May is almost upon us and we’ve been cranking on the farm for the past 6 weeks. We can’t wait to welcome back both our new and returning CSA members!  Before we update you, here some quick reminders:

• Payment ($480) for the 2015 Adobe House Farm CSA is due by May 1st – thanks to everyone who has already paid
• Please make checks payable to Adobe House Farm and mail to 910 CR 252, Durango CO 81301
• For the first time in the farm’s history we have a waiting list for our CSA so if we have not received your payment within a week of May 1st we cannot guarantee your share
• The first CSA pickup will be Thursday, June 25th from 2:00pm-6:30pm
• If you cannot make the pickup, please arrange for someone else to pick up your share. Our cold storage space is very limited and unclaimed shares will be donated
• Pickup location is 821 E. 32nd St (look for our sign between Sunshine Gardens and TL Roofing)
• If you have any questions, please call Linley (970-317-0309) or Pete (970-317-0310)

As you can see from the pictures, our greenhouse is bursting with starts, the fields are tilled, and the greens are growing.  We are also excited to welcome our newest employee, Charlie Foster.  Charlie comes to us from Portland, Oregon where he worked at the Urban Farm Collective as well as ProjectGrow, an urban farm and fine arts studio providing meaningful jobs for adults with developmental disabilities. Along with Charlie, John Essen of Animas Valley Farms will also be sharing his growing skills with us this year. We know that their experience, work ethic, and sense of humor will only help in making this season our best yet.

Cold-tolerant garlic, arugula, baby kale, turnips, spinach, radishes, kohlrabi, cilantro, parsley, bok choi, beets and carrots have been sown outside and should be ready by the first few pickups.  We also are excited about our new low tunnel system which will give us protection from our annual hail event!  Additionally our new tractor/tiller and plastic mulch implement will make it much easier to keep a steady supply of greens growing as well the ever present weeds at bay. Each year we get better at farming in this region and continue to add to our tool box.

As many of you know, we continue to try to farm close to Durango so we can get you on the farm. Surprisingly we’ve learned that an on-farm CSA pickup actually requires the same permitting as a Walmart! We’ve been working our way through this paperwork and would love to have your support when we request that the La Plata County Comprehensive Plan exempt agricultural operations from some of these requirements. The planning commission meeting is on May 7 at 6:00pm in the Board Room at 1060 E. 2nd Ave. We’d love for your show of support after our comment and encourage you to comment yourself about why you support local agriculture.

Looking forward to seeing you on the farm June 25!

Linley, Peter, Reid, Charlie, John