Outstanding in the field
One of the finest tours available in the Piedmont is somewhat self-guided and only happens once a year. But with the combination of a little preplanning and a healthy curiosity, you can learn a lot about the work of some of the most productive and innovative farmers in the land.
This year, the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association’s annual Piedmont Farm Tour is the weekend of April 25-26 and features more than 40 farms in Orange, Chatham, Durham and Alamance counties. Eight new farms are on the list this year.
The event, co-sponsored by Weaver Street Market, is the largest sustainable farm tour in the country. It’s a great way to explore corners of the counties you’ve never seen before while supporting the association’s efforts to educate, inspire and organize farmers and consumers.
Buttons are on sale now and cost $25. It’s a good idea to carpool, since the button covers admission for a carload.
A few tips and suggestions:
• Download the map at carolinafarmstewards.org or pick one up at Weaver Street Market and read through the list of farms ahead of time. Look for clusters of farms so you can make the most out your trip to each region.
• Expect to be able to visit three or four farms a day, with each tour in the one-to-two-hour range
• Be sure to bring a cooler, as most of the farms have special sales set up for the tour
• For the youngsters and anyone who wants to connect with the history of western Orange County’s Dairyland region, visits to Chapel Hill Creamery and Maple View Dairy are a must.
• No pets, please.