My birthday falls somewhere around labor day weekend so I always try to take advantage of the extended holiday. This year we spent the entire day and evening with bd celebrating starting with the Tour de Farms...a guided bike tour of 3 local farms...here's a taste.
Mark Olin shared with us his passion of healthy farming practices on his family farm...Olin Farms. We wandered through his beautiful farm, learning about his sustainable farming practices and enjoying a breakfast bounty of fresh food.
The bike route took us over dirt roads on a course of about 25 miles.
Our next stop was Pachamama farm...a favorite farmers market vendor of mine. Ewel explained how to tell a muskmelon from cantaloupe...this yummy! muskmelon has ribs where a cantaloupe's body is smooth, no ribs.
Rows of echinacea that they will harvest to make tinctures of the roots.
Right across the road from Pachamama is Lone Hawk Farm where we enjoyed an incredible farm to table lunch.
a spread of fresh bread, herbed butter, hummus...curried quinoa with cashews and veggies...
a salad of tomato, peppers, cucumber and goat cheese...white bean and barley soup. Only problem, how do we now get back on our bikes to keep riding!
Tom Lopez, the owner of Lone Hawk has created a number of fascinating solar powered tools, everything from this solar powered tractor to lawn mowers and tillers that he demonstrated for us.
Tom envisions his pick your own garden as a welcoming place...for the community to stay a while and enjoy.
He is constructing this beautiful enclosure..planting it with grape vines, wanting to create a shady spot to sit within...reaching up to pick a grape or two and enjoy his farm.
We are lucky to have many small organic farms in the area and Transition Colorado has plans to organize more such tours...we plan on doing this again!
Back home from the day long ride to a wonderful party with good friends, family and a spread fit for a queen!
Thanks everyone for making this such a special day!!
Hope you all enjoyed a lovely weekend!
my darling birthday girl..(wednesday? si!!!??)
already a bounty of love and abundant harvest celebrating the beauty of YOU! i love you steph. thank you for your bright and always generous heart in my life.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
(there are plans in the making for Albuquerque, you will be the first to know!! too long for a bike ride over, but fingers crossed the four of us can be together in the early Fall)
Posted by: rebecca | September 05, 2011 at 03:33 PM
what a wonderful ride! and all that good lookin food! hope it was a very happy birthday!
Posted by: lyle baxter | September 05, 2011 at 06:29 PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! LOOKS LIKE SOME KIND OF FUN!
You are so dear, all the best to you.
Jenny xox
Posted by: Jenny | September 05, 2011 at 09:18 PM
Oh Stephanie, Happy Birthday dear lady. How much fun you had and such delish food. So then your b/day is on Wednesday but you celebrate it over the long weekend eh? Very smart. You have always inspired me with your posts. Happy Birthday.::hugs::
Posted by: gloria | September 05, 2011 at 09:21 PM
Here is wishing you a glorious happy birthday week!! I hope it is all that you could wish for and more!!
~Dawn
Posted by: Dawn | September 06, 2011 at 10:09 AM
Now, this is a great BD ! I'm happy you had so much fun ! :)) Bon anniversaire Steph! :))
Posted by: Steph | September 07, 2011 at 03:12 AM
I can't imagine a more enjoyable birthday, Stephanie! The bike tour sounded great - Steve and I biked through the classic villages of Vermont on our honeymoon and it was blissful! Enjoy an on-going celebration!
Posted by: Dawn Elliott | September 07, 2011 at 11:48 AM
Happy Birthday, Stephanie! It sounds like you had a FABULOUS time! The farm bike tour is right up my alley. Yet another cool thing to do in Colorado! And a birthday party with loved ones is the best.
Posted by: susanna | September 07, 2011 at 05:35 PM
Aloha
Feliz Cupleanos. Just having a flash back sitting in Spanish Class with you at South High School. I loved the 70's
Antoinette
We're are the greatest class alive we're the class of 1975
Posted by: Antoinette | September 07, 2011 at 06:10 PM
Yes Yes! The Farm tours were a perfect way to celebrate a beautiful birthday!
Posted by: gemma | September 07, 2011 at 07:04 PM
Happy (late) Birthday, Steph! What a fun day! I love the idea of the tour de farms...and we are lucky to have so many great local, organic farms nearby. What a fabulous celebration! xo
Posted by: Fran Meneley | September 11, 2011 at 09:14 AM