How I learned to pick sweet corn...

The summer before my Junior year of High School, my sister Veronica and I took on what our parents called "a good learning experience." With 10 acres of land at our disposal we ventured out to grow sweet corn as our summer "money maker." In addition to our everyday chores on the farm we spent hours planting, watering and many long hot days in the sun caring for what was sure to be our cash cow. We walked between the corn rows digging up weeds, checking for bugs and signs of raccoons or deer nibbling our crop.

We made it through the early summer and the harvest season was upon us. As the corn ripened, each morning we would pick a trunk load of ears and sold them 10 for $1 out of the back of our 1976 Lincoln Continental by the fire house in our small town. We sold to people passing through, locals and even to the owner of the local grocery store. We took orders from old ladies for pre-shucked corn which they spent hours scraping off the cob and freezing for the winter. We stuffed full 13 gallon trash bags of shucked corn and delivered it to their front door for an extra couple of bucks. I think we only made $250 a piece that summer....But we were left with tan skin, toned muscles and dirty finger nails. Though much of that has faded I still recall some of the best memories of my life from that summer, the value of hard work and of course how to pick the perfect ear of corn.

So this summer when you're at the farmers market choosing corn on the cob consider these tips:

• fully ripened sweet corn has bright green, moist husks.
• the silk should be stiff, dark and moist.
• when grabbing hold of the ear it should feel thick.
• you should be able to feel the individual kernels by pressing gently against the husk.
• once you pick it - refrigerate (keep cool & moist) until cooking to keep the corn sweet.

Fresh corn, if possible should be cooked and served the day it's picked for the best flavor, if you wait too long after picking they lose their sweetness. That's why corn from a farmers market always tastes the best!

Hope to see you at our farmers market this summer!

Krista
www.mayfarms.com

On the way to the speedway!

Last week we hosted the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP) for a breakfast and luncheon. They were brought a group of writers out to test and write about vehicles they got to drive at the two new race tracks just outside of Byers. This article about our farm and photo of Gary & Stacie was on the front page of the DRIVE section in the Denver post on Sunday! We enjoyed hosting the group and have a great time accommodating people who think outside of the box -- just like us!

New addition to the May Family!

We are happy to announce the newest addition to the May Family! Gary's nephew Jeremie and his wife Stephanie had their first boy, Liam James Knight, born April 23rd 2010 at 9:15. He is 7 lbs 14oz and 19 inches long.

Easter Prime Rib

So... in celebration of Easter we decided to have an meal and make one of our signature prime ribs. When we do an event for a guest it's not very often we get to sit down and actually enjoy the benefits of the meals we prepare. I am sure many of you with busy households can relate!

What a special treat!

Here's the secret! Our signature prime rib is rubbed with garlic, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper and celery salt, slow cooked for several hours making special note not to over cook because when you pull it from the oven to let it rest it continues to cook. Those flavors some how touch every fiber of the meat. A good prime rib should always be pink! We serve it with horseradish however, I don't think it needs it. It was delicious ... an office Easter to remember!

Movie filmed at May Farms!

On March 6th - Student filmmakers from Colorado Film School looking for a rural location was referred to May Farms for their "somewhere in Eastern Colorado" setting. Film titled "Capturing Demons". We had a great time hosting the group and can say this is a first for us! If you would like to view more pictures follow the link below!

More Pictures!

Do you know your farmer?

What does it mean to promote healthy living? Yeah, yeah, diet and exercise....Everything in moderation. It also means learning more about where your food comes from and how it gets to your plate, so that you can more closely link with your community and the hard-working farmers and ranchers that produce your food.

Local and regional food systems mean fresh food, vibrant communities, a strong connection between cities and the countryside, and support for this and the next generation of farmers and ranchers.

At May Farms we are looking to build partnerships with folks like FUEL CAFE in Denver. Places like FUEL CAFE who look to serve produce grown locally serve as a hub for folks who also want to support our local food systems. We visited today with Bob, Betsy and Nathan from FUEL CAFE and talked about ways in which we could work together to provide our garden fresh produce to their cafe so that they can offer it to their customers. Stay tuned for more information on this project!

Giving back to the cause.

Feed Denver: Urban Farms & Markets builds community-based urban
greenhouse farms and markets to improve year-round access to fresh
food, create training opportunities and jobs for youth and adults, support
food production micro-enterprise all of which impact our local economy
while strengthening and securing the food shed of Metropolitan Denver.

As a family owned agri-tainment venue we see the value in preserving our farm for others less fortunate to vist and enjoy. We understand that as technology advances small farmers are not as abundant as they were in the days of our grandparents and even when we were kids. We also understand that fresh produce isn't as accessible as it once was and informing consumers of the importance of supporting local producers as it relates to our economy.

Recently, we had the opportunity to donate a piece of equipment to this organization to support Feed Denver's cause. We appreciate what you are doing to keep our rural roots alive!