Restoring local agriculture on Open Space and Mountain Parks with volunteer projects

 

Restoring agriculture resources is critical for local family farmers and ranchers. The City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) Department has been working with volunteers to get food production operations back to pre-flood conditions.

 

“Local agriculture has been hit hard throughout the area,” said Lauren Kolb, OSMP agriculture specialist. “While fences and ditches are not glamorous, they are critical to families in local food production.”

This Saturday, 70 volunteers will repair fencing east of Boulder. “Fences are needed to keep cattle off the roads and to avoid over grazing,” Kolb said.

 

This will be the OSMP’s fourth agriculture-related volunteer project since the September flood.

 

Flooding ruined about 3.2 million pounds of hay OSMP tenant farmers and ranchers use to feed their livestock and destroyed about 15 miles of fencing maintained by OSMP. The flooding also damaged many of OSMP’s water delivery systems – including ditches, headgates and ditches, which supply water to agricultural operations.

 

OSMP staff also partnered with Boulder County agricultural agencies – including Boulder County Parks and Open Space and Cooperative Extension – to help guide tenant ranchers and farmers, along with other area growers, to relief funding opportunities for losses incurred during the flood.

 

“Local agriculture is a high priority for the Boulder community and they’re willing to help our farmers restore operations,” said Kolb. “The sense of community and support around these volunteer projects is amazing and a huge help to local food producers.”

 

—CITY—

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