RBR News | April 17, 2015

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Around the Ranch
The only thing predictable about springtime in the Rockies is that the weather will surprise you. We have been seeing gorgeous warm days the past couple weeks, but yesterday it decided to snow again. And it is still falling 24 hours later. This storm was kind to Aspen Mountain’s closing weekend, where it dropped over a foot of fresh snow, however it was not quite as kind to our plans for planting outdoors.

Every spring, farmers take a gamble. We want to get things started as soon as possible, extending the growing season in an effort to bring produce to market early. But we always run the risk of jumping the gun, lest we watch all our young plants die after a late hard frost. It’s a quandary every season, and all we can do is learn from historic climate patterns, watch the weather, and hope for the best!

At Rock Bottom Ranch we have kale, chard, broccoli, cabbage, head lettuce, and more starts inside the hoophouse anxiously waiting to be transplanted out to the fields in the next week. Tomato plants get special treatment and are brought indoors for the night to be sure we don’t lose our little starts to the cold. 

Some crops don’t mind the low temperatures. For the past two months we have been harvesting arugula, salad mix, radishes, and leeks that over-wintered in the hoophouse. We have also already planted some greens, peas, and root vegetables outside under row cover.

But the falling snow certainly slows us down. According to our carefully planned calendar, we should be sowing and transplanting outside today as well as getting ready to move our mobile hoophouse. But the soil is too wet and cold, so all the animals (including the farmers) are hiding inside for the moment. When the weather gives us a chance to rest, we have to take it so that when the sun comes back and the snow melts off, we will hit the ground running again. 

Available Products 
With the longer days, we are getting more and more of our locally-famous, pasture-raised, non-GMO, Animal Welfare Approved, delicious chicken eggs. 

A full pork inventory is available including chops, ribs, bacon, fresh ham roasts, and several flavors of sausage.  

Products can be purchased at the Ranch during open hours, Monday – Friday 9AM – 5PM. Please call ahead to confirm availability or to place an order for pick-up.

~ Harper Kaufman, Agriculture Manager

 

Rock Bottom Ranch is open Monday – Friday from 9AM – 5PM with Farm Tours each day at 11AM. For questions about Rock Bottom Ranch please email Jason at jsmith@aspennature.org.