August 12th, 2012
“In times past, markets were the centers of towns and villages, the place people gathered to buy or barter goods and services and to catch up on village news.”
In some ways that is true today, as the resurgence of farmers markets are taking towns by storm.
Local agriculture and family farms are an important part of our past, present, and future.
It had been 2 years since I stopped in Boulder. This city is one of the healthiest and fittest in the country.
The scenery is gorgeous; the Flat Irons on the background, watching over Boulder.
The Farmers’ Market in Boulder is one that is supported by the community and visitors. It is huge. 150 vendors. The Market is located at 13th St., between Arapahoe and Canyon; next to Central Park in Downtown Boulder. Website? http://www.boulderfarmers.org
It began in 1987, and it is a Colorado non-profit corporation, established to provide an outlet for local agricultural producers to sell their products directly to the public.
The producers participating in the Market range from professional farmers, to week-end growers with small acreage, backyard gardeners and hobbysts.
Local food establishments, musicians, and monthly art shows are selected to appear at the Market.
Some of the produce has been grown conventionally; all certified organic has been certified as organic by the state of Colorado.
When it comes to food, Boulder is very progressive. The Market offers so many gluten free products; the food establishments do so, as well.
It was so funny, when we stopped at Boulder Granola I thought I would get some gluten free granola. I was telling the lady that I was from Delaware. She asked, Rehoboth Beach? She grew up in Rehoboth and even went to school there. Her name was Anne. Small world.
Strolling through the market with my friend, Cindi….buying wine, cheese, and taking it all in.
Talk to you later….
May 14th, 2010
Rumor has it that when God takes a vacation, he goes to the Colorado Wilderness!! Therefore, “May the Peace of the Wilderness be with You.”
That could not be more truth. The scenery is just breathtaking and leaves you speechless. It is hard for me to be at a loss for words, but, I am not kidding, I was. There was no need for words. Nature said it all.
The city of Boulder is about 5,700 feet high and Lost Gulch is much higher. The way to get there, if you are in Boulder, is to take Broadway and Flagstaff Rd. and travel 5.5 miles west on Flagstaff.
We were at an area called Lost Gulch Lookout Vista from Flagstaff Mountain. At a distance you could admire the Indian Peaks and Gold Hill.
Indian Peaks are located in the Arapahoe and Roosevelt National Forests. Serrated ridges and jagged peaks are the characteristics of the Indian Peaks Wilderness. It contains a handfull of remnant glaciers, considered by some to be the Southernmost permanent glaciers in North America. Among those peaks there are about 50 lakes. The elevation? 8,400 – 13,502 feet.
Golden Hill is the other view along those peaks; a settlement northwest of Boulder. Elevation 8,300 feet. It was a mining town, and the site of the first major discovery of gold during the 1859 Colorado Gold Rush.
It is a quiet isolated haven with no paved streets. Gold Hills is accessible from nearby Left Hand Canyon Road by way of Lick Skillet Road which is the steepest county road in the United States.
As I was enjoying these mountains, I could not help notice signs posted here and there. These are the signs that warn you about wildlife and what to do if you encounter one. No screaming. I think that would be the first thing I would do then pass out.
The City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain parks has 144 miles of hiking trails. You are bound to encounter a wild animal if you are a hiker. No question about it.
From the mountains, back in Boulder, walking was what I did. There are so many creeks and streams all over. The land along creeks, rivers and other bodies of inland water is called a “riparian” area.
Boulder Creek’s riparian corridor is one of the city’s most valuable resources. Riparian areas represent only about 2% of the land in Boulder County, but they are used by roughly 80% of the area’s wildlife.
Through my visit in this town, people were out enjoying the outdoors, but once the week-end arrived, they were really out. Outdoor games, rafting in the river, eating at picnic tables; just having fun. The residents are very aware of what a special place they have and the place is spotless; no trash.
Preserving and protecting is the responsibility of all of those who visit.
You wonder why is she still writing about Boulder? I know, I blog about our beaches. The ocean is what I love, but there is something so intoxicating about these mountains, that if you experience it, then you have to talk about it.
Just a few more blogs from Boulder, though. If Boulder had an ocean you would never leave.
Talk to you later…..
Note: Information for this blog was taken from www.coloradowilderness.com and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Hill,_Colorado
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