RMParent | MAY 2020

MAY 2020 • RMPARENT.COM

CHOOSE

ECO-FRIENDLY, BUDGET-FRIENDLY FOR YOUR FAMILY Embrace your family’s uniqueness

Yep, your tween’s probably dating Dig in!

Gardening

S pecial Section

Free educational apps!

SEASON 2020 GROWING rm Guide Fa & Local Food

INSIDE:

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3501 South Mason Street Unit 1, Fort Collins

and Medicaid

MAY 2020

Departments PERSPECTIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The whole shebang—Feeling connected and interconnected

Special Sections Summertime

Growing Season 2020

MAY 2020 • RMPARENT.COM

LOCAL FOOD AND FARM GUIDE

HOBBY FARMS:

WOMEN’S HEALTH . . . . . . . . . 8

HOMESTEADING IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Do what works for your family—It’s okay to be different, celebrate your uniqueness

FAMILY ACTIVITIES . . . . . . . . 10 Free educational apps!—Find some homeschooling help online

LEARN AND LIVE . . . . . . . . . . 12 Dig in! Gardening—Plant your vegetable garden

COMMUNITY NEWS . . . . . . . 14 Strength in community—Resources for food, safety, home schooling, gardening and outdoor gear

HEALTHY LIVING . . . . . . . . 16 Keep kids engaged and active—Fun, educational activities to do at home

CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 Events and activities for parents, kids and families

TIME OUT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 8 Embracing the slow down—Be grateful for peace, time together and joy

INSIDE:

YOUR GUIDE TO FARM STANDS AND FARMERS’ MARKETS

ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

SUMMERTIME AD SUPPLEMENT

BOUNTY 2020 GROWING SEASON

Features 18 MAKING GREENER CHOICES Find out which choices are truly eco-friendly, budget-friendly and right for your family. Check diaper, food and feeding comparisons.

20 YEP, YOUR TWEEN’S PROBABLY DATING

Dating takes practice and our kids need some guidance. Have conversations about dating with your kids, listen to their concerns and help guide them.

School District News GR-E 6 School District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Two District 6 students honored as Boettcher Scholars, Three District 6 Students Named Daniels Scholars

Poudre School District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 PSD schools, buildings closed for remainder of 2019-20 school year, Mental health resources available, Remote learning

Thompson School District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 All in-person instruction is canceled through the 2019-2020 school year, Find a list of resources, check out Riverview’s Facebook page

24 KINDNESS KARMA:

GET SOME, GIVE SOME

A little kindness goes a long way. Get started by incorporating some of these habits into your family’s daily life.

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perspective perspective

Generosity The whole shebang learning, being and doing

Feeling connected and interconnected

A O

young man Aly, approached megrade in a parking ur daughter, teaches 5th in lot yesterday.

Denver Public Schools. And, of course, “My family andclasses.

I are The staying they’re doing online firstover day there and if we could get five dollars we could that they all got back “together” was online.

They get adecided pizza. Iftowe couldmuch get ten we first couldweek get had devote of the two and that would cover us.” to just getting everyone comfortable with the I had no idea whether story new format. Aly noted to mehisthat thewas kidstrue. hung He looked as though he was living rough, around after school, chatting and reconnecting though—gaunt, for a long time. sunken cheeks, despairing eyes.

Without hesitation, I pulled out wallet During this isolating time, it my becomes and handed himwe tenhumans bucks. are I don’t justconnected why I did we it. He clear how social and know also how are.wasn’t As the threatening.

Heone wasn’t imploring.

Hepart justofseemed really need a saying goes, no is anover island.

We are all a vast, to interconnected boostMuch right has thenbeen andwritten interacting rightEffect, there awhere couplea butterfly of feet web. aboutwith the him Butterfly away, I just felt it was a moment. flaps its wings at just the right time and that affects the power of a I’m onof a mission to And give nothing away all demonstrates of our money.our I walk stormIt’s onnot thethat other side the world. and drive by plenty of people who are asking for a little push.

And I’m interconnectedness like the current times. A microscopic virus mutates not driven to help others by a sense of guilt or even a feeling of being slightly in a part of China few of us has heard of, and someone becomes lucky enough have these others don’t and so therefore it’s my ill on the othertoside of it theand globe. social obligation to do it.

Nor do I independence get a big sensebyofcontemplating satisfaction. Ijust have We might note our lack of true a hard time pinpointing why I feel compelled to help out sometimes, how many people it takes to keep us “isolated” in our homes. Let’s say we whether scoopingdelivered. a sidewalk a neighbor to push a car, have our groceries Tofor grow that headorofstopping lettuce that’s in our and other times not so much. bag required good soil, water, seeds, and someone to care for that with Every tools fall, athat neighbor of ours comes byelse, with his in airanother compressor specialized were made by someone likely part and blows out our sprinkler lines.

He makes the rounds ouranother of the world. And the materials for those tools were mined ininyet corner of the neighborhood and gets everyone readyBut forback winter.

He part of the world, and created in a supernova eons ago. to our doesn’t ask for anything.

He just does it because he can.

It is not lettuce. So someone had to pick that lettuce and put it in a bag (throwain transactional offer scenario), in any way. the bag-production and then toss it in a truck, which had to fill Theresa Baer writes thistomonth her Learn and LiveThen column with diesel and possibly had cross anininternational border. it moved about teaching children to be generous and to volunteer.

She also offers on to a distribution center and finally to our local grocery store where some some ideas aboutselected where and how. to help children toand be personal shopper it from theThe pileidea andisplaced it in your bag aware of others’ needs and home. to understand that have eventually delivered to your That’s just onethey, headthemselves, of lettuce. We need something to offer. power and water and Netflix and so much more to be isolated and all those The is forthat them, all of us, toworld not just do generosity things stillgoal require vast,really interconnected to deliver them. as an activity that we have come to understand as something that we should I’ve noticed a couple of things about interpersonal interactions.

Out do because we’re lucky enough to have something and those and about, people seem a little more distant and I’ve missed myother face-topeople arewith struggling.

Where we’re this is for our face time friends and family, forreally sure. headed But my with digital interactions children to see people who are just like they are, who just want to be have gone through the roof. We’re Zooming family members, Facetiming happy just as they do and who don’t want to feel bad just as they more than ever, and texting is off the charts. In a way, we’re more don’t want to. We want to get beyond the them and us feelings. We don’t just connected than ever. dropWe’re money in a can and walk by. aWe stop. We and engage a crazy species.

To take thought (andtalk probably screw with it up people are just likeSteinbeck, us. with mywho layering) from we crave connection to something Inthan the end, wantus, togives be generosity, do generosity, bigger us. Itwe drives us purposenot andjust makes us feel as though the path to being generosity, it seems, lies through the of doing though our lives are part of the whole shebang. And our path personal generosity. connections (my thoughts, not Steinbeck) are an essential part of that ‘Tis the season,to everything else. interconnectedness Scott for wandering around with me on that, Thanks Scott 6 6

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OCTOBER 2019 • Volume 24, Issue 6 MAY 2020 • Volume 24, Issue 12

PUBLISHER Scott Titterington, (970)221-9210 PUBLISHER scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com Scott Titterington, (970)221-9210 EDITOR scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com Kristin Titterington, (970)221-9210 EDITOR kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com Kristin Titterington, (970)221-9210 CREATIVE DIRECTOR kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com Emily Zaynard CREATIVE DIRECTOR emily.rmpublishing@gmail.com Emily Zaynard ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR emily.rmpublishing@gmail.com Greg Hoffman, (970)689-6832 ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR greg.rmpublishing@gmail.com Greg Hoffman, (970)689-6832 DISTRIBUTION MANAGER greg.rmpublishing@gmail.com ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Susan Hartig ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE susan.rmpublishing@gmail.com Susan Harting COVER PHOTO susan.rmpublishing@gmail.com Cheri Schonfeld, Courtesy of COVER- skysopendesign.com PHOTO Sky’s Open Design istockphoto.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Theresa Baer, Lea Hanson, Katie Harris, Theresa Baer, Lea Hanson Lynn U. Nichols Katie Harris, Lynn U. Nichols

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLISHING ROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLISHING PO Box 740 PO Box 740 Fort Collins, CO 80522 Fort Collins, CO 80522 Voice 221-9210 • Fax 221-8556 Voice 221-9210 • Fax 221-8556 editor@rockymountainpub.com scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com www.RMParent.com www.RMParent.com Rocky Mountain Parent magazine is published Rocky Mountain Parent magazine is published monthly by Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. monthly by Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. Publication of this paper does not consitute an enPublication of this paper does not consitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. dorsement of the products or services advertised.

RMP reserves the right to refuse any advertiseRMP reserves the right to refuse any advertisement for any reason. The opinions expressed by ment for any reason. The opinions expressed by contributors or writers do not necessarily reflect contributors or writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rocky Mountain Publishing. the opinions of Rocky Mountain Publishing. ©2019 Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. All rights ©2020 Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without express written reserved. Reproduction without express written permission is prohibited. permission is prohibited.

OUR OUR COMMUNITY COMMUNITY PARTNERS: PARTNERS:

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women’s health Do what works for your family Celebrate your uniqueness as a family

LY NN U. NICHOLS

W

ith moms, there can be an unspoken list of checks and balances, a ticking off of all the great—and not so great—things we do. The truth is, we are often a lot gentler on other moms than we are on ourselves.

We see a mom who seems to be able to balance it all: work, volunteering, staying fit, keeping her kids active and happy and having lots of friends herself and we think our life falls short in comparison. Sure, we do some things right, but not everything.

Before you start comparing yourself and living up to a false standard, here’s a little secret—she probably feels the same whether she’d admit to it or not. The only standards you need to live up to are the ones you decide for you and your family.

There’s immense freedom in setting down all those false expectations. Take activities, for instance. Just because your best friend has her kids in violin lessons, soccer and dance doesn’t mean you have to follow suit. In fact, other moms are the last ones you should turn to when deciding how much activity you want for your kids. Instead, look to your kids, honoring each of their personalities. You may fear your child will be left out or fall behind, but if you have an introvert that prefers sitting and knitting over playing ultimate Frisbee, honor it. Or find a friend who likes to do the same and arrange a mellow playdate. Limiting your kid’s activities goes against the grain. There’s worry that kids who don’t get to taste everything are deprived. If you want, require her to pick at least one activity, but don’t push it beyond that. If her older brother is the opposite and says yes to every camp, class or get-together, you’ll have the challenge of limiting his activities so he can keep up with sleep, eating well and schoolwork. In other words, do what works for your family.

You need your own activities, too. Pick an activity you love to do, 8

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say hiking or going out to dinner, and commit to a weekly playdate with a friend or friends. Making your kids your whole life empties your cup. Find ways to fill it, and honor that need.

Next, work on cutting yourself some slack. No one is perfect, we all try our best. Moms need to hear this more than anyone. If we fall short of what we deem great parent behavior now and then, all we can do is take note and do better next time. Maybe throw in a new habit, like putting yourself in a time out for a minute so you can decide your next move, consciously acting rather than reacting. For example, when you feel heated in a discussion with a headstrong preteen who is pushing a boundary, calmly say, ‘we’ll discuss this later today’ and walk away. Or, speak from the I point of view rather than engaging in a quarrel, stating how you feel starting with the word ‘I’. Or, calmly restate a rule, reminding her she doesn’t have to like it but it’s the way it is.

All families are different, and that’s just fine. Your school-aged

kids have no doubt said to you, ‘well, so and so’s mom lets her do such and such.’ Don’t take the bait.

Reinforce your own family’s habits, beliefs and rules with a simple, ‘Interesting. That’s different from us.’ The stronger your definitions of who you are as a parent means less pushback from your kids. With that said, limiting rules to what’s most important and letting the small stuff go makes for more family harmony.

When you find yourself slipping into comparing yourself to other moms, stop yourself and think: ‘My family is fine, just the way it is. We may not be perfect, and that’s okay.’ Then, tick off what you love about your life, your kids and yourself. Returning to gratitude is grounding. Even make it a game with your kids, encouraging them to take turns naming what they are thankful for (happy about, excited about, like about themselves, etc.) as you drive around town. Focusing on what’s right, rather than what’s wrong, builds pride in family and in ourselves.

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family activities

Free educational apps!

Find some homeschooling help online

KATIE HARRIS

B

eing thrust into homeschool life without warning wasn’t exactly in anyone’s plans for this year, yet here we are! Luckily, dozens of online companies are offering free educational content through the end of the school year, including tutorials on a variety of subjects; links to supplemental articles, videos and games; and even customized homeschool schedules to help your days run smoothly.

BRAIN POP: The site features a large library of animated video clips. After watching each video, kids have the opportunity to take a quiz, play a game, and participate in a host of other activities to further their understanding of the topic. Brain Pop Jr. covers kindergarten through third grade, while Brain Pop is geared towards upper elementary through middle school students. Explore what the site has to offer by visiting www.brainpop.com.

DUOLINGO: Learn any of 30 new languages while playing games with Duolingo’s free online program. Available on computers, tablets and phones, Duolingo appeals to kids with fun, tailored lessons, new levels to unlock, and races against the clock, while at teaching kids new languages. Duolingo can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play, or accessed at www.duolingo.com.

KHAN ACADEMY: Well known for its expert-led tutorials on a large variety of subjects for kindergartners through college agers, the nonprofit educational website is offering free daily schedules for families during the current school closure period. Students simply enter their grade level and choose a subject, then select from a list of available video tutorials. Each lesson is accompanied by practice problems, quizzes and a unit 10

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test. The site offers students the ability to pick up where they left off each day, earning points toward mastery of each topic. For a complete list of topics visit www.khanacademy.org.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS: Kids will love exploring all that the fun and colorful National Geographic Kids website has to offer. The home page alone is packed with activities for young learners, including games, videos, animal facts and photos. Watch a video on the differences between coastal redwoods and giant sequoias, experiment with making a “ghost glove” from vinegar and baking soda, test your shark knowledge with a fun quiz and much more. Get started at https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/.

WIDE OPEN SCHOOL, POWERED BY COMMON SENSE MEDIA: Wide Open School offers daily scheduling ideas for families schooling from home. Each daily agenda includes built-in breaks between core subjects to get moving and participate in hands-on activities, with links to activities such as crafting

with scrap fabric, Kidz Bop videos to dance along to, and yoga poses to learn and practice at home. In addition, Wide Open School features a calendar of live events to tune into, such as virtual story times, drawing lessons, music classes and more. The site also features learning ideas and websites categorized by subject along with at-home field trip ideas.

Get started by visiting https://wideopenschool.org.

WWF EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES: Choose from a variety of wildlife inspired lesson plans, or try them all. Each “toolkit” includes several activities revolving around a theme, such as sea turtles, biodiversity or food waste. Activities help elementary- and middle-schoolaged kids explore topics through several modes of learning. In addition to detailed instructions for each activity, each toolkit includes an educator’s resource guide complete with printable posters and information on the topic at hand to share with students. For a complete list of downloadable toolkits visit www. worldwildlife.org/teaching-resources.

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learn and live

Dig in! Gardening Plant your vegetable garden

THERESA BAER

W

e’ve all experienced some form of cabin fever recently.

Perhaps it’s been challenging to find fresh produce at the grocery stores. And as the weather warms and we’re homeschooling our children, I’m sure you’re looking for fun, healthy, educational projects to get them outside and keep them busy. What better time to start a vegetable garden!

Gardening is good for both mind and body! It gets us outdoors to enjoy sunshine, fresh air and openness, which benefits our mental health. It broadens our children’s minds with hands-on learning about where our food originates, how certain vegetables grow and gives them environmental awareness such as the importance of bees to our food supply. Plus, it’s active–you’re digging up the soil, mixing in compost, and reaching and bending to plant seeds or starter plants. Remember, gardens don’t have to take a huge space in the yard. You can build smaller raised beds or even use pots on a balcony to produce tasty treats like strawberries, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, beans, cucumbers–even potatoes!

PLANNING Building your garden, you must consider areas with sufficient sunlight and easy access to water. Otherwise,

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CURBSIDE PICK-UP! Phone in your order, pay with a credit card and pick up your veggie starter plants and more without leaving the safety of your vehicle. Nursery employees also can provide suggestions for types of plants that grow well in this area. let the kids be involved in deciding where and what to plant. Let them be creative. Gardens can be any shape.

They can have a theme like a “ personal pizza garden” with tomatoes, green peppers and onions or a “salsa garden” with tomatoes, peppers, onions and cilantro, or go big with goodies like zucchini, corn, pumpkins, watermelons and, of course, a few sunflowers.

Those tall plants could even create the “walls” of a fort for the kids to hang out this summer.

Encourage a rainbow of colors for lots of different vitamins as well as visual appeal. And don’t forget to include flowers such as marigolds and

mint that offer different fragrances to enhance their senses and naturally keep away insects.

PREPPING, PLANTING AND MAINTAINING Again, get those kids digging or helping run the rototiller, shoveling soil amendment, planting the seeds or starter plants, depending on how late in the year you start. Make it easy and special for younger children to help by providing kid-size shovels, rakes and gloves. Allow them to help water and explain the importance of weeding to keep your vegetables thriving and make it easier to harvest.

HARVESTING Teach the kids when and how to harvest their crop without damaging the plants so they can continue to produce.

Give them a basket or a wagon to pull to collect the fruits of their labor and praise them for their hard work.

Now is the time … to spend with family … teach life skills … nurture your souls … fill your bellies. Dig in.

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community news Strength in community

Resources for food, safety, home schooling, gardening and outdoor gear THERESA BAER

LOCAL COVID-19 UPDATES AND RESOURCES Coronavirus or COVID-19 continues to affect our daily lives. For official COVID-19 information and updates from local health departments and resources for those in need, visit the following websites:

• Larimer County Department of Health & Environment (LCDHE) www.larimer.org/coronavirus • Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/2019novel-coronavirus

CONCERNS ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, CHILD ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH Not everyone has a safe home to shelter in during this pandemic. Domestic violence and child abuse may increase as individuals experience increased stress while sheltered together for long periods of time. As more individuals are out of work or working remotely and with children unable to attend school, these forms of violence have fewer opportunities to be noticed and addressed. It is particularly important during this time to check in on friends and neighbors. Resources include: • Alternatives to Violence (Loveland/ southern Larimer County): During normal business hours, call 970-669-5150 or after hours (24/7), call 970-880-1000 or visit www.alternativestoviolence.org.

• A Woman’s Place (Greeley): Call 970356-4226 or visit www.awpdv.org.

• Crossroads Safehouse (northern Colorado): Call 24/7 at 970-482-3502 or 1-888-541-SAFE (7233) or visit • Estes Valley Crisis Advocates (Estes Park): call 970-577-9781 or visit www. crisisadvocates.org.

• Mental Health and Substance Use Alliance of Larimer County: visit www. mhsualliance.org/covid-19news.

• National Domestic Violence Hotline:

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call 1-800-799-7233 or CHAT online at www.thehotline.org.

• Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center (Larimer/Weld County): Call 970-4724200 or visit www.savacenter.org.

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-9855990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 • Weld County Health Department’s Let’s Talk: call 970-347-2120 or visit www. weldgov.com/go/LetsTalk for crisis and mental health resources.

in Fort Collins and Loveland–to care for school-aged youth whose parents or guardians are providing critical services.

The endeavor involves following revised safety protocols and standards to meet all of the CDC and local guidelines including correct social distancing and frequent cleaning. These two sites require a rededication of resources including staff and financial resources. To learn more about the childcare options or if you would like to support their efforts, visit www.begreatlarimer.org.

EMERGENCY CHILDCARE FOR CRITICAL SERVICE PROVIDERS DURING PANDEMIC The community’s first responders, such as healthcare workers, firefighters, grocery workers, and many others providing critical services, must go to work during the coronavirus pandemic and need a safe place to send their children. Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County (BGCLC) is working closely with Larimer County Health Department, Banner Health Systems and several additional community partners, to establish and maintain two emergency response sites–

SALVATION ARMY SERVES VIA DRIVE/ WALK-UP WINDOW The Salvation Army continues to provide social services during the COVID-19 pandemic. With recent social distancing guidelines in place, The Salvation Army Fort Collins moved to a drive-up/walk-up window at their location at 3901 South Mason Street in Fort Collins to provide breakfast, lunch and food boxes to community members Monday through Friday from 10am to 3pm. If you’re experiencing a need, learn more about your options by calling

855-768-7977. If you are able to help, an urgent need remains for food, hygiene items and/or financial support to provide these services. Non-perishable food and hygiene items may be dropped off from 9am to 4pm Monday through Friday and online donation and volunteer information can be found at https://fortcollins.salvationarmy.org.

2-1-1 COLORADO Confidential and multilingual service that connects Coloradans with human service resources statewide. Visit www.211Colorado.org, dial 2-1-1 or text your Zip Code to 898-211. Or, call toll-free to 866-760-6489 Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.

COMMUNITY STEPS UP DURING PANDEMIC In addition to the many first responders directly dealing with coronavirus or continuing to work to provide essential services, there are many other positive things happening in our communities.

Here are just a few examples: Schools closed and administrators, teachers and support staff jumped in to contact families to determine needs for food and household items and continue to coordinate that assistance with local food banks, other nonprofits and individual food drives. Districts have worked diligently to make home learning work for as many people as possible in as many ways as possible across varying needs–from delivering laptops and books to providing internet hotspots in unique ways. If you or someone you know has an unmet need, please contact your teachers or school district for assistance–or visit your local food bank at www.foodbanklarimer.org or www.weldfoodbank.org.

Manufacturing companies have redesigned production lines to produce personal protective equipment (PPE).

Distilleries joined forces with CSU scientists to mix up much needed hand sanitizer. Libraries and museums across Larimer and Weld County have opened their digital doors to resources for e-learning and entertainment such as virtual story times, books, local history lessons and more. Even entertainment venues such as the Lincoln Center developed a blog to direct viewers to

entertainment options to take their mind off the issues surrounding them.

VIRTUAL SPRING PLANT SALE AT THE GARDENS ON SPRING CREEK Similar to local garden nurseries, The Gardens on Spring Creek has reimagined the annual spring plant sale to an online ordering and curbside pickup system to meet current community needs and regulations. Review the available plant list and check for sale dates and ordering details online at www.fcgov.com/gardens/spring-plantsale. Once orders are placed (and paid for) staff will fulfill your order and package it up for curbside pick-up at The Gardens. Happy Gardening!

FORT COLLINS PARKS & REC SUMMER HIRING FAIR The City of Fort Collins Parks & Recreation department rescheduled its youth summer hiring fair for work in the pools, parks, ballfields and more for Saturday, May 9 from 9am until noon at EPIC, 1801 Riverside Avenue. Bring a resume and/or previous employment history (and a parent/guardian if under the age of 18). Learn more online at www.fcgov.com/recreation/join-us.

GREELEY WATERING RESTRICTIONS Earlier this year, Greeley City Council approved changes to watering restrictions

for single-family residential water budget customers. Beginning this year, no lawn watering is allowed between 10 am and 6pm for any customers as it is not beneficial to water during the heat of the day and wastes water. Additionally, day-of-the-week restrictions were waived permanently for single-family residential, water budget customers, allowing customers to adjust their watering according to the weather. If you’re installing a new lawn, you must still apply to get a lawn watering variance and abide by the City’s requirements. To learn more, call 970-336-4134 or visit www.greeleygov.com/conserve.

LOVELAND OUTDOOR GEAR & BIKE SWAP Sell your outdoor gear and bikes and/ or shop for great used equipment at this City of Loveland event on Saturday, May 30 between 10am and 2pm at The Foundry Plaza, on Third Street between Lincoln and Cleveland in Loveland.

It’s free and open to the public and also will feature music, food trucks, vendors and bicycle mechanics. Residential seller booths cost $25 to $80, depending upon size. Commercial vendor spaces run $100 and include name on Facebook and other marketing. Learn more and register for a space online at www.cityofloveland.org/ departments/parks-recreation/outdoorgear-bike-swap or call 970-962-2446 for more information.

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healthy living

Keep kids engaged and active Fun, educational activities to do at home

LEA HANSON

W

ith districts closing schools amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, our kids are out of school and staying home with parents, siblings, and other family members.

During this time, many parents and caregivers struggle to find the comfortable spot between a scheduled day filled with intentional learning and developmental activities and sitting in front of a screen all day. Those parents and caregivers who work—and are currently doing so from home—may be especially challenged with this as we sit at our makeshift workstations trying to complete our professional duties with a background of kids playing (or fighting).

Kids still need to be engaged and active while at home during these times. Thankfully, northern Colorado schools are implementing alternative measures to deliver kids’ educational materials and lessons while they’re home. Yet, most of these assignments don’t take more than a few hours, so it’s important for parents to come up with a plan for their kids each day to keep them occupied (and out of their hair).

If you’ve been reading parenting blogs of any sort, you’ve been versed on the idea it’s more important to prioritize kids’ emotional well-being over them mastering academic skills. Yet, we still want to get our kids’ brains stimulated.

Most experts agree that reading continues to hold first place in terms of “academic” activities we ought not let fall by the wayside.

Reading is reading is reading, teachers tell us. Whether it’s reading to themselves, being read to, reading “hard” books, “easy” books, graphic novels, magazines, or whatever, it’s all valuable; and equally so. Writing falls within this bucket of maintaining language skills, as reading is writing and writing is reading.

Here are a few examples, beyond the basics, to support your kids’ reading, writing, and language skills without them even realizing it’s happening.

INTERACTIVE READING If you have a child with a natural flair for the dramatic, this activity could become a favorite. If your child’s school has preassigned readings or there are books at home, have your child read certain parts with emphasis and you do the same.

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Emphasizing parts of readings can help them to remember key information.

AUDIO BOOKS Listening to books can be as beneficial as reading them. Have your child listen to audio books with enactment. And telling you about them chapter by chapter can add to the fun.

WHITEBOARDING SENTENCES Ramp up their grammar practice with writing sentences on a whiteboard. You can have your child write sentences around themes, and then go back to check for grammar as well as look at ways they can enhance their sentences.

LABELING OBJECTS IN THE HOME This is a great activity, especially for younger children, who are just learning what certain objects are. You can create labels and stick them throughout the house while having your child find them, repeat the object’s name back to you, and give it to you. As a fun twist for kids, you can keep a tally of the labels returned and promise your child a reward.

As a fun twist for parents, your kid is helping you organize!

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Making greener choices Which eco-friendly, budget-friendly methods are best for your family?

Katie Harris

W

e, the crunchy mom generation, are always looking for ways to give our children their best starts while simultaneously caring for the earth. While our grandmothers might have killed for pouched baby food and disposable diapers, we insist on doing things the old-school (read more difficult) way, putting in the extra time and effort to boil and blend, wash and fold, because we know that easier isn’t always better.

The problem is, making the environmentally friendly, health conscious choice isn’t always as straightforward as it sounds. That’s why we’ve analyzed some of the most popular trends in crunchy style momming to determine which ones really leave a smaller footprint on the planet and bolster babies’ health, and which might not be worth the added effort. In addition, we’ve thrown in a handy cost analysis because let’s face it, our desire to do things the green way and the green in our wallet don’t always mesh.

Read on to learn which methods are truly eco-friendly, budget-friendly, and right for your family!

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CLOTH VS. DISPOSABLE DIAPERS Environmental impact analysis: Cloth diaper advocates take pride in the fact that they’re keeping thousands of diapers out of landfills over the course of their baby’s diaper days, while disposable diaper users boast lower water and electrical usage as a result of less laundering. In actuality, while the two systems are very different in terms of how they affect the environment, they’re nearly equal in terms of level of impact.

According to diaperanswers.org, “There is no significant difference between any of the environmental impacts of the disposable, home-use reusable and commercial laundry systems.”

Furthermore, “No system had superior environmental performance, although the life cycle stages that are the main source for these impacts are different for each system.” It seems we still have some work to do in finding a truly environmentally friendly diapering option, but don’t despair! The site also says, “All three systems do not contribute substantially to overall solid waste totals.”

Health analysis: Parents who’ve used both say cloth diapers are gentler on babies’ skin and tend to produce less

diaper rash, however, keep in mind that if your baby does get diaper rash, many diaper creams should not be used with cloth diapers. Cloth diapers also contain fewer chemicals than disposable diapers, and are less likely to cause allergic reactions. In addition, babies who wear cloth diapers may take to potty training more quickly because the less absorbent diapers make it easier for them to feel when they’re wet.

Cost analysis: Using the average of 3000 diapers per year, a family would spend anywhere between $350-$750/ year on disposable diapers, depending on brand. Washable diapers would run anywhere from $140-$500 depending on brand for the recommended 24 diapers parents should keep stocked.

Laundering costs are another factor worth considering. While water, electric and detergent variations affect overall cost, one load of laundry costs anywhere from $0.21/load using an HE washer, cheap detergent and air drying, to $4/ load. Assuming you washed diapers every other day that would run you anywhere from $38-$730/year. On the other hand, going up a size on your trash bin to fit disposable diapers could

increase your trash service monthly rate anywhere from $12-30/month, for a total of $144-360 per year. To summarize, disposable diapers cost an average of $388-$1110 per year, compared to $178-$1170 for cloth.

HOMEMADE VS. STORE BOUGHT BABY FOOD Environmental impact: Unless you’re growing your own veggies in your backyard, buying produce from the store and pureeing it yourself is about the same from an environmental standpoint as buying prepackaged baby food. In either case, the food must be transported to the store, often from out of state. The water consumption from washing and reusing containers at home also cancels out much of the benefit gained by not buying new jars or pouches each time.

Health impact: According to experts, both options are perfectly fine for babies. Additives such as sugar and corn syrup are uncommon in commercial baby foods these days, but parents going that route should still check labels on store-bought foods to make sure they don’t contain extra ingredients beyond fruit, veggies, meat, water, and vitamin C. Parents who prefer to know exactly what’s going in to their baby’s food, or are concerned about

allergies, may prefer to make their own, but should always be sure to follow the strict guidelines set by U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ensure food is prepared safely.

Cost analysis: To determine which method saves the most dough, we calculated the cost of a couple popular baby food choices: Top name-brand sweet potato jar: $1.49/4 oz. vs. Home-made pureed sweet potatoes: $0.22/4 oz.

Top name-brand organic banana, raspberry and oats pouch—$1.99/4 oz. vs. homemade, pureed banana, raspberry and oats: $1.34/4 oz.

In summary, pureeing your baby’s food at home might take some extra time and effort, but in the long run it can save you some serious dough.

BREASTFEEDING VS. FORMULA FEEDING Environmental impact analysis: Breastfeeding is considered the only zero-footprint food source, while the 2014 report, “Formula for Disaster” found that, “Formula feeding is unsustainable and leaves a large, heavy ecological footprint [due to] the amount of water used, the chemicals, the trees and the other resources used for packaging and promotion and finally the energy for sterilizing water for breast

milk substitute preparation” (http://bpni. org/docments/FormulaForDisaster.pdf ).

Health analysis: The American Pregnancy Association and United States Department of Agriculture state that, “mothers are strongly encouraged to breastfeed their infants unless there is a medical reason not to.” According to www.americanpregnancy.org, advantages of breast milk include a balance of nutrients perfectly suited to and digestible by infants, with content varying by infant’s stage of development and infant-led amount of intake.

Cost analysis: While breastfeeding is essentially free, we’ll consider the supplies a mother might need in order to comfortably do so. These include nursing pads ($55/year on average), prenatal vitamins ($60/year on average), and a breast pump ($26 and up, covered by most insurances). A baby drinks approximately 9,000 ounces of formula in a year, making the cost for a year’s worth of formula anywhere from $1400$1932. Free versus four figures? We’ll let you do the math.

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Listen, be open-minded and keep open communication

Yep,

your tween’s probably

Lynn U Nichols

A

ccording to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the average age for girls to start dating is 12 and a half. Boys typically start a year later, so there’s no denying it. If you have a preteen they are either thinking about dating or are already doing so.

Just like learning to ride a bike or master long division, dating takes practice. Before you come unglued when your 11-year-old daughter says she’s dating a boy in her class, pause and consider exactly what she means by dating. Likely, it simply means they’ve told the school they’re GF and BF and they send awkward texts or give each other flirty sucker punches in the hallway. More than likely, it will be over next week. It’s all practice for the real thing. While you can’t be there to coach your preteen or young teen’s every move, you can influence his introduction to the world of dating.

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dating

FIRST, STAY AWARE Just because your middle school son never mentions girls doesn’t mean he’s not interested. Some of the best information is gleaned when you are virtually invisible.

When you are driving your preteen and his friends to lacrosse practice or refilling the chip bowl while hosting a weekend sleepover, perk up. Don’t spy or interject, just listen like a fly on the wall. If you hear talk or teasing about a crush, take note to casually ask about it later.

When your preteen seems in a good mood and you two are alone, you can simply say, ‘I heard Logan tease you about someone named Sam. Is that a friend of yours?’ Asking open-ended questions lets preteens lead the conversation, deciding how much information they want to share.

The cooler you react, the more your teen will be willing to talk to you. Resist giving advice or a lecture. If they ask a question, answer it without giving other information.

Mostly, they want to share what they are feeling. Try to remember your early relationships and if the timing is right, share how you felt in a similar situation.

Give indirect lessons on healthy relationships by relaying your own stories (successes and failures) and referring to other couples, like an older sibling or cousin, pointing out what works well.

If your daughter is willing to talk about her new crush, reinforce the positive, as in, ‘That’s nice he’s a good listener. That shows he respects you.’ On the flipside, suggest to your preteen son that girls like to be heard, without interruption, and

Respond to red flags fast

It’s hard to believe, but according to loveisrespect.org, 1 in 3 adolescents are victims of some form of abuse while dating and with 1 in 10, it’s physical. Most are girls. When you see patterns or behaviors in your daughter’s relationship that concern you—behaviors such as being disrespectful, controlling, demanding, negative—you need to address them. For example, if your teenaged daughter says, ‘My boyfriend saw a picture of me on Instagram and made me take it down,’ or ‘He has my password so he can see everything I say,’ those are red flags. So are acting extremely jealous, limiting other friendships, hearing about times he lost his temper and unexplained injuries.

If you’re worried your child is in an abusive relationship, read how to start a conversation in A Parent’s Guide to Teen Dating Violence or visit loveisrespect.org. For urgent situations, contact your local domestic violence agency or call the National Dating Abuse Helpline at 1-866-331-9474.

that real compliments and politeness goes a long way.

Another way to monitor a relationship on the sly is through social media. For example, get an Instagram account and follow your preteen or teen.

NEXT, LOOK IN THE MIRROR We all know kids model our behavior and that’s probably truest in love relationships. There’s a good chance how you treat your spouse is how your teenager will treat his or her girlfriend/boyfriend. If there’s a way you can improve—by listening better, calmly discussing differences, etc. start now—your teen is watching! Consider the take-home message you and your spouse or partner are sending. Does your young teen see mutual respect?

Caring? Healthy affection? Conflicts resolved in a positive way? It’s akin to altering your bad driving habits when your teen takes driver’s ed. Lessons may have already been taught, but right now they’re extra aware of the details.

SET THE PLAYING FIELD As parents, we want our teens to develop into healthy adults who can communicate and carry on intimate relationships. To do so, they need chances to practice. If your preteen wants to go on a date, suggest group dating and offer to drive. If you drop them off at a set location and pick them up a few hours later, the activity is relatively contained—of course

with the agreement that they do not leave that locale, and if they do, a consequence will prevail. It doesn’t hurt to show up early and observe interactions in the parking lot. In fifth and sixth grade, parents might choose to go along to the movie theatre or bowling alley with a mixed group of friends. Or, better yet, sponsor the party at your house so you can get to know your child’s friends and new significant other. If a get-together is at another teen’s house, introduce yourself to the parent and ask if they will be supervising.

TALK CANDIDLY ABOUT YOUR BELIEFS ON SEX When you suspect the relationship has moved to the next level, ask openended questions about sex. To break the ice, talk about kids at school in general, as in, ‘So, when do kids start kissing at your age?’ Or, ‘Do you know anyone who has gone all the way?’

Talking in general terms might reveal how your child feels about sex, and open a door to personal sharing. Even though you might be tempted to lock your preteens up, avoid setting strict rules around dating and sex. Strict rules around behaviors we can’t control often backfire, causing teens to sneak behind our backs and lie. While you might not be able to control your teens’ actions when they are away from you, you can impart your beliefs on them and provide ammunition for them to say no.

It’s okay to say, ‘I’d like you to abstain

from sexual intercourse’ or to share your belief that sexual activity is not a casual undertaking and should be reserved for long-term committed relationships when they are older. Let your teens know you are available to answer any questions they might have about sex.

When they do come to you, resist giving advice. Instead, walk them through their feelings and let them come to their own healthy conclusions.

FINALLY, BE THERE FOR THE BREAKUP Preteens and young teens can turn on and off their emotions in a matter of minutes. In the morning they might feel like they can’t live without their boyfriend or girlfriend and by lunch it can be completely over. Even if it may seem silly to you, their strong feelings are real and the break up may be devastating. Honor their feelings.

Teen breakups can be as emotionally intense as adult breakups. If it looks serious say to your teen, ‘It seems like this feels like the end of the world for you, let’s figure out how you can get through it.’

Help your teens tap back into family and friends and reengage in what they enjoy doing. If their lives are well balanced and they have other things that give them confidence, they’ll get over it, eventually. It’s all a lesson in how to be in a love relationship and with some gentle guidance; your preteen will eventually get it just right.

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kindness karma:

get some, give some 4 ways to raise kind, happy kids Lynn U. Nichols

Y

ou know the saying, ‘a little kindness goes a long way.’ When a stranger looks you in the eyes and gives you an encouraging smile at the grocery store, when your kids are acting up or a friend offers to watch your kids for a doctor’s appointment, your day feels a little lighter and the world feels like a better place.

When we give kindness, we usually get kindness. It’s a basic principal of being human, and those who live by it are often guaranteed a more fulfilling, less stressful life. Get started by incorporating some of these habits into your family’s daily life.

1. EXPECT KINDNESS Rather than making a mantra out of, ‘the most important thing is to be happy,’ make a mantra out of ‘the most important thing is to be kind.’ This might make you panic because of course you 24

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want your kids to be happy. Here’s the trick: by being kind, they will be happy—a deeper kind of happiness than putting their needs above others.

The best way to teach kindness is to be kind, ourselves. Model helpfulness and the ability to shift gears when someone needs your assistance. Make empathy and encouragement a daily habit. Recognize kindness when it happens, yet resist the urge to praise your children every time they are helpful around the house. If they set the table or clear their dishes, give a smile rather than praise, sending the message that kindness and helpfulness is expected.

Of course, when they are remarkably helpful or kind—like standing up for a child who is bullied at school or befriending a new student—then let the praise fly.

“Parental approval is very important for kids. If you sense they are

being kind to please you, that’s okay.

Even if they do it for your attention, it’s forming a habit of kindness and over time, the rewards of giving will take over,” says Dr. Usha Udupa, a child psychiatrist with UCHealth Mountain Crest Behavioral Health Center in Fort Collins.

Reward kindness with special activities or treats. For example, if your kids are getting along especially well, you can say: ‘I like the way you and your brother are helping each other and being kind today. Let’s take a break and go on a bike ride together.’ Doing so teaches that kindness brings reward—mostly internally but sometimes externally as well.

2. LET GO OF MINOR IRRITATIONS Have you ever noticed that when something negative happens, it can set off a string of negative reactions? If we

are not mindful, we can fall down that rabbit hole of snapping at our kids, or complaining out loud when something feels unfair. It’s best to learn to bite your tongue and choose to let the irritation pass, or if it’s more than annoying, direct it head on with clarity and calm. After all, how you handle minor irritations is how your kids will, too.

Train your brain to stop and watch when something annoying happens.

Hear the thoughts that run through your head, then step out of the situation and think logically about the best response. When your kids get irritated, teach them to do the same by counting to five, taking a deep breath through their nose with each count. Practice with them during calm moments so they can put it into action when the need arises.

3. POINT OUT OTHER POINTS OF VIEW Young kids tend to think everyone feels the same as they do, and that life is basically the same for everyone. Pizza is their favorite food, so everyone must love it. They live in a house, so everyone else does, too. Teaching kids that people have different points of view and lifestyles—and that one way isn’t better than the other—helps foster empathy.

Help kids stand in other people’s shoes by adding perspective—making comments when you read books,

watch shows or attend a community event. For example, you could ride the city bus if it’s something you normally don’t do, or attend a cultural event that shows different customs and traditions from yours. Encourage friendships at school with kids who are different than yours. Volunteer as a family at a homeless shelter, nursing home or disability center.

Take the chance to point out how people who look or act differently than you often have the same feelings or wants and needs as you. This helps break down barriers between race, age and gender.

“Kids in general are afraid of what they’re not familiar with—anyone who looks differently or talks differently makes kids feel uncomfortable. It’s less an issue of racism and more an issue of feeling comfortable. Teach your kids that when someone is different it’s not wrong, just interesting, by exposing them to different races and cultures whenever you can,” Udupa advises.

Make it a habit to ask your child, ‘How do you think that made them feel?’ when they tell you a story of witnessing someone getting left out or treated poorly. Empathy is both a learned skill and an innate personality trait.

“We are all born with a certain

temperament. Some kids naturally internalize and feel other kids’ feelings.

Others need guidance from parents or other adults to recognize how another child might feel. All kids are capable of empathy, whether it comes naturally or not,” Udupa says.

Even when empathy doesn’t come naturally, kids learn that when they say, do or act a certain way (hit, yell or hurt), they often get a negative reaction, and when they are kind, helpful and caring, they get a positive one. Point out those reactions by saying, ‘Wow, her face really lit up when you gave her that compliment,’ or, ‘When you teased him, he said he wanted to go home.’

4. CURTAIL COMPETITION Teach your kids that everyone has their own unique skills and talents. Remind them that all of us wins or excels at something and likely loses at something else, and that when someone else wins it doesn’t detract from their success. An analogy that works well is music. Explain that people are like songs—it’s hard to pick a favorite or compare as each song is unique and shines in its own way.

If you ultimately want happiness for your kids, encouraging them to put others first and be kind will get them there more steadily than promoting their own happiness as the ultimate goal.

Quick acts of kindness Put positive or complimentary notes in backpacks or lunch boxes When a sibling is sad, deliver hot chocolate in bed Ask, ‘how was your day?’

Remind kids to say please and thank you Share what you are grateful for at the dinner table Express caring for someone in need Get in the habit of asking each other: how can I help you?

When someone asks for help, stop what you are doing and give it Remind kids to say hi to the bus driver, school janitor and cafeteria staff Encourage kids to write thank you notes Give a compliment every day Make it a practice to perform acts of kindness for family, friends, neighbors and strangers

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Growing Season 2020

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GROWING SEASON 2020

|3

HOBBY FARMS: HOMESTEADING IN THE 21ST CENTURY

KATIE HARRIS

A

s land becomes increasingly scarce, it’s difficult for families to find and afford acreage to call their own. As a result, small acreage farms, known as hobby farms, have been popping up around northern Colorado and across the country. Ideal for families wanting to try their hands at working the land or raising livestock for the first time, hobby farms are the homesteads of the 21st Century.

Aside from being smaller, hobby farms differ from traditional farms in several ways. For starters, they’re typically not intended to be a family’s primary source of income. Hobby farmers are usually employed outside of the farm, but may use the products grown on the farm to supplement that income, by selling them to friends and neighbors or at a local farmer’s market.

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GROWING SEASON 2020

Small acreages offer opportunities for working the land and raising livestock

Unlike large-scale farms, hobby farms aren’t meant to generate enough food to feed the masses, but even an acre or two can feed a family if utilized to its full potential. Many hobby farmers grow enough fruits and vegetables to feed their families all year on just 1/4 acre or less. The key is to choose crops with high yields and good preservability that grow well in our climate, and to put the time into properly caring for them throughout the growing season and at harvest time.

In addition to or in lieu of growing produce, some hobby farmers house livestock on their property. These animals may provide food products such as eggs and milk or be used for meat.

Chickens are perhaps the most common animals found on hobby farms, and for good reason. Easy to

keep and care for, and requiring a relatively small amount of space, chickens will lay eggs year round under the proper conditions. Considered a super food, eggs are an excellent source of protein and contain all nine essential amino acids.

Turkeys, ducks, guinea fowl and peacocks are also popular choices for hobby farmers interested in housing fowl on their property. Many farmers cull their birds and use them for meat periodically, while others allow them to live out their lives on the farm.

Another common hobby farm resident is the goat. In addition to being excellent lawn mowers, goats’ unrestrictive diet make them inexpensive to feed, and some hobby farmers make cheese and soap from the animals’ milk, fiber from their coats, or raise them for

F riendly Farm Help The Colorado State University Extension Office offers a wealth of resources for hobby farmers.

• For a guide to owning rural property in Colorado visit extension. colostate.edu/docs/pubs/natres/xcm235.pdf.

• For gardening tips, visit extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yardgarden/?target=publications or call 970-491-6281.

• For information on food preservation visit farmtotable.colostate. edu or call 970-491-7180.

• For information on raising backyard livestock visit extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/agriculture/?targetpublications#livestock.

meat. Goats are trainable, lively animals and can often be housed with other species.

Larger livestock such as cows, pigs and alpacas can be housed on hobby farms as well, but require work and know-how to do so properly.

Plans for housing, fencing, manure management, and feed should be set in place before considering taking on larger animals.

Beekeeping, which has been trending in recent years, is a great option for hobby farmers. As the honeybee population declines, bee keeping not only benefits the hobby farmers themselves but the future of the environment and agriculture as well. Honey and honey products tend to be hot sellers at roadside self-serve stands.

While for many hobby farmers, the goal is to produce something off the land; there are those who use it purely for recreational purposes. This could include housing horses for riding or growing flowers on a large garden plot.

Activities such as these, which allow landowners the opportunity to enjoy the land without expecting to turn a profit, gave this type of farming its name.

Whether you dream of being able to feed your family off your own land all year long, hope to sell homemade products at a local farmer’s market, or just like the idea of having space to pursue your outdoor hobby, a hobby farm is a wonderful way to connect with and care for the land underneath your feet.

GROWING SEASON 2020

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2020 NoCo Farmers Markets Because of Covid-19 dates might change, please check websites for updates.

Berthoud Local Farmers Market Fickel Park in downtown Berthoud Saturdays, 9am–1pm, June 20–Sept. 26 http://berthoudlocal.org Drake Road Farmers Market 802 W. Drake Rd., Fort Collins (weather permitting) Saturdays, 10am–1pm, April 18–Sept. 26 www.drakeroadfarmersmarket.com Erie Farmers Market Briggs Street between Wells and Moffatt, Erie Thursdays, 5–8pm, May 21–Sept. 10 www.realfarmersmarketco.com Estes Valley Farmers Market Bond Park on E. Elkhorn Ave. Thursdays, 8am–1pm, June–Sept. www.facebook.com/EstesValleyFarmersMarket

Farmers Market at Fairgrounds Park 700 S. Railroad Ave., Loveland Sundays, 9am–1pm, June 7–Sept. 27 www.cityofloveland.org/farmersmarket

Larimer County Farmers Market 200 S. Oak St., Fort Collins Saturdays, 9am–1pm, May 23–Oct. 31 www.larimercountyfarmersmarket.org

Fort Collins Farmers Market 1001 E. Harmony Rd. in front of Ace Hardware (rain or shine) Sundays, 10am–2pm, May–mid-Nov. Wednesdays, 10am–2pm, mid-June–Sept. www.fortcollinsfm.com

Loveland East Farmer’s Market at Jax 950 E Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland Tuesdays, 9am–1pm, June 2–mid-Oct. www.larimercountyfarmersmarket.org

Greeley Farmers’ Market The Depot, 902 7th Ave. Saturdays, 8am–Noon, May 16–Oct. 31 www.greeleygov.com/fm Johnstown Milliken Farmers Market Charlotte St. and Parish Ave., Johnstown Fridays, 4–8pm, June–Oct. www.johnstownmillikenchamber.com

FARM STANDS

Green Dog Farm Fort Collins www.greendogfarmcsa.com

Bartels Farm 3424 E. Douglas Rd., Fort Collins www.thebartelsfarm.com

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Hazel Dell Mushrooms 3925 E. CR 32 (Carpenter Rd.) Fort Collins www.hazeldellmushrooms.com Heritage Lavender 4809 Foothills Dr., Berthoud www.heritagelavender.com Hoffman Farms, LLC 3545 W. 0 St., Greeley www.hoffmanproduce.com

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Windsor Farmers Market Boardwalk Park, 110 5th St., Windsor Saturdays, 9am–1pm, June 20–Sept. 12 www.windsorgov.com/FarmersMarket

Something about being on a farm just feels good. The pace feels relaxed and your interactions, maybe, more genuine. So swing by a farm stand soon and pick up some deliciousness while you’re at it.

Anders Farm 8443 US Hwy. 8, Fort Lupton www.facebook.com/RAndersFarm/

Garden Sweet 719 W. Willox Ln., Fort Collins www.gardensweet.com

Timnath Sunday Market 138 Main St., Timnath First Sundays, 10am–3pm, May–Oct www.coloradofeedandgrain.com/sundaymarket

Jessup Farm Artisan Village Pop-Up Farm Stand 1957 Jessup Dr., Fort Collins www.jessupfarm.com Jodar Farms 5100 E. CR 48, Fort Collins www.jodarfarms.com Long Shadow Farm 101 Bothun Rd., Berthoud www.longshadowfarm.wixsite. com/longshadow Native Hill Farm 2100 W. CR 54G, Fort Collins www.nativehillfarm.com Ollin Farms 8627 N. 95th St., Longmont www.ollinfarms.com

On the Vine at Richmond Farms 3611 Richmond Dr., Fort Collins www.onthevineatrichmondfarms.com Papa Joe’s Honey 4855 W. Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland www.facebook.com/ PapaJoesLocalHoney Sunny Daze 901 S. CR 5, Fort Collins www.sunnydazegardens.com Tigges Farm 12404 CR 64½, Greeley www.tiggesfarm.com

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GROWING SEASON 2020

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greeley district 6 news Students honored as Boettcher Scholars

Mykyla Bowen Two Greeley-Evans School District 6 high school seniors are eligible for the prestigious Boettcher Scholarship this year. Mikyla Bowen of Northridge High School was selected to receive the scholarship and Gracejit Chahal of Greeley West High School was chosen as an alternate recipient.

The Boettcher Foundation awards 40 scholarships per year that pay the full cost of tuition at any four-year college or university in Colorado, as well as fees, a book allowance and an annual stipend for living expenses. Thousands of students undergo a rigorous application and interview process to compete for this prestigious award.

Students are selected based on their superior scholastic abilities, evidence of leadership and involvement, service to the community and their school, and outstanding character.

Mikyla checked the mail every day after her interview until she finally received a large envelope with the Boettcher address at the top.

“I couldn’t even wait to go home so I opened it while standing at the 28

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mailbox,” Mikyla says. “I was so nervous … but when I read the line that (said) I received the scholarship, I was in a state of euphoria.”

She sprinted home to show her mom the letter, then scheduled a video conference to share the good news with the District 6 staff members who wrote her letters of recommendation: Northridge English teacher Darren Ekern, history teacher Josh Seematter and wellness coordinator Rachel Hurshman.

In her application essay, Mikyla wrote about her relationship with her mother, forged through her adoption. “(My mom’s) significance in my life is her ability to be the right person at the right moment,” Mikyla says. “I chose this story because I wanted to show who I was as a person and how I became that person because of my mom.”

One of Mikyla’s greatest challenges during high school was studying Advanced Placement U.S. History independently. Mr. Ekern and several other teachers encouraged her to start studying the material on her own because Northridge did not offer the

Gracejit Chahal class that year. She woke up two hours before school every morning to watch online lectures and read the textbook after soccer practice. Following months of hard work, she earned a passing score of 4 on the test and will receive college credit for the course.

“It was a huge accomplishment for me given the circumstances and obstacles I had to overcome,” Mikyla says.

Mikyla participated in numerous extracurricular activities at Northridge including Future Business Leaders of America, Student Health Advisory Council, National Honor Society, speech and debate team, varsity soccer, varsity cross-country, Cache Bank’s Junior Board of Trustees and more.

Her proudest accomplishment was placing third at the State Leadership FBLA conference in the category of digital video production with her teammate, Taylee Beilman.

“The third place award also allowed us to compete at nationals, which was a great event and networking experience,” Mikyla says.

Mikyla will attend Colorado

State University to double major in neuroscience and data science with a concentration in computer science. Her eventual goal is to earn a doctoral degree in Computational Neuroscience.

Gracejit, who goes by Grace, also has an aptitude for digital technology. Her greatest accomplishment during high school was creating a social media campaign as Student Body President to increase student participation in schoolsponsored activities and events at Greeley West.

“I convinced Principal ( Jeff ) Cranson and my teacher sponsor to allow me to create a school SnapChat [account] to post advertisements, surveys and live videos from events,” Grace says.

“In just a couple months, membership in Student Council and community service clubs doubled, and record numbers of students tried out for sports and attended the Homecoming Dance.”

Grace joined Student Council her freshman year, serving as Class President for three years before she was elected Student Body President senior year. She has participated in District 6 Council of Student Representatives, swim team, Key Club, the Refugee Welcoming Committee and more.

“My parents have always been super supportive,” Grace says. “Being immigrants, they’ve taught me to always work with integrity and always stay

committed to my word.”

Grace wrote about her experience as an Indian-American in her application essay by describing an encounter she had with a four-year-oldboy while teaching swim lessons. In the middle of the lesson, the boy bluntly exclaimed, “Wow! Your face is brown!”

“It made me rethink how I view myself, my own identity and how I talk to others about it,” Grace says. “I came to the conclusion that especially in Greeley where diversity is beginning to explode, it’s important to have honest and open discussions regarding who we are, not just with children but adults as well.”

Grace was accepted to the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of Richmond, which offered her a full scholarship. Her chances of receiving the Boettcher scholarship are good, given that some initial recipients turn it down to attend out-of-state universities. She plans to study sociology and pre-medicine.

THREE DISTRICT 6 STUDENTS NAMED DANIELS SCHOLARS Three Greeley-Evans School District 6 graduating seniors have been notified they will receive the prestigious Daniels Scholarship.

Paid for through the Daniels Fund, a private foundation started by entrepreneur and cable television

pioneer Bill Daniels, these scholarships cover four years of tuition and fees, room and board, books and miscellaneous educational expenses for scholars who attend any accredited nonprofit college or university in the United States.

The District 6 Daniels Scholarship recipients for 2020 are: • Raeann Renee Mosqueda of Greeley West High School • Oscar Emmanuel Perez-Luna of Greeley West High School • Miah Marie Lipford of Northridge High School

More than 2,000 students applied for Daniels Scholarships this year. The foundation awarded 212 scholarships in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

The Daniels Fund awards scholarships based not only on academic success, but also on character, leadership qualities and commitment to contributing to the community exhibited by students.

“We have a rich history of students being successful Daniels Fund Scholars and I am so proud of this year’s recipients,” says Superintendent Dr. Deirdre Pilch. “These students have worked hard to achieve their goals so far and I know they will use this scholarship to fulfill their dreams. Thank you, too, to the parents, educators and staff who have supported them in their successful application.”

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poudre school district news #PSD together hashtag unites GET THE LOW-DOWN ON REMOTE LEARNING, PSD DEVICE TECHNICAL SUPPORT Have questions about remote education in PSD? Need help with your student’s PSD laptop? We’re here to help. Check out the PSD COVID-19 Remote Learning for Students webpage. There, you’ll find information about grading in this new remote environment, as well as resources for technical troubleshooting.

Recently, PSD launched a new laptop repair and device-swap program to support families during this time.

Those of us at Poudre School District profoundly miss our students and families and wish we could be together in school. What we’re doing now isn’t easy–for children, teens or adults. We can weather this together, by having grace with ourselves and others; practicing patience; and showing compassion.

The following are abbreviated updates. Visit the PSD COVID-19 response web page, where you can find the most-up-to-date information about free meal distribution, PSD laptop technical support, mental health resources, internet services support and so much more.

You may also consider donating to support PSD’s COVID-19 response efforts, including distribution of meals for students, emergency family support and access to internet services.

We are #PSDtogether, now and always.

professionals have teamed up to provide helpful resources.

PSD’s Mental Health Team continues to support students and families in collaboration with school counselors and other staff. The mental health specialists can be accessed through your child’s school counselor or administration team.

Check out additional information on the COVID-19 Mental Health Resources web page.

NEW #PSDTOGETHER HASHTAG UNIFIES PSD DURING REMOTE EDUCATION We have been so touched seeing all of you come together during this time.

Tell us about the good that you’re seeing in the world right now using #PSDtogether. Has a teacher made a big difference for you and your family lately? Is your student doing something wonderful to give back? Tell us about it!

We will be doing our best to highlight your stories on our website and social media pages. Take care, everyone.

PSD SCHOOLS, BUILDINGS CLOSED FOR REMAINDER OF 2019-20 SCHOOL YEAR Watch Dr. Smyser’s video announcement and read the PSD news item for more details.

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS, FAMILIES Everyone can use support from time to time and, especially, now. That’s why PSD’s mental health and wellness 30

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A gloved PSD staff member organizes laptops to hand out at an April distribution day for K-5 students. PSD middle and high school students were sent home with their laptops before spring break. Elementary students don’t typically take their devices home during the school year; to help support remote learning, PSD has now distributed about 3,000 laptops to students in grades PK-5.

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thompson school district news Riverview Pre-K-8 opening Fall 2021

Riverview PK-8 School now has a Facebook page. Follow the page to stay updated on all the changes happening at Riverview! https://bit.ly/2xiZRlZ TSD CONTINUES VIRTUAL LEARNING Thompson School District has made the difficult decision to cancel all in-person instruction and to close district buildings in Thompson School District for the remainder of the current 2019-2020 school year.

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TSD will continue with on-line and virtual learning opportunities that are currently being launched at the school level.

Here is a list of resources you can find on the Thompson School District Website: www.thompsonschools.org • You can still register at any time online: www.thompsonschools.org • Meals for Students: https://www. thompsonschools.org/Page/21706 • Learning from home: https://www.

thompsonschools.org/Page/21728 • Safety during TSD @Home Learning: https://www.thompsonschools.org/ Page/21696 • Community Resources for families: https://www.thompsonschools.org/ Page/21703 • Public Health Information: https://www. thompsonschools.org/Page/21712 • Frequently Asked Questions: https://bit. ly/TSDC19FAQ

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M AY 2 0 2 0

EVENTS CALENDAR Please check websites for the status of the following events as cancelations or postponements may have been announced after our publication date.

FESTIVALS, FAIRS & CELEBRATIONS

SUNDAY, MAY 17 Fort Collins Kids in the Park Get outside and play with recreational activities, playing in the park, dancing, enjoying food truck grub and flying kites.

Twin Silo Community Park, 5552-5564 Ziegler Rd., FC. 10am–3pm. www.fcgov.com/recreation/kidsinthepark.

LIBRARY & BOOK EVENTS

SATURDAY, MAY 16 NoCo Family Expo Free STEAM education events with activities, vendors and food trucks. All ages. First National Bank Building, The Ranch Event Center, LV. 10am. www.facebook.com/NoCoFamilyExpo.

DIGITAL BOOKS, E-LEARNING RESOURCES & ONLINE STORYTIMES No need for a library card to utilize online resources during library closures. Be sure to check websites for summer reading programs too!

Clearview Library District: www.clearviewlibrary.org Estes Valley Library: www.estesvalleylibrary.org High Plains Library District: www.mylibrary.us Loveland Public Library: www.lovelandpubliclibrary.org Poudre River Library District: www.poudrelibraries.org

Loveland Kids to Parks/Pirate Day Get outdoors for this national day of play including picnics, crafts, family geocaching treasure hunts (registration required). All ages. North Lake Park, 2750 N. Taft Ave., LV. 11am–2pm. www. cityofloveland.org/about/events-calendar.

FRIDAY, MAY 1 G.L.O.W. Minute to Win It Inclusive youth group for teens with alternative identities and their friends.

Windsor-Severance Library, 720 3rd St., WS. 4:30–6pm. https://clearviewlibrary. org/event/4199408.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, MAY 2 & 3 Greeley Spring Craft & Gift Show Artisan vendors, giveaways, food and children’s activities. Greeley Mall, GR. Saturday 9am–5pm; Sunday 11am–4pm. www.greeleytribune.com/craft.

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SUNDAY, MAY 3 Escape the Death Star Team up with fellow Rebel Alliance members to steal vital plans, escape the Death Star and save the galaxy.

But watch out! Stormtroopers are searching for you and may be armed with stun darts. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave. #200, FC. 4–5pm, grades 4–6; 5:30–6:30pm, grades 7–12. www.poudrelibraries.org.

MONDAY, MAY 4 Plant Pets, Oh My! A pet you don’t need to walk? Plant your own plant pet using a plastic bottle, seeds, soil, paint and more. Ages 6–8. WindsorSeverance Library, 720 3rd St., WS. 3–4pm. https://clearviewlibrary.org/event/ 4199481 WEDNESDAY, MAY 6 Getting Crafty: Revenge of the 6th Lightsabers Get your craft on. Ages 9–12.

Windsor-Severance Library, 720 3rd St. WS. 3:30–4:30pm. https://clearviewlibrary.org/event/ 4199488.

THURSDAY, MAY 7 The Works: Circuits Tinker, build, get messy and explore with science, technology, engineering, art and math. Ages 6–12. Windsor-Severance Library, 720 3rd St., WS. 3–4pm. https://clearviewlibrary.org/event/4199497.

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MONDAY, MAY 11 We Dream in STEAM: Embryology Learn about the process of egg to chick, which is called embryology with CSU 4H youth development partner, Patrick Pulis.

Ages 9–12. Windsor-Severance Library 720 3rd St., WS. 3:30–4:30pm. https://clearviewlibrary.org/event/4199576.

MAY 12 & 25 Tiny Trekkers Nature exploration, stories and fun facts.

Ages 2–5 yrs with required adult caregiver.

Registration required. River Bluffs Open Space, 6101 East County Road 32E, FC 10–10:45am. https://offero.larimer.org/Calendar.

SUNDAY, MAY 10 Flying High at Crosier Airfield Exhibit Last day of exhibit to learn about Greeley’s thriving airport and the men who created it. All ages. $15/adult; $3/seniors and youth ages 3–17; Greeley History Museum 714 8th St., GR. Noon–4pm. www.greeleycalendar.com

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 Family STEAM Zone Science experiments, techy toys and apps, building toys and more. Families with kids ages 6–12. Poudre Valley Learning Center 8313 W F St., GR. 4–5pm. https://clearviewlibrary.org/event/4193819.

FRIDAY, MAY 15 Astronomy at Bobcat Ridge Family program and night skygazing with telescopes provided by Northern Colorado Astronomical Society. Bobcat Ridge Natural Area, 10184 W. CR 32C, LV. 6:30–8:30pm. www.fcgov.com/naturalareas.

THURSDAY, MAY 14 Little STEAMers: All About Amphibians Children learn how bees search for nectar, pollinate flowers, communicate with each other and make honey. Ages 3–5 with caregiver. $7/child ($5/members), caregivers free. Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 408 Mason Ct., FC. 10:15– 11am and 2:15–3pm. www.fcmod.org.

Rocky Mountain Raptor: Spring Essentials Feathered friends share what warmer weather means for migrating raptors and their babies. All ages. Old Town Library 201 Peterson St., FC. 6:30–7:30pm. www.poudrelibraries.org.

THURSDAY, MAY 14 Teen Ugly Craft Night Tie-dye with Sharpies! Sharpies and some materials provided. Bring any sort of white cloth you’d like as well. Registration required. Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. 6–7:30pm. www.poudrelibraries.org.

THURSDAY, MAY 21 The Works: Aerodynamics!

Tinker, build, get messy and explore with science, technology, engineering, art and math. Ages 6–12. Windsor-Severance Library, 720 3rd St., WS. 3–4pm. https://clearviewlibrary.org/event/4199515.

Teen Craft-a-Thon: Perler Bead Bowls Learn how to melt Perler beads into usable shapes to contain your small treasures.

Supplies provided. Ages 12–18.

Windsor-Severance Library, 720 3rd St. WS. 6:30–7:30pm. https://clearviewlibrary.org/event/4199756.

CONNECT TO NATURE

MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS Read and Seed Preschool readiness activities including story and related craft. Ages 2–4 with adult. Registration required. Free/ members. $11/adult; $8/child ages 2+.

Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave. FC. 10:15am & 11:15am. 970-416-2486 www.fcgov.com/gardens.

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SATURDAY, MAY 16 Kids Fishing Derby Hosted by Town of Wellington. Free fishing poles to first 100 children. Ages 15 and under. Village Ponds, east side of Wellington by the disc golf course.

8am–Noon. www.facebook.com/ events/168002854501070.

Stargazing with Northern Colorado Astronomical Society Telescopes provided for viewing stars, galaxies and planets. All ages. $9 daily entrance permit required. Registration encouraged. Ramsay-Shockey Open Space west of LV. 9–11pm. https://offero.larimer.org/Calendar.

MUSEUM EVENTS

VIRTUAL Loveland History Lessons Quick lessons provide basics on local history topics such as the cherry industry, Big Thompson Water Project, Native American Tribes and the Colorado Gold Rush. Includes suggestions for hands-on learning. www.lovelandmuseumgallery. org/virtual-learning.

MAY 9 THROUGH JULY 12 Fantastical Worlds Exhibit Loveland artist and curator Kerri Sewolt invites you to enter her world of fantasy tinged with the stark reality of the human condition. Loveland Museum Gallery 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. www.lovelandmuseumgallery.org.

TUESDAY, MAY 19 Mini Makers: Animal Inventors Imagine, invent and problem solve while learning about recycling and reusing.

Please bring one clean recyclable item (e.g. plastic bottle, cereal box, etc.). Ages 3–5 with adult caregivers. $5 ($4/member).

Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 408 Mason Ct., FC. 1:15– 2:15pm. www.fcmod.org.

SATURDAY, MAY 23 Saturday History for Kids: Sugar, Sugar Sugar Beets Did you know sugar comes from a vegetable? Explore exhibits and engage in activities about sugar beets made Loveland grow. Ages 6–11. $10 ($8/members).

Loveland Museum Gallery, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. 1–2:30pm. www.lovelandmuseumgallery.org.

MAY 23 & 24 Centennial Village Museum Centennial Celebration Experience this 8-acre living history museum of American western heritage with blacksmithing, historical house tours and more. The Buffalo Soldiers perform at 2pm both days. $8/adult; $6/senior; $5/youth.

Centennial Village Museum, 1475 A St., GR. Saturday 10am–4pm; Sunday Noon–4pm. ww.greeleymuseums.com/events.

THURSDAY, MAY 28 Little STEAMers: B is for Bird Children learn about the complex patterns and colors on bird feathers, how and where birds build their homes and build their own nest. Ages 3–5 with caregiver. $7/ child ($5/members), caregivers free. Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 408 Mason Ct., FC. 10:15–11am and 2:15–3pm. www.fcmod.org.

History Brown Bag Series: Greeley’s Notable Union Colonists and Pioneers Presented by Greeley Historic Preservation Commission. Greeley History Museum, 714 8th St., GR. Noon–1pm. www.greeleycalendar.com.

Harold Dunning’s Birthday Party Celebrate the birthday of Loveland Pioneer Museum’s founder, Harold Dunning, with cake and history-based party activities. Loveland Museum Gallery, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. 6–7pm. www.lovelandmuseumgallery.org.

ENTERTAINMENT

VIRTUAL LCLIVE: During Intermission The Lincoln Center presents a blog series highlighting a variety of online entertainment from Broadway to comedy to classical music and more. https://blog.lctix.com/welcome-toduring-intermission.

FRIDAY, MAY 1 Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra: Bon Voyage Sea-themed season finale of GPO and UNC combined chorus. $35/25/adult, $10/ teacher; $5/student. Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave., GR. 7:30pm. www.ucstars.com.

THROUGH MAY 19 Always…Patsy Cline Musical based on a true story of one of the lost legends of American popular music.

Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 4747 Market Place Dr., Johnstown. Times vary. www.coloradocandlelight.com.

SUNDAY, MAY 24 Scooby-Doo! and The Lost City of Gold Scooby-Doo and friends embark on a new mystery adventure that includes innovative technology, original music, puppetry, magic, singing, dance, interactive video, aerial arts, acrobatics and video mapping.

Lincoln Center Performance Hall, 417 W. Magnolia, FC. 6pm. www.lctix.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 30 Bicycle Poker Ride Collect one playing card at five stops as you ride around Loveland and the best poker hand wins! Two routes. All ages. $15/individual; $45/family, up to 4 people.

Start/end at Foundry Plaza, 260 E. 3rd St., LV. 10:30am–1pm. www.cityofloveland. org/WalkBikeLoveland.

FRIDAY, MAY 29 KC and the Sunshine Band Enjoy Grammy award-winning music from the ‘70s with hits like “Get Down Tonight”, “That’s the Way I Like It”, and “Shake Your Booty” in the Sounds of Sunshine Tour. Budweiser Events Center, The Ranch, LV. 7pm. www.treventscomplex.com.

SUNDAY, MAY 31 Open Streets Ride the Route during a day of car-free, family-friendly streets with free music, art, more. East Swallow and Centennial, FC. 10am–3pm. www.fcgov.com/openstreets.

MAY 30 & 31 Canyon Concert Ballet: The Wizard of Oz This Spring Showcases celebrates their 40th anniversary and many amazing achievements. All ages. $8–12. Lincoln Center, 417 Magnolia St., FC. Saturday, 6pm and Sunday, 3pm. 970-221-6730, www.lctix.com.

THROUGH MAY 31 Curtains Musical comedy whodunit. Dinnerincluded or show only tickets available.

Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 4747 Market Place Dr., Johnstown. Times vary. www.coloradocandlelight.com.

ACTIVE-ITIES

DATES PENDING Healthy Kids Run and Fit.Teen Run Series Sponsored by UCHealth’s Healthy Kids Club. Ages 5–12 can participate in seven free, local one-mile fun runs. Ages 11–18 register for discounted $15 entry fees to seven local 5Ks. Prizes awarded for completing 4+ runs. Northern Colorado, locations vary. www.healthykidsclub.org.

ONGOING Estes Valley Recreation Explore swimming, golf, sports and fitness programs: www.colorado.gov/pacific/evrpd.

Fort Collins Recreation Discover a multitude of swimming, sports, skating and fitness opportunities: www.fcgov.com/recreation.

Greeley Recreation Check out swimming, ice skating, sports and more: www.greeleyrec.com.

Loveland Recreation Locate sports, fitness, swimming and more: www.cityofloveland.org/ departments/parks-recreation/chilsonrecreation-center.

Windsor Recreation Seek swimming, fitness and athletic programs: www.recreationliveshere.com.

SUNDAY, MAY 17 Sensory Friendly Family Swim For families with sensory needs…small crowd, accepting environment, and noise lessened by turning off most water features. All ages. Chilson Recreation Center, 700 E. Fourth St., LV. 6–7:15pm. www.cityofloveland.org.

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time out Embracing the slow down Be grateful for peace, time together and joy KATIE HARRIS

E

ager to escape the house for a few hours, our family of five piled into the car on a mid-April day and headed to a nearby open space area. We hadn’t been driving long when we came across a dozen or more senior-aged bikers, off their bikes and mingling in a parking lot.

As we passed, my 10-year-old gave voice to the thought that had surely crossed all of our minds: “How come we’re wasting our lives away while they’re hanging out with their friends?”

Here he was, making drastic changes to his life, giving up school, sports and friends; everything that makes a 10-year-old’s world go ‘round, in order to keep the older, atrisk generation safe, while witnessing the very people he was told he was protecting disregarding the same safety precautions.

When we arrived back home, we did the same thing we’d done for the past 18 days; headed outdoors.

My husband fired up the tractor and went back to moving dirt around. My daughter picked up the scooter she’d abandoned on the driveway an hour earlier. The boys headed out to the backyard to continue digging their way to China, and without anything better to do, I soon found myself wandering toward the barn.

I gazed out at my family as I took solace in the gentle nudges of horse muzzles, exploring my hands and pockets for treats. The boys had wasted no time in covering each other in dirt and mud, head to toe. I heard my husband singing along to an old country song playing through his headphones, interrupted only by my daughter’s occasional giggles as she wheeled around the driveway, lost in her imagination.

Between watching the news, 38

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browsing social media, and being bombarded with one cancellation email after another, I’d allowed myself to believe that we were suffering; missing out on life somehow.

It was no wonder I’d found myself bitter at the choices of others. I’d been certain that they were out enjoying themselves, living their lives, while just as my 10-year-old had complained earlier that day, we were sitting at home wasting ours.

And that’s when it hit me. Our lives weren’t being wasted. Not a single minute of a single day in the past 18 days and 6 hours of sheltering in place had been a waste.

Yes, the days had begun to blend together, but was that really such a terrible thing?

We’d played a family game of volleyball on Tuesday (or was that Monday?), and I’d played catch with the kids the day before that, and we’d

spent over an hour laughing until we cried as we catapulted each other three feet high on the trampoline at some point in between.

We’d also cleaned out every closet in the house, repainted windowsills, touched up the stain on the front door, replaced rotting boards on the deck, fixed fences and tidied up the garage.

And all of this, we did as a family. Had it all been wasted time? Or had it been the most valuable time we’d spent yet?

Attitude adjustment in place, I found I no longer cared how others spent their time. Instead I found myself grateful for the peace, acceptance and yes, even joy in our current circumstances that I had been lucky enough to discover.

And I found myself hoping that, someday when life returns to normal, I’ll be able to retain a little bit of the current slow down and weave it into our everyday lives moving forward.

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