THE FARM

CFTT volunteer and poet James Oberheide recited his poem "The Farm" at the CFTT Earth-to-Table Fundraiser in June

It’s April; The fields are brown and covered with stubble

But in the greenhouse things are beginning to bubble.

With tender loving care and pride,

Seeds have been planted side by side.

In little black boxes filled with dirt

Vegetable seedlings are starting to spurt.

Into bigger black boxes transplanted now.

Soon they’ll be ready to follow the plow.

It’s May; The seedlings are now the size of your toe

Anxiously waiting the time to sow.

We've planted outside the strawberry field

Hoping next year for a bumper yield.

TJ works hard forming the furrows, pipes carry water from mountain snows.

Everything's ready to plant the rows.

It’s June; The plants are now ready for the ground

And many volunteers have been found

to walk up and down filling the rows

placing each plant hoping it grows.

With sun and water and soil to nourish,

It’s rewarding to watch the vegetables flourish.

It’s July; Now I’m from Illinois where corn’s hip high by the 4th of July.

But this is Colorado so we have to settle for below the thigh.

The squash flowers are now all in bloom,

Signaling the crop is coming soon.

But Yuk! What’s this other stuff showing its head,

The spread of the weeds we’ve long learned to dread.

So we Hoe Hoe Hoe though it’s no laughing matter

To stop red root and thistles from going a scatter.

It’s August; Cool nights and hot days have given the farm

Luscious zucchinis as big as your arm.

Cabbages grow to the size of your head,

while the broccoli crowns wait to be fed.

The corn has grown and sprouted its tassle,

If only the black birds weren’t such a hassle.

It’s September; Harvest time is drawing near,

for volunteers the best time of the year.

To walk the rows and fill up the palettes

With squash, corn, cabbage and shallots.

(actually we don’t grow shallots but it

rhymed with palettes)

It’s October; We’ve invited the county to come out and glean

Hoping they’re going to pick the farm clean.

But most important at the end of the year

We’ve sent tons of produce to those we hold dear.