips. Beets (red, golden and Chioggia) are coming on, but were slowed down considerably by the cool April and May temps (particularly the cold nights).  Our summer lettuce is looking colorful and alive. Chard, kale, collards and broccoli are stunning this year.

Tomatoes, melons, peppers, eggplants, basil, cucumbers and summer squash are all healthy and growing vigorously now. We will begin offering these summer delights in mid-July. Other treats from the field will follow, including Brussels Sprouts and sweet potatoes.

We have ten CSA members this year, and are delighted to have them be part of Oxford Gardens. Our members pick up every Wednesday at the Farmers Market and are enjoying the bounty from our fields. We have a few shares left, so drop us a note if you are interested.

Our first dinner with Meadowlark Farm Dinners took place in the field on June 18th and was a great joy for all. Sage Box, our 13 month-old V.P. for Joy and Cuteness was at the dinner and was the center of attention, where he belongs.  The Meadowlark team did their usual bang up job with the food, wine and good cheer. The next farm dinner at Oxford Gardens is July 23rd. Keep an eye on the Meadowlark web site (www.farmdinners.com) to see when the July dinner reservations open up. Seats go quickly, so keep an eye out.

I almost forgot: the sound of carrots.  Of the many varied sensual pleasures in the field, sounds are sometimes overlooked and under appreciated. One of my favorite sounds is the subtle but distinctive popping sound of carrots coming out of the ground as we pull them. Our sandy, loamy soil is perfect for carrots, and they make the most sublime and lovely music as they leave the earth, and generously offer themselves to us. If you haven’t tasted or heard one of our carrots, please come out to the field and savor them, and the many pleasures to be found there. Just call Peter first, at 303.817.9676.

May the summer afternoons delight your senses.

Peter and the OG Team