POP-UP PICNICS COMING SOON
Colorado Proud, a local food advocacy group, will host a series of pop-up picnics throughout the state, including many in Boulder County this summer.
The events were planned as a response to “a cultural shift in consumers who are busier than ever and on-the-go, but who still want to take healthy, locally grown food with them (especially during summer activities),” according to the group’s press release.
Colorado Proud will hand out classic picnic fare made from produce from Colorado farmers, including potatoes, peaches, cantaloupe, corn, lettuce and more. The picnics will pop up on June 9 and Aug. 11 at the Broomfield Farmers’ Market, July 22 at Bands on the Bricks in Boulder and Aug. 8 and 19 at the Boulder Farmers’ Market.
Visit www.coloradoproud.org for more information.
FLOOD AND FROST DAMAGE
Early reports from local farms indicate that flooding from last week’s storms resulted in only minimal damage. The Boulder County Farmers’ Markets wrote on its Facebook page, “At this point we haven’t heard of any flood damage from farms in the area.”
It seems like every market so far this year has been affected by rain, but the moisture is helping a lot of early season crops in the county’s farms. That precipitation isn’t so nice, however, for the county’s wineries. Front Range vines were affected by the snowfall and freeze, and there is concern at some local wineries that snow in Palisade has caused damage to vines. It would be the third consecutive year that weather affected vine production in the state. Fingers crossed it’s just a scare.
GOAT FARM EXPANSION
Good news for fans of good cheese and hilarious animals: the Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy is expanding. The producer of fine goat milks and cheeses is planning to open a new creamery in Longmont.
The farm says it will continue to produce its signature small-batch cheeses, but will expand its line of offerings including cow’s milk cheeses. If you can’t wait for their new offerings, you can buy products at the Boulder and Longmont farmers’ markets, where they’re currently selling “bright and lively” springtime cheeses with vibrant flavor and “lively tartness” that melds into earthiness as it ages over the course of five to six weeks.
CELEBRATE A BREWERY BIRTHDAY
This weekend, Friday May 15-17, head down to Broomfield for the one year anniversary of Wonderland Brewing Co.
The brewery has a weekend filled with live music, food, events and, of course, beer. The events start at 3 p.m. on Friday and carry on through until 9 p.m. on Sunday. A yoga session is planned to break out at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday if you like drinking and flexing.
Visit www.wonderlandbrewing.com for more information.
GROW WINE IN YOUR BACKYARD
Harlequin’s Gardens in Boulder is hosting a class on Sunday, May 17 at 1 p.m. that will give you the tools to plant wine grape vines in your yard.
The class, “Viticulture,” will be taught by John Martin, the co-owner of Stonebridge Farms in Lyons, which just so happens to be the first farm to offer a CSA in Boulder County. The class will go into the details of grape varieties, how to grow vines on the Front Range, how to start wine-making and much more.
Visit www.harlequinsgardens.com for more information.
