Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Ranch

Where: 9057 Ute Hwy  Longmont, CO 80503 (303) 684-0087

Web: www.rockymtnpumpkinranch.com 
When: The October Pumpkin Festival is on weekends in October, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Select activities also available M-F, 9a.m.-5p.m.

October in Longmont isn't complete without at least one visit to the Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Ranch. On Saturdays and Sundays, this Highway 66 spot offers carnival rides, petting zoos, pony rides, bouncy play structures, corn mazes ... and oh yeah, a whole lot of pumpkins. Pick out your perfect Jack O' Lantern, soak up the late fall sunshine and take in some gorgeous, unobstructed views of Longs Peak. The Pumpkin Ranch isn't slick, but it's a lot of fun. Admission is free, but you have to buy tickets for the rides.

During the week, the Pumpkin Ranch is operating at a much smaller scale, and for $7, kids can do all the activities that are open as much as they want. No petting zoo or rides, but plenty of bouncing and running through the hay maze. The market is open every day, so even if you don't have kids, it's a necessary trip if you want a fresh caramel apple or some tasty apple cider. During our last visit they were even roasting some wonderful Colorado green chilies.

Pigs & Pinot Farm Dinner

For the past year or two, Feast Supper Club has been throwing pop-up foodie gatherings in Longmont and beyond. Over the winter, the events could be anywhere from a house to a warehouse. In the growing season, however, Feast usually hosts farm dinners: elaborate and elegant meals set up among the crops of one of the many scenic farms in the area. This year's Pigs & Pinot farm dinner was hosted by the beautiful Pachamama Organic Farm which sits on the far western edge of rural Longmont.

Melissa and Tim, the folks behind Feast, have been near and dear to Longmont's culinary scene for years. Up until last year, they were running Terroir, a successful farm-to-table restaurant situated right downtown. When the lease ran up, the landlord had different ideas, and Melissa and Tim chose to close Terroir's doors. While they may have a brick-and-mortar again in the future, and here's hoping that it is in Longmont, for now we can catch a bite (or several mouthwatering courses) at one of these pop-up dinners.

The Pigs & Pinot farm dinner is, as you can imagine, a celebration of all things swine, from the passed hors d'ouevres at the start to dessert at the tail end of the evening (bacon caramel, anyone?) All the pork came from John Long in Eaton, and of course all the delicious produce came from the very fields we were sitting in at Pachamama. The pinot noir was imported from various Oregon wineries, and if something needs to be brought in from out of state, it is definitely the wine. All in all, a perfect meal.

Follow Feast Supper Club on Facebook so that you can stay up-to-date on future gatherings: https://www.facebook.com/FeastSupperClub

Learn more about Pachamama Organic Farm and sign up for their CSA!
http://pachamamafarm.com

Fresh & Local: Longmont Farm Stands

Need to pick up a pumpkin? Hankering for some Swiss chard? These fabulous farms have got you covered. And here's where it gets really good: you don't have to wait until the weekly farmer's market rolls around to get your fresh fix, because these farm stands are open every day of the week. Details below for locations and times for some of Longmont's best farm stands. Updated for 2016

Ollin Farms

8627 North 95th St

http://www.ollinfarms.com

Open Daily, Friday-Sunday 10am-3pm; Monday-Thursday 10am-6pm.

Aspen Moon

7927 Hygiene Road
http://www.aspenmoonfarm.com/

Open Daily 10am-6pm during the season

Tanaka Market

10760 Mineral Road
http://www.dicktanakafarms.com

Open Daily 10am-5pm during the season

Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Ranch

9057 Ute Hwy/CO 66
http://www.rockymtnpumpkinranch.com/

September: Friday through Sunday, 10am-5pm. October: Open Daily, 9am-6pm

Longmont 100 at ArtWalk!

Remember when I was all sad and mopey, bemoaning the high flood waters in Longmont? That is so several days ago! Now I am pleased as punch to be telling you that Longmont 100 will be at ArtWalk this Friday, September 20th!

 

My food photography partner-in-crime and business partner-extraordinaire (she's the same person, her name is Sarah, and she's pictured above) and I have put together a series of photos depicting the farm-to-table scene in Longmont. We were lucky enough to get behind-the-scenes tours of Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy, Harold's & the Bayonet Room, and Oskar Blue's Hops & Heifers Farm. These three awesome businesses embody the artisanal food scene in Colorado that gets us excited - plus, it is right here in our own backyard. We will also have Colorado Crafted gift boxes and treats for sale. Good stuff.

Come out to ArtWalk and say hello. Our photos will be on sale, and every last cent of profits will go to the St Vrain Flooding Relief Fund via Longmont Community Foundation. 100% of the proceeds from the St. Vrain Flooding Relief Fund will go directly towards helping the community recover from the devastation of the recent flooding.

After you visit us at ArtWalk, you should walk over to Roosevelt Park and enjoy Oktoberfest (also going on noon to 10pm on Saturday.) Since Left Hand Brewing took over this event, it has become truly awesome, and this year all the proceeds to go flood relief! So if you ever needed a reason to drink a beer with friends, there you have it. It is for a good cause, people.