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Our story
Our thirty acre farm is located in Avondale, which is located on the east side of the Rocky Mountains near Pueblo, Colorado. We chose to farm here on the high plains because of the natural resources conducive to organic farming. Our farm is classified as “Prime, Irrigated Farm Land of National Importance”. The soil type is a mineral-rich Rocky Ford silty clay loam that is very productive and can grow just about anything. We have senior water rights from the Bessemer Ditch, which is the third oldest irrigation ditch in Colorado. Bessemer Ditch water comes directly from the Pueblo Reservoir and thus does not have excessive chemical tail water. Clean water and healthy soil=clean and healthy food.
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Calendar
• Mid March: Begin Irrigating
• Mid May: Last frost
• Late May: Scapes in season
• Early July: Garlic harvest
• Early October: First frost
• Mid October: Plant garlic
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Shannon, Alison, Joni, Dan
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We grow certified organic vegetables, open pollinated seeds, grains, cover crops and hay. High quality table garlic and seed garlic is our specialty and can be ordered from this website. See “garlic store” for details.
The other essential ingredient for successful farming is community: family, friends, teachers, neighbors, professional affiliations, and our co-producers (customers). Lots of people have contributed to our operation over the years and we are grateful for their help, friendship, and patronage.
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Farm location |
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Land for Sale
5-8 Acres Bluff Site on Olson
Road in Avondale, Colorado.
With or Without House.
Incredible views of the Rocky Mountains from Pikes Peak to the Spanish Peaks. Several good building sites, utilities very close, easy access. 15 miles to Pueblo
House built in 1978. 3000 sq. feet, electric heat, two wood stoves,
new windows and carpet. |
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Elemental Agriculture
The founder of Biodynamic farming, Rudolf Steiner, articulated a concept that has guided us in the development of our farm—that of “farm organism and individuality”. Basically, the farm should be organized like an organism and developed as a unique individual within its natural, economic and social conditions. We will probably never reach the full attainment of these principles, but they motivate us, and lend to life-long learning and improvement.
The farm is divided into 6 five acre fields that we rotate. Our rotation ensures that fertility stays high and pest and disease incidence stay low. The crops that make up the rotation: |
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1) Alfalfa/Grass
2) Leguminous cover crop for plow-down
3) Garlic, onions, leeks
4) Squash, melons, cucumbers
5) Cover Crops for seed such as Austrian winter peas
6) Carrots, Tomatoes and other vegetables
We are certified organic by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. (Certification #113) |
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Call Dan at 719-250-9835
for more information
or to set up a visit. |
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Why Seeds
Agricultural seeds represent 10,000 of human history. They are a vital natural resource. They are the foundation of our food system and food security.
Roughly half of our production is devoted to the production of open-pollinated seeds, which we sell to other farmers and under contract to Seed companies such as Seeds of Change and Fedco Seeds. We are selecting our seeds for regional adaptability and traits such as the ability to thrive in low input organic conditions. We also work with other farmers and professionals to create systems to decentralize seed production in the face of industry consolidation. Please see www.seedalliance.org for more information. |
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Seed links
www.seedalliance.org
www.osgata.org
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History and Bioregion
The Arkansas River originates at the continental divide near Leadville, CO. The Spanish and Native Americans referred to it as Rio Napesta or Red Water. The Arkansas Valley and high plains country that slopes eastward from the Rocky Mountains was referred to as the “Great American Desert” by Zebulon Pike and other early explorers. Pike declared it unfit for agriculture, but little did he know what irrigation could do for mineralized soil in arid country.
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By the 1820’s the Santa Fe Trail was established along the Arkansas and farming settlements began to take hold by the early 1850’s. One of the first was that of Charles Autobees, near the confluence of the Arkansas and Huerfano rivers, within the Vigil and St Vrain Mexican Land Grant.
A small Catholic church and Morada (penitente brotherhood chapel) are all that remain of the original Autobees settlement, which is located about 5 miles east of our farm. The facilities are used but once a year on May 15 to celebrate the feast day of San Isidro—the patron saint of Agriculture. Our family was honored to attend the ceremony and feast the year we moved to Avondale. We like to plant our squash and melon crops around May 15 in honor of this day and all the people that work on the land.
Historical information from: Ralph Taylor, Colorado South of the Border, 1963 |
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New Mexico style woodcarving of San Isidro |
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