The Durango Farmers Market called its first day a snow day.
The decision was made at about 8:15 a.m. to cancel the first day of the market season because of inclement weather, but many growers took it as a good sign.
Market manager Cody Reinheimer said that gusty winds and snow helped wrap up that decision, although he gave the OK for venders to stay, set up and sell to customers.
“I let them know they were welcome to stay, and we did have some regular customers come down and get some veggies,” he said. “It was fun to see that Durango can still come down and support their local farmers even in a snowstorm.”
Despite 40 degree temperatures, rain, snow and wind, the vibe was on the bright side.
“Every farmer here is happy because of the snow,” Joan Kellog said. “People would much rather take the snow over no moisture.”
Her brother and sister-in-law operate Isgar Farms, selling carrots, lettuce and spinach as snowflakes collected for an instant before melting. They stuck it out with a few other farms, keeping dry under canopies and chatting it up with the few shoppers who darted from tent to tent with umbrellas or hoods pulled up to grab what they came for.
Jim Isgar, a former U.S. Senator of Colorado, state director for the United States Department of Agriculture and recipient of the Colorado Foundation of Water Education president’s award, said the moisture was great to see after the dry winter.
“We’ve been getting these little storms about every 10 days, and it’s a great thing, helping grass and grains,” he said. “We do other farming besides the Farmers Market.”
He called the market a good bridge for both consumers and producers.
“It’s exciting to get to see that connection,” he said. “We have some small producers, and this is how they make a big part of their income.”
Tyler Hoyt and Kendra Mackenbach own Green Table Farm in Mancos, and as for rain and snow, they said you can’t beat it.
“This is a beautiful thing,” said Hoyt, who called the wild spring weather the way he sees it. “It’s the new norm,” he said. “I was working in the weather the other night, and it was beautiful – soaking wet and cold.”
Mackenbach said they are quick to adapt to the changing weather.
“We have greenhouses and lots of ground covers to get stuff going early,” she said.
Tom Markle of 550 Farms maintained that with farming, it’s always something. The rain is good, but it has its challenges.
“It’s good; we need it,” he said. “But I’m trying to plant onions and potatoes, and it’s too wet to do that, so it’s good for some things and bad for others.”
Reinheimer already is looking forward to next weekend.
“It’s springtime in the Rockies,” he said. “We’re going to hopefully hit it hard next week with better weather.”
Hoyt said – rain or shine – “you get used to fluctuations and wild weather. Fasten your seat belt.”
bmathis@durangoherald.com
