Happening Now…
- Invasive Species 101
- Post Fire Rehab FAQ Calwood
- Best Practices for Sharing Farm Vehicles During the Pandemic
- Processing Cattle in an Unusual Year
Small Acreage Site Visits
Click here for information on site visitsThe Small Acreage Coordinator, lgonzalez@bouldercounty.gov, is available to make site visits to small acreage landowners. There is a $75 site visit fee to cover mileage and printed materials. The landowner and the Small Acreage Coordinator walk the property. The Coordinator will identify forage plants and weeds and talk about the landowner’s goals and what must be done to accomplish them. Post visit the Coordinator provides a full report including weed and pasture management recommendations, reseeding information and any other information or contacts that are recommended. Site visits normally take from 1 – 2 hours depending on size of the property, condition of the property and landowner’s questions. Hablamos espanol.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, every effort is being made to provide site visits safely. The following protocol is followed during site visits at this time.
What to Expect during your Small Acreage Site Visit During COVID 19
The Small Acreage Coordinator requests that if you do have or have had any of the following symptoms or have been in contact with someone who has in the last two weeks that you be courteous and call to reschedule the site visit or allow the coordinator to perform the visit alone. Symptoms – fever, cough, body aches, fatigue or chest tightness. The Small Acreage Coordinator will provide the landowner the same courtesy if they are not feeling well.
Small Acreage Coordinator and landowner will maintain a minimum of 6’ physical distance (10’ is preferred) during the site visit. No momentary violations of this distance are allowed at any time.
The Small Acreage Coordinator will either sanitize their hands prior to and after the visit or wear gloves.
The Small Acreage Coordinator will always wear a mask covering nose and mouth while on the property. It is preferred that the landowner also wear a mask during the entire site visit. If the landowner is not willing to wear a mask, it will be the Coordinators’ decision whether to proceed or stop with the site visit. If at any time, the landowner decides to discontinue wearing the mask, the Coordinator may make the determination to end the visit.
If the Coordinator needs to point out a specific plant or other condition, they will use a 6’ pointer and then step back from the point at least 6’ allowing the landowner to view the plant/condition.
The Coordinator will not provide the landowner with any printed material on-site. Any materials that can be sent via e-mail will be sent with the site visit report along with an invoice for services rendered. Materials that cannot be sent via e-mail will be mailed through the United State Post Office.
Landowner’s contact information will not be shared with anyone unless contract tracing is required for COVID-19.
Rural Property
Boulder County has more than 5,000 properties from 1-100 acres totaling over 37,000 acres. This page is for those small acreage managers and anyone with wildlife questions.
Thinking of Buying Rural Property?
The purchase of a small acreage or farmland is a major investment. There are many factors to consider such as price, appearance, suitability for planned use, amenities, construction, etc. Prior to purchasing a property or after you have purchased one or lived on it, you need to educate yourself on all the aspects of your property. Please take time to review these resources, “Purchasing Rural Property in Colorado”
Boulder County Rural Living Resource Guide
- Introduction & Considerations
- Codes & Policies
- Water, Sewer & Utilities
- Agriculture
- Livestock
- Emergencies & Disasters
- Wildlife, Pollinators & Windbreaks
- Gardening
- Home & Food
- Resource Agencies
Small Acreage Management (SAM) Program
See tabs on the right for topic areas.
Wildlife Master Program
Do you have squirrels chewing on your trees or raccoons eating your corn? Tired of dealing with mice in your house? Wildlife Masters are available to provide information on how to deal with these critters and more. Trained volunteers can help the public deal with wildlife conflicts.
Grass, Crop & Pollinator Trial Garden
The trial garden was established to provide landowners with a visual idea of what native grasses, pollinator and cover crop mixes look like and how they can be utilized on small acreages. Trial plots are available for viewing 365 days/year. For more information, see the brochure and seed list below or at the CSU Extension Office.
Small Acreage Newsletters
- SAM Newsletter Fall 2020
- SAM Newsletter Summer 2020
- SAM Newsletter Spring 2020
- SAM Newsletter Winter 2020
- 2019 – Winter – Fall
- 2018 – Winter – Spring – Fall
- 2017 – Winter – Fall
- 2016 – Winter – Spring – Fall
- 2015 – Winter –
- 2014 – SAM newsletter Spring 2014 –
- 2013 – SAM newsletter Winter 2013 – SAM newsletter Spring 2013 – SAM newsletter Summer 2013 – SAM newsletter Fall 2013
- 2012 – SAM newsletter Spring 2012 – SAM newsletter Summer 2012 – SAM newsletter Fall 2012
- 2011 – SAM newsletter Winter 2011 – SAM newsletter Spring 2011 – SAM newsletter Summer 2011
- 2010 – SAM newsletter Winter 2010 – SAM newsletter Spring 2010 – SAM newsletter Summer 2010 – SAM newsletter Fall 2010
- 2009 – SAM newsletter Winter 2009 pdf – SAM newsletter Spring 2009 – SAM newsletter Fall 2009
- 2008 – SAM newsletter Winter 2008 – SAM newsletter Spring 2008 – SAM newsletter Summer 2008 – SAM newsletter Fall 2008
- 2007 – SAM newsletter Summer 2007 – SAM newsletter Fall 2007
- 2006 – Fall 2006
- 2005 – Fall 2005
Sign up for the BoCo Small Acreage Listserv
Join the Boulder County (BoCo) Small Acreage Listserv select BoCo_Small_Acreage from list and fill out form this listserv provides a means for us to send out information to Boulder County small acreage landowners to help them make better management decisions. It is also not moderated, meaning that anyone subscribed to it can send emails to everyone on the list, providing a forum for discussion of small acreage issues.
THIS IS A CSU LISTSERV, NO COMMERCIAL EMAILS PLEASE.
The purchase of a small acreage or farmland is a major investment. There are many factors to consider such as price, appearance, suitability for planned use, amenities, construction, etc. Purchasing rural property, particularly in some parts of Colorado, requires consideration of additional factors by the prospective buyer. There are special considerations, hazards and problems with rural land and housing that are different from those usually associated with urban property. Prospective purchasers who have not lived in rural areas, particularly mountain areas, may not be aware of these considerations.
Get Land Management Training Online
Those who own, live on, and manage small-acreage properties are responsible for a variety of natural resources, including soil, water, air, plants, and animals (SWAPA). It is important to manage these resources sustainably to ensure the land remains healthy for crop and animal production, ecological diversity, and preservation for future generations. The Land Stewardship program offers online training to help you understand the fundamentals of sustainable land and resource management.
Land Management Training Online | Colorado State University
