Owl Peak Farm Tropics, a 5-year-long greenhouse experiment with citrus, experienced a disastrous total plant death by freezing ice, exploding water pipes and doors left open in frigid December. After a proper mourning and repair, the greenhouse is verdant again with exotics- Japanese greens, lemongrass, kefir limes, blue butterfly vines, and the beautiful Snake Bean trellised by randomly appearing giant sunflowers and amaranth.
Outside, early rains in May encouraged the wheats and pastures to flourish, then once the fields had dried, we began the season’s planting of various corns, beans, onions, vegetables, and the plotted out the start of the cover crop project with the same folks from the SW Grain Collective. This is an exciting long-term plan to create New Mexican cover crop seed. Millets are also in our focus this year.
The renovated Sala at 480 Hwy 111 will be open on Fridays in July as a store with farm produce and other stuff with a beginning bakery where we can practice baking breads early morning, a lunch time place for the farm crew, and a hangout for locals with an invitation to our neighbor musicians. The Coffee Stop on the road beside the Sala, is thriving thanks to Linda Garcia who feeds and chats up whoever wanders in from wherever in the world. The cafe runs on donations alongside Linda’s big heart and big stories.
Owl Peak Farm will have their lawn chairs pulled out and goods offered on Tuesdays at the very chill Abiquiu Farmers’ Market, 4-6pm. The Farm Crew is the soul of the farm- it’s been nearly 15 years of patience, hard work, and devotion to a good place and reason to work. There is so much expertise, kindness and muscle.
Owl Peak Farm looks very good this year and we are offering freshly milled grains to order that are grown and processed on the properties. Packaged dry goods (labels designed by Patrick McFarlin) are now sold at Bread Shop- eggs too, La Mama Bistro, and Los Poblanos Farm Shop in Santa Fe.
Enjoy the summer of 2023