Over 3,000 families and “foodies†visited 35 farms during the 13th Annual Piedmont Farm Tour that took place April 19 & 20. The event is the largest sustainable farm tour in the United States and is co-sponsored by the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA) and Weaver Street Market cooperative grocery in Carrboro, NC. Featuring farms in Alamance, Chatham, Lee, Orange and Person Counties, the farms on this year’s tour saw approximately 10,000 farm visits, including people from as far as Maryland and Florida.
People like Alex and Betsy Hitt of Peregrine Farms, Cathy Jones and Mike Perry of Perry-winkle Farm, Ken Dawson and Libby Outlaw at Maple Spring Gardens, Bill Dow of Ayrshire Farm and many, many others have been working to provide wholesome food utilizing environmentally-safe production methods for Triangle area families for 25 years. We are fortunate that these innovative growers open their farms for the public to visit. Tour visitors got the chance to see how organic practices have helped local farms cope with the continuing drought. Farms like Fickle Creek, Baldwin and Braeburn/Cane Creek gave consumers lessons in how humane animal husbandry practices actually enhance the ability of the soil to withstand drought. Other tour highlights included one of the first certified organic dairies in the Southeast, Lindale Farm in Silk Hope, NC; the 100% grassfed lamb at Captain J.S. Pope Farm in Cedar Grove, NC; certified organic vegetable producers such as Harland’s Creek Farm, Timberwood Organics and Pine Knot Farm; and UNC mascot Ramses at Hogan’s Magnolia View Farm.
Related Links: CFSA Farm Tour Photo Gallery, Video Clip of Farm Tour Participant, More photos at Growing Small Farms
