Farm Tours

Guided ORGANIC FARM TOURSaturday, September 27, 2008 - 9:00am

Guided tours of local organic farms organized by Dr. Ron Godin, of theColorado State University Agricultural Research and Experiment Centerin Hotchkiss CO -  The tour will start promptly at 9 am from the Rogers Mesa Research Station, 3 miles west of Hotchkiss. Tours will be led by Pat Frazier, permaculturalist, and president of VOGA (Valley OrganicGrowers Association- www.vogaco.org). To get more info, contact Ron Godin at phone: (970) 434-3264. Tolearn more about the CSU Research Center outside of Hotchkiss:www.colostate.edu/programs/wcrc/pubs/information/rogersmesa.htm.

2008 Harvest Festival 'Organic Farm Tour'

9am  Meet at Rogers Mesa Research Station for short orientation.

930am Lance's Garden: Lance will give us a tour of his farm.  Lance has been growing organic for more than 25 years!

1045am Abundant Life Organic Farm: Jeff and Kaylee Armstrong will give us a tour of their vegetablegrowing operation and speak                                            about their roadside stand and farm markets.

1200pm Delicious Orchards: tour and lunch (please bring a lunch, beverages will be available at the orchard).
Jeff & Tracey Schwartz willgive us a tour of their orchards, farm stand and wine tasting business.

Thisyear we will have two tracks in the afternoon, there will be anorchard/farm track and a greenhouse track, you are not locked into oneor the other and can mix and match if you like.

Orchard/farm Track                                                                     Greenhouse Track
130pm  Austin Family Farms: Glen and Toni Austin will give us a                        TLC Greenhouse:

                                                                                              Lynn Gillespie has been organic
tour of theirorchard and berry operation along witjinfo                                                                                             

abouttheir CSA and many years in organic production.              forover 20 years and will give  us a tour of her several
housesshe uses for year-round production         Lynn grow greenhouse small fruits,

                                                                                    vegetables, and lettuce greens.

245pm  Ela Family Farms & Silver Spruce Orchard                                                  Zephryos Farm and Garden:                                                                                      Daphne Yannakakis 
The Elas will give us a tour of their orchards and farm                           and Don Lareau growvegetables and cut flowers in
            and a peek at their commercial kitchen. The Elas' sell                          greenhouses                                                                                                           hoophouses, and sell at area farm             much of their fruitand produce at front-range farmers                            markets.
markets.
Self - Guided Farm TourSaturday, September 27, 2008 - 9:00am

 
Desert Weyr  16870 Garvin Mesa Rd. 527-3573
Black Welsh Mountain Sheep, and Chickens

Directions from Paonia: go north on Grand, cross the river, pass the
high school, until you come to Highway 133. Go right and continue past Black Bridge Road.
Take a left on Garvin Mesa Road and wind up onto the
mesa, and take the first driveway on the right. If you want to stop
at Desert Weyr after visiting the wineries on Garvin Mesa, look for
the sign of the dragon at the last driveway on the left before the road drops down
off the mesa. The driveway is long—don’t give up!

Small Potatoes Farm  40575 O Rd. 527-4051
Naturally grown garlic, potatoes, chiles and more.  There will be baking in the outdoor wood fired brick oven and garlic braiding demonstrations.

Directions from Paonia: take Onarga south past Don’s Market,
over the railroad tracks, and up the hill on Lamborn Mesa Road past
the American Legion. After the crest of the hill, turn right on O
Road. Go to the end of the pavement (less than 1 mile) and turn right
into the driveway just past the white house with the big covered deck.

Rain Crow Farm  39405 Lund Road  527-4625
Vegetables, herbs and flowers grown sustainably and chemical free.

Open for tours 2 to 4 PM only!

Directions from Paonia:  Go west on First until it turns into Matthews Lane.  Continue on until just before the railroad tracks.  Turn right on Lund Road, go to the last house on the right, park by the barn.

Delicious Orchards  39126 Highway 133   527-1110
Orchard and farm market - Big B's Fabulous Juices retail store.

Directions from Paonia:  Go west on Third to Highway 133. Turn left (southwest) towards Hotchkiss.  Go past the Redwood Arms and the historic Bruce House on your left.  Delicious Orchards is at the first driveway past the Bruce House on the same side, as the highway curves, straightens, and descends the hill.  Look for the sign.

TLC Greenhouse  12506 Crawford Road  527-3305
Year 'round greenhouse operation with alternative energy heating systems.

Directions from Paonia:  Go west on First until it turns into Matthews Lane.  Cross the railroad tracks and continue to Crawford Road.  Turn left on Crawford Road and take it up onto Stewart Mesa.  Continue past Stewart Mesa Road one-fourth mile and turn left at the TLC Greenhouse sign.

Sunswept Elk and Alpaca Ranch 38270 Stucker Mesa Road  527-4586
Elk and alpaca ranch.

Directions from Paonia:  Take Highway 133 southwest toward Hotchkiss.  Go past Redwood Arms and at the top of the hill, across from the historic Bruce House, turn right onto Stucker Mesa Road.  Take Stucker Mesa Road up and up and turn left at the red 38270 sign.