This week’s harvest: tomatoes (cherry and big), garlic, leeks, onions, carrots, peppers (serrano, jalepeno, sweet), daikon radish, Portuguese kale, zucchini, eggplant, cucumbers, winter squash (buttercup or kuri).

Some members of the community are attempting to revive the Animas Valley Grange, an old community center off CR 203. Back in the mid 1800’s, granges formed across the country for farm families to gather to organize for their common economic and political interests. The Animas Valley grange has served as the location for 4-H meetings, but this summer it is also hosting a once-a-month lecture series.

Last Wednesday I attended a lecture at the grange on the water quality of the Animas river and on Oct. 21 Kate Greenburg, from the National Young Farmers Coalition, will be discussing the future of farming in the Animas Valley. A local food system depends on a community committed to buying local produce, and also one that is active in finding solutions that allow small farms to succeed. Reviving the grange seems like a great jumping off point to allow members of the community to learn about the issues that small farmers face and to be part of the discussion.

Enjoy the harvest and see you tomorrow.

Linley, Peter, Reid, Charlie, Tim