The Co-op farm tour is a chance to visit small organic farms in the MN and eastern WI areas. Tours give the public a chance to see how the farm works, and meet with the people who run it. It is usually a Saturday in July and this year was July 10. Guidebooks are available at local co-ops and on the website. The farms can change year to year, although there are several that have been on the tour for several years. Besides the tours, many farms will have activities for visitors. This year we went to White Pine Berry Farm and Turnip Farm and Cosmic Wheel Creamery.
White Pine Berry Farm is a pick your own berry farm with strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries in the spring summer, and fall has pumpkins and fall raspberries. This farm was very family friendly, with two bounce houses, a sandbox, a hayride tour and a food truck. The wee dictator needed a bit of encouragement to get out the door, but once the bouncy house was spotted all else was forgotten.
They also had a nice shop, which unfortunately for my pocketbook contained many of my vices. These were soy candles, kombucha, loose leaf tea, and homemade fudge.
Our other stop was Turnip Farm and Cosmic Wheel Creamery. They carry pork, beef, cheese, and vegetables. That place didn’t have kids activities, although they did have grill items for lunch like brats and burgers. It felt like a smaller farm, although part of that might be the tour was a short walk around instead of a hayride.
A farm we have visited in the past but not this year is Ferndale Farm and Market. They are a turkey farm, and for the tour have hayride farm tours. There is also a store where you can not only get their own turkey but unique grocery items. They usually have kid and family activities.
Plan Beforehand, but Be Flexible
The guide usually lists sample trips of four farms and a place to get lunch that are relatively close together. Going to 2-3 is more realistic, and be ready to hoof it if you want to hit more. Or just use it as a guide to pick farms that are relatively close together its realistic to hit in one day. Sometimes you get there and realize there are more activities than you thought, so it is worth taking extra time.
Dress For the Weather, and for Walking
These are farms. Outside. Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and bug repellent are all very good ideas. While a handful have a hayride for the tour, most don’t and will require walking. On dirt paths. Dress accordingly.
Bring a Cooler
It can be a drive, so you’ll want to be able to keep perishables cold for the whole trip.
Bring a Water Bottle
Walking around outside in the heat and no drinking fountains. Water will be a necessity
My big complaint is lunch. The farms are spread out so you can’t hit a neighborhood fast food joint in between (Unless you do the Urban Farm route.) The guide makes suggestions, but look beforehand when deciding your day to see how far away where they suggest lunch is. We did luck out that there was a food truck, although it ran out of food. It can be hit or miss as to lunch options, especially for special diets.
The co-op farm tour is a fun way to get out and see how farms actually work. It is also a chance to find the gems of small local farms.