Pastures of Plenty Farm
Media Kit
Est. 1993 – Boulder, Colo.
4039 Ogallala Rd, Longmont, CO 80503
303.440.7103
www.pasturesofplentyfarm.com
About Us
Pastures of Plenty is an organic vegetable and flower farm on 35-acres in Boulder County, Colo. Founded
in 1993 by Lyle Davis and Sylvia Tawse, Pastures of Plenty is a family farm, operating in a way that
celebrates true seasonal flavors, natural beauty and sustainability.
As one of the original founders of Boulder’s Alfalfa’s Markets in 1979, Lyle was turned on to farming as
he ran the produce department for 18 years at the natural food grocery store chain. He consistently
sought local and organic fruits and vegetables, which fueled his own interest in regional agriculture and
organic practices. On Pastures of Plenty's 35-acres, Lyle now grows more than 75 varieties of organic
flowers and dozens of heirloom vegetable varieties.
In addition to running the family farm, Lyle is the chef and owner of Big Bang Catering. Pastures of
Plenty is where Big Bang Catering grows and sources a good share of its vegetables in season. By
offering a true ‘Farm to Table’ experience, including in-house floral arrangements, Pastures of Plenty is a
distinct wedding and special event location. For more information on Big Bang and on-farm events
please visit www.bigbangcatering.com.
Commitment to great food starts with the first link in the food chain — the growers. Pastures of Plenty’s
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share program lets shareholders establish sustainable links to
their food supply by providing weekly ‘shares’ of fresh flowers, vegetables and herbs harvested from our
farm as well as on-farm events.
As the legendary singer Woody Guthrie wrote his 1949 song "Pastures of Plenty" to make a point about
American farming conditions post-Dust Bowl, Lyle today works with a team of more than a dozen
employees to cultivate more than a farm. He and Sylvia call it their “habitat” in recognition of their
responsibility to the health of the soil, the diversity of the crops and all the living things that call it home.
Pastures of Plenty farm with blooming fields
4039 Ogallala Rd, Longmont, CO 80503
303.440.7103
www.pasturesofplentyfarm.com
Fast Facts
Pastures of Plenty Farm…
Was homesteaded in 1887 by the Springsteen family.
Was bought from the Kirkemier family by Sylvia Tawse and Lyle Davis in 1993.
Is a 35-acre cut flower and vegetable farm with 20 acres in cultivation.
Is organically farmed
Is named after the famous Woody Guthrie ballad.
The Tawse-Davis family has farmed the property since 1994.
Has had five seasons of its ‘experiential CSA’ program.
Features a full-service “Field-to-Table” entertainment center for special events.
Offers full-service floral offerings for events, and catering through sister
company Big Bang Catering
Is home to the Tawse-Davis family, the third family to live on the property since
1887.
Is located at 4039 Ogallala Road, Longmont, CO 80503, surrounded primarily by
residential properties, U.S. Dept. of Commerce land, and horse ranches in a rural
neighborhood formerly referred to as Altona.
4039 Ogallala Rd, Longmont, CO 80503
303.440.7103
www.pasturesofplentyfarm.com
FAQ Sheet
When was the farm founded?
Pastures of Plenty, in its current form, was
founded in 1993 by Lyle Davis and Sylvia R. Tawse.
The farm is one of the oldest farms in Boulder
County. It was homesteaded in 1887 by the
Springsteen Family, who immigrated from
Scotland. By 1907 (the year that county records
began in Boulder, Colo.) a family of German
immigrants, the Kirkemiers, owned the property,
adding on to the small farm house that still stands
today. Original land holdings by the Kirkemiers
were more than 400 acres, used primarily for dairy farming and growing feed. Over time the Kirkemier
family sold off the majority of its acreage for residential use, and the remaining 35-acre property was
designated as an agricultural easement-- meaning land could not be parceled off. The remaining
property was primarily used for horse grazing for several decades. The formerly abundant agricultural
fields sat untended until Lyle and Sylvia bought the property in 1993, dubbing themselves “accidental
farmers” due to their utter lack of qualification and experience in farming. Their original and naïve
thought was the farm was a beautiful place to raise a family and plant a sizable home garden.
Where does the farm’s name come from?
Pastures of Plenty Farm was dubbed so by owners Lyle and Sylvia as a nod to the great 1949 Woody
Guthrie song: “Pastures of Plenty.” As avid American folk music fans, the couple wanted to name the
farm after something that resonated with them. Inspired by the American farming experience, they
chose Woody Guthrie as their muse, many of his lyrics being eerily apt to their Longmont, Colorado
historical farm:
Green pastures of plenty from dry desert
ground
From the Grand Coulee Dam where the
waters run down
Every state in the Union us migrants have
been
We'll work in this fight and we'll fight till we
win
4039 Ogallala Rd, Longmont, CO 80503
303.440.7103
It's always we rambled, that river and I
All along your green valley, I will work till I
die
My land I'll defend with my life if it be
Cause my pastures of plenty must always be
free
www.pasturesofplentyfarm.com
During peak summer season, Sylvia often calls the farm, “Plenty of Pastures” instead.
Is Pastures of Plenty an organic farm?
Yes. Pastures of Plenty has maintained organic practices since 1994. Sylvia and Lyle are long time organic
advocates -- both on a state and a national level. They each served as members of the Colorado Organic
Producers’ Association board, which drafted Colorado’s original organic regulations in the early 1980s
and late 1990s. The couple believes that organic is a system that grows in harmony with nature, instead
of an attempt to control nature for high yield results. Ultimately, Lyle and Sylvia view their responsibility
not just as farmers but as stewards of this land, working to support a bio-diverse habitat that attracts
aviary, animal, and beneficial insect life so that the soil is always fed, allowing people to be fed by the
farm.
Is Pastures of Plenty a vegetable or flower farm?
The answer is both! The farm is diversely planted in both flowers and vegetables. Coming from a
background in organic produce merchandising as a co-founder and produce manager at the original
Alfalfa’s Market, Lyle is an enthusiast for both things that bloom and deliver on taste. He likes to
experiment with heirloom varieties, such as Romano beans, Chioggia beets and Marcom peppers, to
expose his customers to both old world flavors found
anew and new experimental varieties not found in the
grocery store. Comparatively, Lyle’s love of flowers
comes from the vast flower gardens his parents
cultivated in Westchester County, New York, where he
grew up. As part of a commitment to be as sustainablyminded as possible, Lyle cultivates more than 75 varieties
of organic flowers, offering cut and potted flowers to his
loyal local customer base. Lyle estimates that he grows
around 70 varieties of vegetables at the farm annually.
Does Pastures of Plenty host events on their property?
Yes, Pastures of Plenty hosts weddings and other special events in its fully-equipped “Field-to-Table”
entertaining center, located right on the property. The space is adjacent to a rambling creek and 100year old Cottonwood trees, and includes an outdoor bar and patio arbor, full grill and wood burning
pizza oven, bonfire pit, a large 30 x 50 event tent, dining area and a guesthouse for the exclusive use of
bridal parties. The farm welcomes weddings and events of approximately 200 guests. The event space
offers striking views of the flower and vegetable fields in bloom, and a backdrop of high mesas that
frame the north-eastern side of the property. Additionally, Pastures of Plenty offers full floral services
for on-site and off-site events, as well as partnering with sister company Big Bang Catering to offer fullservice Farm-to-Table catering for events.
For further information on Pastures of Plenty event rental and floral services, please contact Lyle
Davis at 303-440-7103 or [email protected].
4039 Ogallala Rd, Longmont, CO 80503
303.440.7103
www.pasturesofplentyfarm.com
For further information on Big Bang Catering, please contact John Howlett at 303-447-8900 or
[email protected].
What does “Farm to Table” mean to Lyle and Sylvia?
“Farm-to-Table,” a term becoming increasingly vogue, is something Lyle and Sylvia have embraced for
more than 19 years. The term connotes pleasure at the table based on seasonal ingredients mostly from
within our own food shed. This food concept grew into an actual place on the farm in what is called the
Pastures of Plenty “Field-to-Table Entertaining Center,” allowing guests to partake in celebrations, 25
yard from where the food they are enjoying is grown. In
this sense, the farm becomes more than just a production
plot; it becomes a convivial place to cook, eat, share and
celebrate. On a greater level, “Farm-to-Table” also means
caring about provenance, whether that be the source of
your coffee thousands of miles away or the source of your
dry rosé. Honoring those who work hard at the source is
part of honoring “Farm-to-Table” living, not just by a
radius of miles, but also with a respect for all producers
and their traditions around the world.
What is Pastures of Plenty’s environmental and sustainability commitment?
Aside from farming organically, Lyle has made a commitment to keep his business as local as possible,
serving only Front Range and mountain markets within 100 miles of the farm. Additionally, the farm is in
its fifth season of its very successful “experiential” CSA program. The 16-week CSA offers members a
chance to truly taste the freshest, seasonal bounty of the harvest while allowing Pastures of Plenty to
minimize its carbon footprint from traveling to multiple markets. The Farm and Big Bang Catering
cultivates its own compost from event waste that is used to fertilize the fields. The CSA and market
stands use only biodegradable plastic bags as another baby step toward a lighter impact on the
environment.
For more information about the CSA program, please contact Mary Rochelle at (303)449-2108 ex. 24, or
[email protected]
What makes the Pastures of Plenty CSA “experiential”’?
Sylvia and Lyle take community supported agriculture to an
elevated level. They chose to make their CSA experiential so that
shareholders can feel a part of the farm -- through both the food in
their weekly shares and on-farm experiences. Pastures of Plenty
hosts multiple cooking classes and events every season exclusively
for their CSA members, including cooking classes in the farmhouse
kitchen, two rollicking parties – “A Harvest Party” and “No More
Harvest Party” and several “Organic Walk and Talks.” The farm
4039 Ogallala Rd, Longmont, CO 80503
303.440.7103
www.pasturesofplentyfarm.com
always welcomes shareholders wanting to visit the property. Should you want to walk the back pastures,
have a little picnic, or come to pick chokecherries for jam making, the answer is a consistent YES.
For on-farm events, how does Pastures of Plenty employ ‘eco-friendly’ practices?
Pastures of Plenty grows the majority of the vegetables used in on-farm events. When ingredients need
to be sourced elsewhere, Lyle has built strong relationships with other regional organic farmers and
artisan producers. He works to supply his event customers with the most sustainable and local products
possible. Some partner farms include Windsor Dairy, The Fresh Herb Company, Hazel Dell Mushrooms,
John Long Family Farm and Cure Organics, as well as local cheese companies MouCo and Haystack
Mountain Goat Cheese.
Outside of his food purchases, Lyle recycles and composts. The farm makes its own compost from the
food scraps from events and then uses the compost to fertilize the fields and gardens. All trash at events
is sorted, and everything that is possible is recycled. Often, a great source of waste around events is
renting dishes and glassware. Pastures of Plenty offers their own unique and eclectic set of antiques
dishware, which brides can choose to use instead of renting
traditional dishware. When disposable dishware is used at
events, Pastures of Plenty uses the local, environmentallyfriendly company Eco-Products.
What is unique about having an event at Pastures of Plenty?
Besides the opportunity to have an event in one of the most
unique and picturesque settings in Boulder County, Pastures of
Plenty offers full Farm-to-Table dining and floral services. At
Pastures of Plenty we educate our brides and other clients on how to make sustainable food and flower
choices in planning their celebration. By emphasizing the importance of keeping menus seasonal, we
ensure that the dishes we prepare have the lowest carbon footprint possible. Not to mention that the
menu items taste the best possible, when peak season ingredients are used.
Pastures of Plenty is proud to offer full-service local organic floral offerings. It is Pastures of Plenty’s goal
to offer brides the most beautiful and unique wedding bouquets possible in a sustainable and ecoconscious fashion. Lyle Davis is the contact for floral services.
For further information about Pastures of Plenty, please visit our website or call (303)440-7103. For
media inquiries, please contact Cassidy Tawse-Garcia at [email protected].
4039 Ogallala Rd, Longmont, CO 80503
303.440.7103
www.pasturesofplentyfarm.com