Organic High Tunnel Winter Vegetable Production

University of Missouri Photo

This is a session you should attend if you are interested in learning more about the opportunities that high tunnels create for winter vegetable production.

When: Tuesday, February 1st, 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm



Where: Divide Creek Farm 10031 County Road 311, Silt, CO 81652

The Colorado State University Specialty Crops Program will present a program at Divide Creek Farm on organic winter vegetable production in high tunnels. High tunnels provide a protected environment which can significantly extend the growing and harvest season of a farming operation. With the proper selection of hardy crops, additional protection from floating row covers and successive plantings, year round harvests are possible. Winter production also offers the opportunity to increase profitability due to their low initial investment, remain employed on the farm throughout the winter while maintaining a local market presence.

This field day will deal with previous research conducted at CSU as well as initial results from a current Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education funded research project dealing with winter vegetable production in high tunnels throughout Colorado. The focus will be on the production of 5 crops: carrots, mache, spinach, radish, and lettuce. This program will address other issues such as design considerations and management strategies.

There will be a farm tour of Divide Creek Farm, which employs movable high tunnels for a highly intensive year round production. There will also be time for questions and answers with Dr. Frank Stonaker and current organic producers who are utilizing high tunnels for winter vegetable production. There will be some small snacks but no lunch so come full and ready to learn. No need to RSVP.

For any questions please contact: Dr. Frank Stonaker; Email: Frank.Stonaker@colostate.edu; Phone: (970)491-7068

Do you need someone to prune your fruit trees and grape vines?

Here is a list of individuals you can hire to prune your fruit trees and grape vines. I’m sure their schedules will fill quickly so don't wait too long before you give them a call to get on their calendar.

When they visit your home they will be able to answer your questions on how to fertilize your fruit trees, how to thin the fruit to obtain the best quality fruit, and even show you how your trees and vines should be pruned.

Bobbi Muhovich, 434-5284 and 640-1475, bobbijmuhovich@msn.com will prune fruit trees and grape vines in Mesa, Delta, Montrose and Ouray Counties. Bobbi is available weekdays and Saturdays.

Paul Redig, 201-4092, pjred11@gmail.com will prune fruit trees and grape vines in Mesa and Delta Counties. Paul is available weekdays and Saturdays.

Kelly O’Brien, cell phone (970) 250-2029, kelly@naturesadvocate.com will prune fruit trees and grape vines in Mesa, Delta and Montrose Counties. Kelly will not be available until after February 10th. Kelly will be available any day of the week after that date.

Linda (Corwine) McIntosh, Montrose Landscape Consulting and Spraying, Inc., (970) 249-2659; cell (970) 596-6911, will prune fruit trees and grape vines in Montrose and Ouray Counties. Linda is available on weekdays.


Specifics on the size of fruit trees these individuals will prune and their qualifications is in a PDF file at http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/TRA/PLANTS/Individuals%20who%20prune%20fruit%20trees%20and%20grape%20vines.pdf .

If there others who prune fruit trees and grape vines for hire in Mesa, Delta, Montrose or Ouray Counties and want to be added to this list they can contact me at (970) 244-1840.

CEUs are needed to maintain professional status

Recertification is an opportunity for 'Green Industry' professionals to maintain their professional qualifications.  Certification helps in marketing  services and products. To assist  in maintaining these certifications, the Tri River Area 2011 Pest Management Workshop has been approved for recertification by two certifying organizations, PLANET and the American Society of Agronomy.

PLANET (Professional Landcare Network, Inc.) has approved 1 CEU for each hour of training attended for the following certifications:

1. Landscape Industry Certified Manager (formerly CLP)

2. Landscape Industry Certified Technician - Exterior (formerly CLT-E)

3. Landscape Industry Certified Technician – Interior (formerly CLT-I)

3. Landscape Industry Certified Lawn Care Technician (formerly CTP-CSL)

4. Landscape Industry Certified Horticultural Technician (formerly known as COLP)

Certified Crop Advisor Certification is available through the American Society of Agronomy as follows:

Soil and Water Management – 3 credits if you attend the following

Tue 8:30 - 9:30 Understanding Pesticide Fate for Protection of Water     Resources

Tue 9:45 - 11:00 Pollution Discharge Permits

Tue 1:00 - 2:00 Aquatic pest Control

Pest management – 3 credits if you attend the following

Tue 2:00 - 3:00 Ag Weed Control

Tue 3:15 - 4:15 Ag Insect Control

Tue 4:15 - 5:15 Ag Disease Control

Crop Management – 1 credit if you attend the following

Wed 9:00 - 10:00 Rangeland Pest Control

The schedule for the Pest Management Workshop is available at http://wci.colostate.edu/shtml/PestManagementWorkshop2011.shtml

Classes at the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens

The Western Colorado Botanical Gardens will be hosting a series of noon hour sessions starting on Tuesday, January 25.  The classes are listed below. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens.


Cost: $5 per session per person

Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

January 25 – Rot to Riches: Home Composting Science
February 22 – ABC’s of Bees: History, Cultivation & Bee Keeping
March 22 – Native Plants That Attract Butterflies, Hummingbirds, & Bees
April 26 – Old Garden Roses Pre-1862: Strongly Scented Repeat Bloomers

For more information or to register, call 254-FUNN (3866), visit http://www.gjcity.org/ or stop by 1340 Gunnison Ave.

Cacti and Bonsai Thursday, January 13 at 6:30 p.m.

"Roll up your sleeves and get ready for some fun at the January 13th Regular Meeting of the Chinle Cactus & Succulent Society. Winton Brophy has organized a joint program with the Bonsai Society that focuses on succulents and creating small container gardens that use techniques that will be shared by members of the Bonsai Society at the meeting. Joyce Wingerter will be co-presenting with Winton, and may be demonstrating how to “make rocks”--intriguing, right!" – excerpted from the Succulent Morsels newsletter of January 2011 newsletter.


Join us on January 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Sagebrush Room at the Mesa County Fairgrounds. If you wish, bring cuttings, small containers suitable for bonsai type arrangements for an informal, fun evening. Winton will bring soil and tools to work with.

Fruit Trees for Cold Areas

It is difficult to predict precisely which fruit cultivars would be most likely to do well in cold locations in Colorado but the list compiled by Dr. Harold Larson, Professor Emeritus, Colorado State University gives you a list of those you may want to consider.

You can find that at http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/TRA/PLANTS/ColdClimateFruitTrees.pdf

Further information on fruit can be found at http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/TRA/PLANTS/fruit.shtml