Advice for Northern-ish Colorado homesteading?

Alexz7272 · #1 08/05/14, 02:41 PM

Hello,

So we purchased a little over 4 acres of land north of Boulder, Co (unfortunately as I personally cannot stand the crazies that live there) but the land and price were right. We are having some issues finding some resources regarding what we can successfully grown and manage in this climate. The property came with 3.5 water rights and we have an irrigation canal that flow around 3/4 of the property. Does anyone have any suggestions on books or websites we could get some information? All of the farmers around us do large scale farming of corn, wheat, and hay. We have not yet found any that do their own sustainable farming. The only knowledge I have and it is little at that, is from back home in Lithuania, but the environments there compared to Northern-ish Colorado are VERY different! Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Yvonne's hubby · #2 08/05/14, 04:21 PM

What can be grown in Boulder??? Pot. But the crazies will steal it. There is no way I would consider living anywhere near Boulder. There are way too many rules, regulations and government agencies telling you what you cant do, how to do what little they allow you to do. It is probably one of the worst possible areas for homesteading I can imagine.... the local folks refer to themselves as "The Peoples Republic of Boulder" with a great sense of pride if that tells you anything.

farminghandyman · #3 08/05/14, 08:25 PM

sweet corn,

I think there are a lot of framers markets in the area,

basically I would think corn, wheat, barley, there are some truck farms in the area as well, I thinking mostly root crops, talk to the local extension agent (CSU), or one may be able to go over to fort Collins and see if one could talk to some of the professor's at CSU, just driving thought the country side and seeing what is grown in the area,

DSBlack · #4 08/06/14, 02:42 AM

I'd make sure I was up to date on what my water rights specifically entail. I remember reading about some water impounding issues a few years back.

ChristieAcres · #5 08/06/14, 03:29 AM

I hope you get some posts from folks who are homesteading in that area. It is very challenging to homestead in that extreme weather. But others are doing it, so you can!

Cornhusker · #6 08/06/14, 05:48 AM

What kind of soil do you have?
It makes a difference in what you can grow, and if Northern Colorado is like Southern Nebraska Panhandle, the soil can change drastically in just a few hundred yards.
My place goes from clay to sand to gravel, and mixtures of those types.
Some places I can grow potatoes, others I can't.
The growing season in this area is relatively short, so that's a consideration too.
Maybe a greenhouse to get a head start?

Jade1096 · #7 08/06/14, 10:34 AM

I would head to your nearest farmer's market and talk to the venders there. Go during the week instead of on the weekend. I've always found them very willing to talk about their produce and their farms as long as they don't feel you are monopolizing their time and causing them to lose sales.

Plenty can be grown in Colorado, but you may need a greenhouse to supplement it for awhile. Speaking to the farmers/gardeners that live close by is going to be your best bet, second will be the local extension office.
When I lived there, the ext office in Pueblo was fantastic. The one in El Paso county was only so so.
Teller county was pretty much non existent.
Of course you will have to be very flexible while getting yourself up and running and finding out what you can and can't grow.
Have you considered running bees at all?

Also, I know there are several people up in that area that have lavender farms. I don't think they did a ridiculous amount of work to the soil, so I'm guessing it's rocky, poor and well draining soil up that way? Anyhoo, they may be another source to tap and see what/how they are doing things.

Also, I just hate it when people condemn an entire area.
Look, you've already purchased the land so make the best of it.
Attitude is going to be a big percentage of whether or not your neighbors like and want to help you.
Give people a chance. You don't live with them and don't have to agree with everything they do. Just get along with them well enough to be neighbors.

crazyfarm · #8 08/06/14, 04:20 PM

I'm close to you in South WY. You can grow tons in Colorado. I always find the ag extension of colleges to be the best. I bought trees based upon what my university ag extension stated did well here. I bought grapes based upon what our state wine making association said grew here. So far they've all been right.

big rockpile · #9 08/06/14, 06:31 PM

Having soil will be your main thing. I lived in Salida didn't have soil for a lawn. People were watering with snow on the ground, that is how dry it was.

big rockpile

wy_white_wolf · #10 08/07/14, 09:25 AM

Fort Collins has a Substable Living Association that puts on the Substanable Living Fair coming up in September. You might want to attend for contacts on growing in the area.

http://sustainablelivingassociation.org/

WWW

jingle5616 · #11 08/09/14, 10:43 AM

I grew up farming in Boulder County, but have since relocated one county east due to the "crazies" that have been previously written about. The environmental, political, governmental, and religious people have all but made a nice place very hard to live if you don't fit their molds. I fit none of them and migrated east along with many of my family members after 5 generation of farming in Boulder county. Be prepared for massive red tape if you want to build anything, aggressive governmental policing of regulations, and a mind set of people that will turn you into the above or sue you if they don't agree with what you do.

Most of northern Colorado is zone 5a and 5b. There are a lot of place that have strange micro climates right along the front range.....ask around. Market farms are red hot and you can charge a premium for your produce. I'm growing for a couple of marketeers who sell mostly in Boulder and Longmont.

Water. What ditch are you affiliated with? Find out who your ditch Super is get become his friend. Sadly, from family who still live in Boulder County, the ditch networks are suffering greatly in lack of maintenance for a number of reasons. #1 The recent flood did a massive amount of damage on many. #2. The county and city of Boulder have been buying up almost any land that is over 35 acres along with any water rights. They don't seem to have the same regard about ditches and water as farmers once had. They look at buying the land as a way of keeping new "farm-ettes" from being built. The city and county are big believers in high density population policy. #3. From the above mentioned "farm-ette" owners who don't understand the value and maintenance requirements and don't like to pay their annual assessments.

The extension office is located in Longmont and I have to say the Boulder office is very good with the "sustainability" movement as there is a demand for the information there.

Good luck, you have more patience than I!

Jingle