Supermarket-bound cars rush by the inconspicuous sign on Jay Road for Benevolence Orchard & Gardens. The drivers don’t know what they are passing up—just-harvested sweet organic carrots, greens, herbs, mushrooms and other earthly summer delights. Within Boulder County, there are more than a dozen unique roadside farm stands offering fresh produce! This is the undiscovered country of local cuisine. Those who understand happily pull over when they see those signs for farm eggs and fresh honey.
Here’s why roadside farm stands are so cool:
• You won’t find most of these growers at farmers markets. Farm stands always have varieties of vegetables, greens and herbs unavailable elsewhere. You can see and ask how they are grown.
• You buy vegetables just picked from the soil you are standing on and get cooking tips from the farm family that grew them. Some farms let you pick your own berries and flowers. It doesn’t get fresher or more local.
• Burger and fries-loving kids can get to see where potatoes and beef come from. Some stands feature locally raised meats, as well as honey, flowers, baked goods and local food products.
• There are no crowds at these smaller, quirkier agricultural attractions on rural roads with great foothill views.
Never visited a farm stand? Here are a few rules of the road:
• Roadside stands are irregular places with minimal signage and hours of operation that can change. Follow farm social media for details.
• Many stands accept debit cards or Venmo, but all prefer cash. Some operate on a self-service honor system. Bring your own bags, too.
• Stands generally don’t offer bathrooms, sell beverages or offer live music. They do harvest small crops that vary week to week during the season. The early bird gets the heirloom black raspberries.
The best advice is to hit the road and get to know a bunch of stands using the following guide. If nothing else, stop for multi-colored farm eggs that beat the store-bought equivalent in flavor.
7th Generation Farm
100 South 96th St., Louisville
Noon to 5 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
A historic family farm located a short walk from downtown Louisville, this year-round on-farm stand offers locally raised meats including beef, pork (including bacon), lamb, chicken and a true rarity, goat. Local produce, fresh eggs (both chicken and duck) and honey are available. Hours expand during the farm’s autumn pumpkin fest.
Aspen Moon Farm
7940 Hygiene Road, Hygiene
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Newly relocated across the road, this open-air seasonal stand offers certified organic vegetables, flowers, berries, herbs and heirloom grains.
The Bee Hugger
12590 Ute Highway, Longmont
8 a.m. to dusk daily
This cute farm offers pony and “unicorn” rides, farm animals, a picnic area, you-pick flower fields and a self-serve stand offering honey from the resident hives. The farm also occasionally hosts live music.
Benevolence Orchard & Gardens
6712 Jay Road, Boulder
Self-service 10 a.m. to dusk daily
Look for the Benevolence bus and the stand stocked with vegetables, herbs, flowers, honey and mushrooms grown in the farm barn. The farm’s orchards also produce some fall fruit. Benevolence also offers community classes on everything from fruit tree care to mushroom log inoculation.
Big Ash Farm
Southwest side of 95th Street, south of Valmont Road, Boulder
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Self-serve, honor-system roadside trailer offering eggs and veggies and a great view.
Black Cat Farm
4975 Jay Road, Boulder
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Sunday
Now open year-round, the store is a hidden gem packed with goodies from chef Eric Skokan’s family farm. The offerings include heirloom vegetables, lamb and pork, fantastic breads and prepared frozen foods from Skokan’s restaurant, Bramble & Hare.
Boulder Lavender Farm
Arapahoe Avenue at Willow Creek Drive,
east of 95th Street, Boulder
This small honor-system cart overlooking a field of lavender offers lavender products, eggs, honey and bouquets.
Cure Organic Farm
7416 Valmont Road, Boulder
Noon to 5 p.m. daily
The charming Cure Farm is stocked with one of the widest varieties of farm-grown organic vegetables, greens, herbs and flowers. The stand also offers eggs, locally raised beef, Western Slope fruit and artisan breads from Daily Grains bakery.
Farm Stand
7428 N. 73rd St., Niwot
When the sign is out during daylight hours
This little suburban farm stand doesn’t have a name, but offerings include eggs, vegetables and freshly made fruit preserves.
Growing Gardens
1630 Hawthorn Ave., Boulder
3:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday
A great community resource for agricultural and sustainability education, the farm’s stand opens one day a week offering vegetables, greens, fruit and a variety of locally made food products and baked goods.
Let It Bee Honey & More Store
4689 Ute Highway, Lyons
Noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday
This sweet roadside attraction offers honey, pollen and beeswax from local apiaries. Bring a jar to fill.
MASA Seed Foundation Farm
1367 75th St., Boulder
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
A remarkable resource for local gardeners and farmers, the stand offers a seed house stocked with hundreds of sustainably selected seeds, plus fresh vegetables, greens and growing advice.
Meadow Lake Honey
7922 Meadow Lake Road, Niwot
Daytime hours
Small, porch self-serve stand offers raw honey collected at the family’s onsite apiary.
Montgomery Homestead Farm Stand
10286 Isabelle Road, Lafayette
8 a.m. to dusk daily
In its 160th year as a family farm, the self-serve stand features a changing supply of just-harvested vegetables and plants.
Move Mountains Market
4336 63rd St., Boulder
3-7 p.m. Friday, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
Munson Farms
7355 Valmont Road, Boulder
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (starting in late July)
Thousands of regulars make a beeline to Munson’s every year for its famous sweet corn, plus squash, flowers, tomatoes and Western Slope fruit. In the fall, it’s a pumpkin patch.
3614 61st St., Boulder
Daylight hours
A tiny roadside stand offering chicken and duck eggs, and fresh herbs and flowers.
New Moon Farms
3298 95th St., Boulder (southeast corner of 95th Street and Isabelle)
9 a.m. to dusk, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday
Self-service farm stand offering eggs, honey, soap and vegetables.
Ollin Farms
8627 N. 95th St., Longmont
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
Well-regarded for its regenerative agriculture practices, the family farm store is well-stocked with vegetables, prepared foods, baked goods and Western Slope fruit. The farm offers tours, kids’ activities and you-pick fields.
Red Wagon Farm
1640 Baseline Road (at Thomas Open Space), Lafayette
Noon to 6 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday (opening in late July)
If you’ve dined at Boulder County’s better bistros, you’ve already tasted Red Wagon produce. The large farm store offers a wealth of fresh produce, locally grown mushrooms, honey, eggs, local food products, baked goods and crafts.
Shadow Butte Lake Ranch
Valmont Road near 70th Street, Boulder
A small, self-service box offers eggs and vegetables.
Suarez Wines and Market
11078 N. 66th St., Longmont
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
The weekly family farm stand offers eggs, empanadas, cookies, fruits and vegetables.
Sunbeam Farm
1005 Cherryvale Road, Boulder
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Well-known for its garden starter plants, the self-service, honor-system stand stocks farm eggs and some organically grown greens and vegetables.
Tabor Acres
3918 N. 119th St., Lafayette
Daylight hours daily
The farm specializes in growing flowers, but also offers honey and eggs.
Three Leaf Farm
445 S. 112th St., Lafayette (CO-287 at S. Public Road)
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 20, Aug. 3 and 17, Sept. 7 and 21
Three Leaf Farm normally supplies all its produce to its sister eateries Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant, Chautauqua Dining Hall and Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse. On select dates, a farm stand features fresh veggies, herbs, teas, and other goodies for non-restaurateurs.
Ya Ya Farm and Orchard
6914 Ute Highway, Longmont
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday (hours expand later in the season)
This must-visit agricultural treat offers visits with the animals, and you-pick flower fields and orchards. The farm barn sells apple cider, apple cider doughnuts, apple pie and other goodies.
This article was originally published by Boulder Weekly.