The time is ripe to hit the farm in Georgia for juicy strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and peaches (not to mention other perks, like pony rides, tractor rides, corn pits, maybe a CSA box program, and inflatables at some spots). There’s no denying these Atlanta u-pick farms have got it all for families. While different crops ripen at different times, we’ve picked our favorite farms to take the small set for a day of fresh air, berry-stained fingers, and happy hearts. Read on for more about our favorite fields for strawberry (and other berries!) picking fun.
Note: If you’re looking for U-pick apple orchards, we’ve got seven to visit that aren’t too far from the city.
Wild Fern Ranch offers around 1000 Certified All Natural (CNG) blueberry bushes of 3 different varieties that yield roughly 500 pound of delish blueberries per week. Open and in season from early June through mid July (check social media pages for details), you can visit from Mon.-Sat. for u-pick from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Don't miss community days weekly for discounted picking and Friday night events for live music.
Offering a “Farm Fun Park” that includes a petting zoo, corn crib, inflatable slides, bounce house and playground set, this u-pick has the market cornered on farm fun in Forsyth County. Other perks include live bluegrass music and "hey" rides (pricing for Family Fun Park is $9 per child and $5 for ages 12 years and older, plus tax). Strawberry picking hours will be determined by availability and weather, so check here for current conditions before you go.
Blueberries are the newest addition to the u-pick options at Adams Farm in Fayetteville, and since the fields are netted, you don't have to compete with the birds for the berries. Containers are provided, there's a market with fruits and vegetables, and you can visit Mon.-Sat. from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
At this Watkinsville farm, spring strawberry season begins in mid-April and comes not only with buckets for berry picking, but also four super Saturdays where activities include wagon rides, a petting zoo, a cow train, a corn box, and more. Go later in the summer for blackberries, and pick your pumpkins there in the fall. Just be sure you pick before you play to make sure that the fields don't get picked out early! Open Monday-Saturdays 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed Sundays.
5691 Hog Mountain Rd. Bogart, Ga 30622 770-554-8119 Online:washingtonfarms.net
DJ's U-Pick Blueberry Farm
For a closer-to-town option, DJ's—located a stone's throw from the Gwinnett Braves stadium—specializes in blueberries, but they also have Scottish Highland Cows (Coco & Rudolph) and goats on our farm. Please check DJ's Facebook page daily for hours or call ahead to make sure they are indeed open for the day. Open Monday-Sunday from 8 a.m. until picked out.
At Moon Farms Country Market, you'll find over 25,000 plants consisting of two different varieties of strawberries— Camarosa and Chandler. Pick-your-own fresh from the farm, or call ahead and place a pre-pick order. Check the website for fruit availability, and go Mon.-Sat. from 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sun. from 2-6 p.m.
3498 GA-72 Colbert, Ga 30628 706-338-0065 Online:moon-farms.com
Head to this 330-acre family farm in McDonough for pick-your-own berries, plus a country market, jumping pillows, a cow train, pedal cars, a hayride, a giant tube slide, and more (all on the weekends). Admission to the farm activities is $8/ person, but the berries are free to pick (you pay for what you pick after you're finished picking). Go Mon.-Fri. from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sundays 1-6 p.m. Do yourself a favor and pick up an order of strawberry shortcake (with or without soft serve ice cream) before you leave!
This family orchard, now in its 4th generation, begins picking season with strawberries in mid to late April, then offers blueberries, blackberries, peaches, and apples through the summer and into the fall. Go for the u-picks on select dates, but stay for the bakery and deli, market store, and now a farm winery and cider house. Open seven days a week from 7 a.m.-6 p.m., but u-picks are available only on select dates, weather permitting.
8660 Blue Ridge Dr. Blue Ridge, Ga 30513 706-632-3411 Online:mercier-orchards.com
This working farm in Oxford, Georgia offers seasonal u-pick patches for strawberries and blueberries in the spring, blackberries in the summer, and pumpkins in the fall. Hours depend on availability of the crop and the weather, so be sure to check this out before you load the car. In addition to the fields, Mitcham Farm also has homemade strawberry ice cream, strawberry jam, local honey, frog jam, preserves, salsas, fresh produce (depending on availability) and other specialty items for sale at their Farm Stand, in addition to two family swings, a farm animal viewing area, and a picnic area onsite. Go Mon.-Sat. from 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sun. from 1-5 p.m., weather permitting. Check their Facebook page for live updates on picking conditions.
797 Macedonia Church Rd. Oxford, Ga 30054 770-855-1530 Online:mitchamfarm.com
Fleeman’s offers clean potties, a picnic table under the shade of an old oak and eight varieties of Rabbit-Eye, pesticide-free blueberries perfect for little pickers. Prices and hours will vary depending on weather and crop availability, but the picking season typically runs from late June through August. Call ahead to check out the farmer's forecast for the day.
While they only open their farm for strawberry picking one day a year—this year on May 5—the folks at Jaemor Farm know how to throw a party. In addition to picking, the kiddos will go bananas over the hayrides, petting zoo, farm slide, skeeball and duck races, while you can taste a couple of new recipes at the strawberry cook-off and check out the local vendors at the festival portion of the farm. Don't miss the homemade strawberry milkshakes and fresh milk samples from Mountain Fresh Creamery's mobile dairy unit. Check website for updates on u-pick events.
5340 Cornelia Hwy. Alto, Ga 30510 770-869-3999 Online:jaemorfarms.com
Remember to always call ahead since farm hours and crop availability are constantly in flux. Also note that many farms are cash only so hit the bank before hitting the road! Don’t forget sunscreen, hats, bug spray, and water.
Fall in NYC is glorious, but it’s also a good time to get away and enjoy some time outside of the city. Looking for a day trip with kids but don’t have a car? No worries: we rounded up day trips you can get to by train. The air is crisp, the leaves are turning—it’s time to get away, even for a day!
LONG ISLAND RAILROAD (LIRR)
Oyster Bay A quick 90-minute train ride can transport you to this hamlet on the North Shore of Long Island in Nassau county. Visit the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park, dedicated to our Former President who was once a frequent commuter on the LIRR himself.
Families with train-lovers should check out the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum (open Saturdays and Sundays) and learn the important role railroads played in America's history. A quick taxi ride will bring you to the Planting Fields Arboretum, a 400+ acre 1920s Gold Coast estate with gorgeous gardens and landscapes designed by the Olmstead brothers, two greenhouses and a preserved Tudor Revival mansion showcasing the art and artistry of its time. Planting Fields offers lots of free resources for kids and families to make exploring the natural landscape even more engaging.
You can also take a trip back in time at the Raynham Hall Museum, home of George Washington's secret agent Robert Townsend!
Farmingdale, NY Fall is a great time to visit Long Island amusement park Adventureland, which opened in 1962, and offers rides for little ones and kids a bit older who want some thrills. The park is open on weekends until Nov. 7, and is hosting Halloween shows and events in October.
Get there: Take the LIRR Ronkonkoma line to Farmingdale
2245 Broad Hollow Rd. Farmingdale, NY 631-694-6868 Online: adventureland.us
Enjoy fall fun at Schmitt’s Family Farm Annual Fall Festival, happening now on weekends until October 31st. It’s accessible by a 1-hour train ride followed by a 10-minute taxi ride. Admission fee of $10 a person includes a hayride, playground, mini-golf and photo ops. The farm also offers pumpkin picking, vegetable picking, a haunted house, a corn maze, petting zoo, a farm stand and more all priced separately.
Get there: Take the LIRR Ronkonkoma line to Pinelawn Station or the Port Jefferson line to Huntington Station and catch a 10-minute cab ride.
26 Pinelawn Rd. Melville, NY 631-271-3276 Online: schmittfarms.com
METRO-NORTH RAILROAD
Wikimedia Creative Commons
Beacon, NY & Storm King Art Center
Sit on the left side of your Metro-North train car for spectacular views of the Hudson River. Shop local and support handmade at one of the many shops or pop into an art gallery. Beacon is home to celebrated contemporary art center Dia: Beacon. If you want even more art, take advantage of thispackage deal which includes a short shuttle ride and admission to Storm King Center (shown here) where you and the kids can take in the oversized sculptures among incredible foliage across 500-acres.
For food, we'd recommend Melzingah Tap House on Main Street in Beacon for a sit down meal, and Beacon Pantry, is a good stop for sandwiches or fancy picnic supplies on the go. Don't leave Beacon without visiting Glazed Over Donuts, where you'll find all kinds of extreme confections.
Get there: Take the Metro-North Hudson Line to Beacon Station
Get there: Take the Metro-North Hudson Line to Cold Spring Station
Wikimedia Creative Commons
Poughkeepsie, NY Experience walking across the world's longest pedestrian elevated walkway with a view of peak fall foliage. You can get to The Walkway over the Hudson Historic Strate Park by train in under two hours from Manhattan. Walk across and back for a stroll just under three miles, or turn around at any time. Be sure to stop by the seven-foot bronze statue of Sojourner Truth, an American Abolitionist and women's rights activist. This monument commemorates the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage.
For food, we recommend Farmer's & Chefs for yummy farm-to-table, Lola's Cafe for good food and major convenience (it's located right next to the stairs to the walkway), and its sister restaurant Lolita's Pizza, also nearby.
Get there: Take the Metro-North Hudson Line to Poughkeepsie Station
Jackson Township, NJ Got kids hankering for some Halloween thrills? Check out this NJT deal that includes a round-trip bus trip and admission to Six Flags Great Adventure. (Yes, this is a bus, not a train.) Little ghouls and goblins will enjoy a "Thrills by Day" adventure that includes areas decorated for Halloween, a Trick-or-Treat Trail and live shows.
Get there: Take the 308 Express Bus to Six Flags Great Adventure from either New York Port Authority Bus Terminal or Newark Penn Station
American Dream Mall, East Rutherford, NJ If you want to do something fun with your family but can't decide on what, then head on over to the American Dream Mall where you'll find lots of choices! Some options include Legoland Discovery Center, SeaLife Aquarium, an Olympic-size ice-skating rink and indoor amusement park Nickelodeon Universe which is hosting Halloween-themed fun through October 31. Halloween weekend will feature a costume contest, trick-or-treat scavenger hunt, and spooktacular fun for everyone. Other Halloween fun at American Dream includes a huge 50-spider installation and Spooky Skate at The Rink.
Get there: there are several ways to get to American Dream Mall including their official rideshare partner: Lyft.
Jersey City, NJ While we realize that some of our readers may live in Jersey City (we know why—it's nice!), it's also a fun day trip for NYC-area non-residents. Head straight for the Liberty Science Center (you must buy tickets in advance) which boasts several floors of hands-on exhibits and impressive climbing structures. They celebrate Halloween with gusto here, with a giant spider web maze, just for starters. If you want to relax afterward bring a picnic and enjoy Liberty State Park, which has tons of green space for the kids to run around and an incredible view of the NYC skyline.
Get there: Take the PATH to Pavonia/Newport or Exchange Place station and transfer to the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR). LSC is just five rail stops from the World Trade Center.
Closed on Mondays Liberty Science Center 222 Jersey City Blvd. Liberty State Park 201-200-1000 Online: lsc.org
Already thinking of summer 2022? Yeah, us too. You are in luck as our top adventure from summer 2021 is back for another year and you can get in on the action. We checked out Camp Navarro’s Weekend in the Woods and it was quite possibly our favorite camping experience, ever! Gourmet meals cooked for you, a massive property for exploring, archery, rope swinging into the river and so much more. Read on for the full scoop on how you can add this to your summer 2022 must-do list.
Everything You Love about Camping & MORE
Kate Loweth
This former Boy Scout camp typically welcomes corporate groups, weddings and wellness retreats but COVID changed everything. For the first time in Camp Navarro's 100-year history, they opened the camp up to families for a few select summer weekends. Camp Navarro introduced their Weekend in the Woods protram and families in attendance got to explore the property's 200+ acres from Thursday through Sunday. Here's what the weekends brought:
The friendly and helpful staff was there to welcome you the minute you arrived on the property. What you'll love about Camp Navarro's Weekend in the Woods is that there are just enough planned activities to keep the kids from jumping on the (super fast) WiFi, but not so much that you have flashbacks to family camps of yesteryear with mandatory crafting and skits.
During our weekend, activity highlights included an amazing stargazing night hike, trying our hands at archery and scurrying up the rock wall. Everything was optional and all could participate! There was a crafting station if you wanted to paint some rocks and there were hiking trails for exploring. Everyone enjoyed picking blackberries that grew along the creekbed and watching the deer visit in the meadow.
Water Play
Kate Loweth
While the summer of 2021 brought low water levels at Camp Navarro, there was still plenty at the rope swing area to keep the kids busy. Parents set up their camp chairs on the rocky creekbed while kids climbed trees, swung from the rope swing and tried to catch minnows. The rope swing was just a 10-minute walk from the main camp area and super easy to access along the property's trails.
The Best Part of Camp Navarro: The Food!
Kate Loweth
What's your least favorite part of camping? If you said cooking then this is the camp for you! Weekend in the Woods come with a delicious breakfast and dinner service and it's way beyond any family camp meal service you might have had before. Scrambled eggs with goat cheese and chives, fresh berry yogurt parfaits and hot coffee topped the breakfast menu. When the staff overheard my son ask about cereal, homemade granola magically appeared. They really were there to make your experience the best it could be.
Everyone's favorite dinner was definitely the night they made TONS of pizzas on the woodfire oven. Each kid pretty much got their own along with grilled peaches and a number of salads.
During the evening hours, you could order up a bottle of local wine or a pint of beer to go along with your meal. Exactly what you wanted after a day in the sun!
S'mores were offered in the evenings (a kid highlight, for sure!).
The Sleeping Options
Kate Loweth
When you come to a Weekend in the Woods, the big decision is whether you want to sleep in a cabin, teepee or Adirondack. There are options for families up to six or you can snag two neighboring cabins for bigger groups. The cabins and Adrinodacks have bunk beds for sleeping and you bring your own sleeping bags, pillows and linens.
You'll find hammocks and picnic tables scattered throughout the property and there are gathering areas near the cabins if you come with a group. While none of the sleeping options have their own bathrooms, the communal bathrooms were large and exceptionally clean throughout the weekend. You can even choose the outdoor shower if you want to shower under the redwoods!
Nearby Adventures
Kate Loweth
Located in Navarro, the camp is 2.5 hours north of San Francisco just past Booneville in Mendocino County. A 20-minute drive will get you to the coast. Navarro Beach is a great spot to set up your gear and enjoy the water. Temps are often significantly cooler here so definitely bring layers.
If wine tasting is more your style, there are plenty of options in Navarro and Booneville. Then swing by the farm stand at the Philo Apple Farm to snag some apple cider and dried apples to take home.
Pennyroyal Farm is another fun stop along the road to Camp Navarro. Here you can do wine tasting (they have a grape juice flight for the kids!), see the resident goats and try their delicious goat cheese.
How to Sign Up for Weekend in the Woods 2022
Kate Loweth
The good news: Weekend in the Woods will be back for summer 2022! While the dates have not yet been released, you can sign up on the Camp Navarro website to be the first notified when the dates are announced. You definitely won't want to miss it!
A new indoor playground for Seattle kids is always worth celebrating (hello, rainy day play spot!). When it doubles as an immersive experience where kids can explore real-world diversity, it’s even better. That’s why we’re excited to welcome Child Wonder the World to the Seattle playscape. Read on to learn about this mom-owned business that’s opening soon.
The Play Side
At Child Wonder the World, kids can explore cultures from around the globe in one place. From the moment they walk through the welcoming gate into the play area, they’ll be transported—no plane needed! As owner Giselle Fuerte explains, it's a place for kids to “explore the different ways people live their lives and experience the world.” It’s her hope that when kids play here they begin to “see and value the world as a diverse chorus of voices, perspectives and needs necessitating equal consideration.” Parents and caregivers will notice this ethos in every nook and cranny of the indoor playground.
The large windows and wall decals that frame the play area create an inviting environment for tots and big kids alike. Upon first glance, the space looks like others—with a playhouse, climbing structure, farm stand and more. But it’s the details that prove things aren’t necessarily what they seem. The painted playhouse is actually a West African Rammed Earth Home, and the oven just outside is similar to earthen (or clay) ovens used by cultures all over the globe. Even the play food is representative of staples from other cultures, like sardines, sushi and lentils. Look for the helpful sheets nearby that explain each purposeful element. Read them, then share the fascinating connections and facts you learn with your kids.
Cross over the bridge to get to a quieter place to play in the back. Tiny tables line the walls where kids can sit down with a good book, set in a far-off place. Or put on headphones to listen to music that’s anything but local. Little artists will happily sit and color at another table before heading over to play with the beautifully designed natural wood people set across the way. These stations are a chance for kids to experience different languages, rhythms and ideas from diverse cultures.
Fuerte also has plans to install a display case that will feature artifacts and everyday treasures from various countries. Like a small museum, what’s in the case will rotate, and everything you see will be respectfully curated thanks to the knowledge and guidance of people who are native to the country on display.
The Shop Side
In addition to the educational playspace, look for toys, games and clothes produced by makers from around the world (and some local too) on the store side. In fact, some of the books and playsets your kids will love in the play area may be available for purchase so you can continue your exploration at home. Whether your kiddo has a friend’s birthday party on the horizon or you’re looking for some new play clothes, items with a focus on the world beyond Seattle are sold here. Who knows, you may even find owner Fuerte’s book, The Lying Liar Called Racism on the shelves too.
Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase if you need to push pause on play. Café tables dot the play area perimeter and make this a great spot to catch up with friends (it’s been a long time, hasn’t it?) while the kids play.
Make It a Day
If it’s been a while since you’ve been to Burien, take time to explore the area before heading home. Lollipops is just a few storefronts away, and families can always count on fun in the sun at Seahurst Park, whether they’re exploring tide pools or the nature-themed playground. The Highline Heritage Museum (open Fridays through Sundays, from 1-5 p.m.) is another easy stop for families to make. And before you head home, you’ve got to grab a cookie (or two!) from Treat Cookies. The store opened in April of this year and has fans all over the city.
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s the value of self-reliance and a greater appreciation of the freedoms that the great outdoors affords—which is exactly why community gardens are blooming everywhere in Atlanta! Keep reading for our favorite spots to learn how to garden, to plant your own garden, or to support local farmers.
West End Community Garden Are you interested in learning how to create and sustain your own garden? How about learning the countless benefits of eating healthy, homegrown foods? Want to experience the amazing sensation of garden therapy? If this sounds like the place for you, then meet Haylene Green, the Garden Queen, whose goal is to teach people how to identify, grow and prepare healthy food, especially in at risk communities.
Volunteer: Volunteers are needed Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays noon to 4 p.m. (1 hour minimum). Yo might plant seeds & seedlings, build boxes, make compost, weed, help with general clean-up, recycling, food preparation, painting, or helping with the market.
352 University Avenue SW Atlanta, GA 678-933-1087 Online:thegardenqueen.com
Lakewood Environmental Arts Foundation (LEAF) Operating in the Lakewood neighborhood, this 501C-3 has a house and 6 acres where they receive thousands of pounds of donated food every week that they distribute to individuals, families, churches and other non-profits in the Greater Atlanta area. Expect to find many weekly volunteers who help unpack and distribute food, and a handful of resident volunteers who help with distribution and maintaining the property, garden and compost.
Volunteer: LEAF is almost always looking for more hands to help with tasks around the property. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Cassie at cassie@leaftrust.net.
Blue Heron Nature Preserve Community Garden The garden is home to over 30 organic plots, and the largest plot is dedicated to growing vegetables for the St. Luke’s Crossroads Kitchen, a volunteer-based effort that feeds unhoused people in Midtown. This garden is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, and annual fees ensure gardeners are given their own plot to tend. The garden is organic, and organic gardening principles must be followed: no chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. Gardeners are also responsible for working together to maintain the common areas in the garden.
Membership Info: Contact the Garden team (gardenmembership@bhnp.org) for plot availability and waitlist. Annual dues are $100.
4055 Roswell Rd. NE Atlanta, GA 404-946-6394 Online:bhnp.org
Cabbagetown Community Garden The Community Garden's mission is to leverage its unique urban location to engage the community, educate gardeners of all ages and backgrounds, and empower them to plant, grow and harvest healthy, organic food. The Garden is built on city owned property but not located on parkland. With the help of city council, Park Pride and CI, the city passed legislature to realize a community effort to created a shared gardening space.
Membership Info: Dues for the 2020 season were $42, and paid for the adoption of one plot in the Community Garden, access to onsite water and gardening equipment, maintenance of non-growing areas in the garden (lawns, pathways, beehives, table space), early access invitations to all Community Garden social events and fundraisers, and subscription to Garden-related news through the Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association (CNIA). Membership is open to Cabbagetown neighbors having lived in the neighborhood between 0 - 10 years.
Global Growers Network GGN partners with people from diverse cultures who grow fresh food for their families and for local marketplaces. Together, they build and sustain networks of growers, land, resources, and markets in order to create a more equitable food system that is driven by cultural diversity, inclusive economies, and regenerative agriculture practices.
How to Support: Global Growers Network offers fresh veggies grown in Decatur through a safe, no-contact order and pick-up system. With support from the farm stand, new Americans are rebuilding their lives in the United States by using their agricultural expertise to nourish their families and yours.
Gilliam's Community Garden Gilliam's is a 3-acre sustainable urban garden located in Atlanta's Westside neighborhood that produces beautiful vegetables, herbs, fresh eggs, and their very own dried spice blends. Gilliam's Community Garden serves as an outdoor educational center for local children, homeschool families and schools seeking unique science-based and STEM learning. They provide cooking classes for seniors, as well as learning tours and urban farming experiences for volunteer groups. Core to their mission is the determination to see more healthy, equitable communities across Atlanta.
How to Support: A mobile farmers market, known as their beloved "green machine, " allows you to have boxes of fresh vegetables delivered to families, as well as home-bound seniors, who otherwise cannot access it on their own.
Picking out fruit and veggies at the store is so old school. Busy families know joining a Seattle CSA is the easiest way to get farm-fresh produce, eggs, flowers, and more onto your family’s table. And that can help with weeknight meal prep or healthy lunches for your crew, whether you’re heading out on a picnic playdate or getting the kids ready for school. Plus, opening your weekly box is like the parent version of your kid’s favorite unboxing vids (trust us, it’s just as exciting). These local farms can make your “eat local” dreams come true.
Skylight Farms
Skylight Farms
At this family-owned small farm in Snohomish, farmers Petrina and Jonathan aim to be good stewards of the land, and their focus on what's sustainable, ethical and ecologically sound is at the heart of their farming practices. They have an abundance of farm-to-table options to choose from, including fruit, flower, and egg shares, in addition to their veggie CSA (psst... you can also try a market-style CSA if you'd rather shop at the farm). Their season runs from May through November and families can order share per season (spring, summer and fall) or commit to the whole 27 weeks when they subscribe to this Seattle CSA.
Local Color Farm & Fiber has its roots on Bainbridge Island, where Emily Tzeng started farming back in 2013. In 2018 the farm was moved to Puyallup, and it’s where farmers Emily and Brian grow food, flowers, and fibers now. The Seattle CSA runs for 30 weeks from May through December and offers families a few options to choose from. You can decide whether weekly or bi-weekly pick-up works best for you (they've got two Seattle pick-up locations), and if you need a small share (feeds one to two) or a large that feeds a family of four. Expect loads of farm-fresh veggies in each box (plus a newsletter with recipes and cooking tips), with an emphasis on Asian heritage vegetables.
Good to know: They also offer flower and egg shares for the season.
If you’re looking for a curated selection of fresh veggies, fruit and locally sourced breads, wines and other pantry items, try Kinfood’s weekly Produce & Pantry bag. It’s filled with gorgeous produce sourced from small, nearby farms, and its easily customizable add-ons mean you can support local women and minority-owned businesses plus skip that re-stock trip to the store. Try it out as a one-time thing or have your bag delivered weekly or bi-weekly for added convenience.
Good to know: If your kids eat fruit like it’s going out of style, try the weekly seasonal fruit box ($20).
Carnation’s Goose and Gander Farm is newer to the local farm scene (and the Seattle CSA scene), but has quickly blossomed into a vibrant farm dedicated to feeding our community responsibly grown produce. Every year, Goose and Gander Farm delivers 22 weeks of farm fresh produce to its shareholders for pick up at locations around Seattle. Each share contains seasonal produce grown on the 6-acre farm, and families can expect to feed two adults with a standard share and a family of four with a large. Shares are filled 24-hours before delivery to ensure the freshest seasonal produce. Add honey, eggs, and poultry to round out your weekly share. Don’t forget to stop by the farm stand or u-pickle patch (for pickling cukes) and say hi to the farmers.
For over 25 years, Helsing Junction Farm has been providing flavorful, nutrient-rich produce to its members. Each week during the 20-week season, members will receive a box of fresh, seasonal produce. Everything in the box is grown on the farm and then delivered to CSA members. Depending on the size of box you select, you’ll receive 7-14 items each week. Helsing also supplies its members with 20+ healthy and flavorful recipes, customized to the wide variety of items you receive over the course of the season. An abundance of cooking inspiration will never leave you guessing what to do with your veggies. And with over 30 drop sites and home delivery offered around Seattle and the Eastside, Helsing Junction makes it easy and convenient to get your veggies.
Good to know: A few other shares to note include their bulk, canning and storage shares that help families eat fresh all year round.
Dates: Mid Jun.-mid Oct. Cost: starting at $33/week
Get creative in the kitchen by subscribing to a box of fresh produce from Carnation’s Jubilee Farm this summer growing season. A family-run farm since 1989, Jubilee offers a diverse selection of nutritious fruits, vegetables and meat, all of which are grown and harvested using organic farming practices. CSA members are encouraged to spend time on the farm. You can bring a picnic and enjoy the u-pick fields. Throughout the season, you’ll find berries, flowers, herbs, beans, tomatoes and more. Summer Seattle CSA boxes run for 20 weeks and come in three sizes: full, three-quarter and half shares. Choose to pick up your box at the farm or at delivery depots located around the Seattle area.
Full Circle is passionate about growing and sourcing delicious, organic produce. For over 20 years, the North Bend farm has been promoting sustainable farming practices and delivering delicious produce to your door throughout the year. Full Circle partners with local farms and artisans to deliver a variety of box options featuring the season’s best mix of certified-organic produce and specialty farm products. Choose from a tradition CSA, mixed fruit and veggie or organic snack box when you sign up. Enjoy the flexibility, choosing the size of the box you receive, as well as the delivery frequency to fit your lifestyle. If you’re feeding picky eaters, fill out their “Never Send List” to exclude items you don’t want in your box. You can also swap out fruits and veggies or add on other products like eggs, dairy, jams and honey.
Dates: Weekly & year-round Cost: Boxes start at $27.95
Stanwood’s Klesick Farms is not your average CSA, delivering organic produce and other add-ons year-round directly to your door. Klesick’s Box of Good is filled with high quality, competitively-priced organic produce. Each week, a wide variety of fruit, cooking veggies and salad items, sourced locally from area growers, arrives on your doorstep. With your delivery, you’ll receive a newsletter with fun and inspiring recipes and helpful tips on how to use any new or unusual produce items. Klesick’s grows potatoes, spinach, carrots, beets, winter squash, green beans, fresh herbs and more, as well as raises all natural beef, lamb and pork. Add-on to your order by purchasing grocery items including eggs, coffee and snacks. Klesick’s delivery area spans from Bothell to Whidbey Island.
Dates: Weekly & year-round Cost: starting at $28.50/week
Nestled in picturesque Snohomish, Lowlands Farm is a small vegetable and flower farm dedicated to organic and sustainable farming practices. Lowland Farms offers a 24-week CSA season, filling boxes with produce handpicked by the farmer each week to highlight what is freshest at the farm. Boxes feature a variety of greens, root vegetables, herbs and snackable veggies. Flower and egg share add-ons are available. Flexible options make it easy for families to participate in the CSA. Sign up for a 24-week weekly share, a 12-week bi-weekly share or a flex share that runs for 20 weeks.
When you become an Oxbow Farms CSA shareholder, you support organic growing practices and the farm’s mission to build a thriving, sustainable ecosystem. CSA members receive a 20-week share that includes enough produce to feed two to three people. As the summer months go on, boxes increase in quantity and variety, but always feature the freshest food available. Oxbow’s market-style boxes let you choose the produce you most enjoy each week. Round out your healthy meals with add-ons from other local producers including honey, eggs and organic fruit. Pick up your box at the farm or in Issaquah or on Mercer Island.
Good to know: CSA shareholders get exclusive access to u-pick veggies, orchard fruit, berries, plus free u-pick flowers and herbs.
The Root Connection is Washington’s original CSA farm, growing local, chemical-free food in the Sammamish Valley for over 30 years. During the harvest season, members receive seasonal vegetables, herbs and flowers with superior flavor, texture and nutrition. The farm prides itself on freshness, offering veggies to its members just hours after they are picked from the ground. You can also pick-up your box at drop sites in Seattle and Lynnwood. In addition to a bountiful weekly share, members can u-pick dozens of types of greens, herbs and flowers for free at the Redmond-based farm, adding even more value to your share.
Dates: Jun.-Oct. Cost: starting at $991/full share; $495.50/half share
Good to know: If you want to support farmers and local farms beyond your Seattle CSA share, try Eat Local First to find farm stores, farm stays and restaurants serving farm to table food.
Go beyond Old MacDonald’s catchy tune to learn more about farms in real life! Get down to the root of things by visiting a local, family-friendly farm. Dig your hands into the earth to plant and harvest food and to taste the fruits of our farmer friends’ labor. Meet and greet animals ranging from camels to alpacas. Make hay while the sun shines (which is year-round in San Diego!) and read on for where to have some good, wholesome fun as a family down on the farm.
This Encinitas farm offers so many wonderful ways to engage kids in farm life! Sign your little farmhands up for Coastal Roots Farm's After-School Farm Camp where they'll learn where food comes from and how they can make an impact on changing the world. Designed for kids in K-5th grade, young "Farmers-in-Training" will also explore nature, delve into science, get their hands dirty and prepare their own vibrant snacks. Sign up for Farm Camp here.
Additional ways to enjoy the farm: don't miss a visit to Coastal Roots Farm's Pay-what-you-can Farm Stand which is open Thursdays from noon-3 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Here you can buy freshly-harvested organic veggies, herbs, fruit, flowers and eggs. This generous Farm offers those in need up to $30 at no cost through their private check out system, no questions asked. They accept cash, credit, Apple Pay, and CalFresh EBT. Learn more about the Farm Stand here.
Want to visit the Farm virtually or in-person as a group? You can transport your K-6th grade virtual or in-person class to Coastal Roots Farm. Click here for more details.
Book an interactive farm tour at Sugar Sweet Farm with up to 8 people. The experience can be tailored to the meet the interests of your unique group and will teach you about the Farm while allowing you to meet the wonderful animals who call it home: miniature sheep and donkeys, goats, llamas, geese, chickens, turkeys, a potbellied pig, and beautiful horses.
Watch this video to learn more about Sugar Sweet Farm and then plan your visit!
Private address in Encinitas; visits by appointment only. 858-264-6525 Online: sugarsweetfarm.com
Wild Willow Farm is blooming with activities to get the entire family involved in farm life. They offer volunteer days Mondays and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. for all ages, as well as educational field trips and tours (must be booked two weeks in advance).
Consider visiting Wild Willow Farm for a field trip to teach kids farming lessons and introduce them to concepts including composting and farm insects. The Farm is also currently working on a series of virtual field trips.
Check their website in Jan. 2021 for information on returning classes such as beekeeping, how to make soap using farm fresh herbs and goat's milk, home vegetable gardening and more.
A trip to Tanaka Farms is well worth the drive to Irvine. We highlighted this locale as one of our 'berry' favorite places to pick strawberries, but the fruitful fun goes way beyond that. The landscape of this Farm's offerings has changed quite a bit due to Covid restrictions, but Tanaka Farms still offers plenty of family-friendly, farm related activities. Check out their website and plan a visit to their drive-thru produce stand, or enjoy visiting their goats on a U-pick veggie wagon ride.
A camel dairy? Yes indeed. A visit to Oasis Camel Dairy is well worth the short trip to Ramona––and then you can even head on to Julian to grab some lunch and apple pie. Kids will love going on the Dairy's family and mini-pod private tour where they can canoodle with and learn more about camels. You can add camel rides and feeding the camels to your experience for an additional fee.
Check their website for upcoming details on their Hands-On Camel Camp coming soon.
26757 Old Julian Hwy. Ramona, CA 760-787-0983 Online: cameldairy.com
A visit to Summers Past Farm is akin to walking into the pages of a story book. From a maze of sweet pea flowers to towering sunflowers, the farm is in bloom and ripe for photo ops year-round. You'll find French hens, kitties, chickens and dogs roaming about the idyllic setting, where herbs, plants and flowers of so many varieties grow. Treat your nose and skin to a visit to their Herbal Soap Shoppe where they sell their own collection of handmade herbal soaps, lavender sprays and hand salves, herbal salves and a full line of essential oils and fragrance oils.
Mark your calendar for their upcoming Antique & Craft Fair where you can start your holiday shopping on Dec. 5 & 6. from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.
15602 Olde Hwy. 80 Flinn Springs, CA 92021 619-390-1523 Online: summerspastfarms.com
Established in 1921 by Gilbert and Beatrice Bates, the 4th and 5th generations of the family-owned Bates Nut Farm still currently run the Farm. A community treasure, this feel good farm hosts festive events for nearly every holiday. Their awesome, sprawling pumpkin patch is the largest in San Diego and their Christmas in the Valley event is a time-honored tradition. Treat yourself to any one of their educational tours to learn more about agriculture, harvesting and about the Farm itself. They also have a farm zoo that's open daily, where kids can meet and feed mini-donkeys, goats, sheep, alpacas and more. Don't leave without buying the amazing homemade fudge and other delights from the Farm's shop.
15954 Woods Valley Rd. Valley Center, CA 760-749-3333 Online: batesnutfarm.biz
Scavenger Hunts and I Spy games are things we like to play with our kids, not with our local grocery store. If hunting for flour has you feeling frustrated, we found a great new source for pantry goods: your favorite restaurant (and indoor playground!). Local businesses are sharing their resources in an effort to take the guess work out of dinner (and, yes, you can order that pre-made, too). Here are our favorite pantry pick-ups along with other options beyond the grocery store (like farmers markets and CSAs). Read on for ways to support local businesses while getting your baking on—and leave hunting for “flower” for those scavenger walks!
Badlands
Support one of the area’s most beloved indoor playgrounds by purchasing your pandemic comforts at this pull-in pantry. To help keep the lights on (and pay dedicated employees), Rockville’s Badlands is offering contactless grocery pick ups; 50% of proceeds go to support Badlands staff. You can grab staples like butter, milk and cheese here along with kid-favorites like Goldfish, Pringles and Lay’s potato chips. Badlands also offers wine, beer and liquor to go. Don’t forget to pick up a prepackaged STEAM kit.
The Neighborhood Restaurant Group
In healthier times, The Neighborhood Restaurant Group manages some of our favorite good eats, like Birch and Barley and Hazel in DC and Columbia Firehouse and Vermillion in Old Town Alexandria. During these uncertain times, the Group is operating Neighborhood Provisions with three pick up locations (Alexandria, Arlington and DC). Order yeast, flour, toilet paper and locally-made, handcrafted hand sanitizer with your favorite apps and mains. Bonus: they also deliver!
Bluejacket, 300 Tingey Street, SE DC 20003
202-524-4862
Rustico Alexandria, 827 Slaters Lane, Alexandria VA 22314
703-224-5051
Rustico Arlington, 4075 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203
571-384-1820
Sweet Water Tavern
Craving those sweet and savory Ozzie Rolls? You can get them to go (with a side of honey butter) along with growlers, grocery essentials (including TP and paper towel), kids meals for kids 12 & under and your favorite Sweetwater staples, like firecracker shrimp. All American Restaurant Group locations are offering carry-out, but only Sweetwater Tavern in Sterling is operating a Tavern & Grocery (aka groceries to-go).
Founding Farmers
You can order your favorite menu options at all of Found Farmers restaurants, but in Tysons and Reston Station you can pick up groceries at Market & Grocery. Order family portioned meals, bottled craft cocktails, groceries like eggs, cheese, bottled craft sauces and more. Don’t forget pantry staples like Mrs. Meyers cleaning products, dish detergent, toilet paper and microfiber towels.
Old Town Farmer’s Market Old Town Farmer’s Market is the oldest continuous market in the good ol’ U S of A used by the first President himself. It’s still open during the pandemic, but you do need to pre order your goods.
King St., Alexandria, VA Open: Saturday, 7 a.m.-12 p.m. Online: alexandriava.gov
Bethesda Central Farm Market Bethesda Central Farm Market is one of the largest markets in the area with over 100 vendors and is still operating as a traditional, walk-up. Your children will pine for pastries at Patisseries Poupon and wish for waffles at Les Caprices de Joelle, while grownups will appreciate lobster rolls and Zeke’s coffee. Parking is free.
City of Falls Church Farmers’ Market Quite possibly the best market in the area—the American Farmland Trust puts it in its top five medium-sized markets in the country—this market now offers a to-go format. Featuring over 50 vendors, be sure to check out Kate’s Crepes and Pops ‘n Chill, an artisanal handmade popsicle stand with fruity flavors like roasted peaches and cantaloupe.
300 Park Ave., Falls Church, VA
Open: Saturday, 8 a.m.-noon
Online: fallschurchva.gov
Farm to Family This veteran-owned, Richmond based CSA offers fruit, meat, eggs, soy products, pasta, bread, and pantry items delivered straight to your door. Our favorite add-on: locally sourced, ready to heat meals.
From the Farmer
This CSA offers curated boxes from MD and VA farms delivered right to doorsteps in the greater DMV area. It’s a farmer’s market that comes to you! Choose from: six different plans offering fruits and vegetables, with optional add-ons like bread and pantry items. You can customize boxes or skip one entirely.
Online: fromthefarmerdc.com
Lancaster Fresh Farm Cooperative This Lancaster-based CSA has pick up locations throughout the DMV, including Shaw, Petworth, Capitol Hill, Brookland, Arlington, Silver Spring, Herndon and more. Choose from: vegetable boxes in three different sizes, with option to add fruit, cheese, eggs, meats, fresh flowers, or herbal medicine.
Groundworks Farm This Pittsville, MD CSA is making pick ups safe by asking members to stand over 12 feet a part, offering hand sanitizer after pick up and making sure all hand offs include masked and gloved employees. Choose from: produce, egg, meat, chicken, and cheese for pick up in Arlington, Alexandria and Annapolis.
Little Farm Stand (Virginia) Delivered fresh to your home, this CSA offers organic, pesticide-free produce from VA farm. Choose from: fruits and vegetables, with the option to add on eggs, grass-fed beef, preserves, pies, honey, and maple syrup. Each box can be customized!
You already know about our favorite pumpkin patches. Now it’s time to discover another fall favorite: super-cool corn mazes for the whole family! Get ready to lose yourself in the stalks at these nearby destinations. Read on for all the details on the best corn mazes in and near LA.
If it's a challenge you're looking for, Tapia Brothers Pumpkin Patch offers a huge corn maze (it's housed in its own lot across from the pumpkin patch and farm stand), complete with a map and trivia questions. In addition to the corn maze, little ones can enjoy a play area, bounce houses, a wagon ride, fresh-roasted corn and, of course, plenty fresh pumpkins to bring home. The corn maze and other fall festivities kick off Sept. 28 and go until Oct. 31. There are also weekend-only horse rides, starting Oct. 5.
Get ready for an adventure as you enter the corn maze under the rainbow at this Moorpark farm. The well-manicured maze is just the right amount of challenging for kids. Expect to spend about 20-25 minutes making your way through the stalks of corn—and don't fall for signs along the path intended to trick the family. At the end, there's a hay pyramid for corn conquerors to climb. Besides the maze, Underwood's Fall Festival is full of fun activities including a pumpkin patch, food vendors and play areas. The weekends welcome extra activities: ring the family for lives bands and a tractor drawn wagon ride. Also check out their website for special events including an Antique Tractor Day and Western weekend.
Forneris Farms in the San Fernando Valley prides itself on being the "original" corn maze of Southern California. These folks take their corn maze seriously with four acres of corn stalks that tower of your head and encourage everyone to "get lost on the farm." This year's maze has a "Country Farm" theme and if your family is feeling energetic and witty you can also try to solve the 12 riddles along the way; they call them the CORNundrums at Forneris Farms. If your witty sidekicks solve all 12 they can enter their riddle card for a chance to win a grand prize. Besides the corn maze, there's also a mini hay maze for little ones to wind their way through.
15200 Rinaldi St. Mission Hills 818-730-7709 Online: fornerisfarms.com
Cal Poly Pomona's Pumpkin Festival
Maybe you didn't know it, but Cal Poly Pomona boasts one of the largest pumpkin patches in Southern California as part of its agricultural program. There are over 70,000 pumpkins in this patch and every one—no matter the size—is just $5! On October 5 and 6 the pumpkin patch will host its annual Pumpkin Festival, which includes a must-visit corn maze with corn stalks over 12 feet high. Once your family makes it out, everyone will receive a button naming them a "maze magician." The festival also includes a petting farm, horse rides and lots of fun, interactive play that revolves around the notion of celebrating California agriculture.
The farm's fall pumpkin patch is a Hello Kitty fan's paradise. The adorable cat is event there to greet you at the corn maze, which is open through October 31 and is included with admission to the pumpkin patch. Little farmers can roam free, get a bit lost (with your supervision) and then make their way out in the end. Afterwards, reward them with a trip to the petting zoo. In addition to the corn maze, Tanaka Farms hosts a Harvest Festival every weekend where the family can enjoy pumpkins cannons, ATV rides and voting in the scarecrow contest. The Tanaka Farm Pumpkin Patch and Harvest Festival runs through October 31.
5380 3/4 University Dr. Irvine 949-653-2100 Online: tanakafarms.com
If you're looking to go big, Head to the Big Horse Feed and Mercantile down in Temecula and get lost in an 11-acre maze—the largest in Southern California. The corn maze and pumpkin patch are open every day of the week and the Harvest Festival is full of family activities every weekend. Besides the massive corn labyrinth, your fall-crazed adventurers can enjoy a hay ride, face painting, a corn cannon and more. Just remember that Temecula can be hot all through October, so bring a hat and sunscreen—those corn stalks don't offer much shade.
You can’t control the shifting seasons but if the thought of missing your weekly farmers’ market shopping trip sends you into the doldrums, we have a solution for you. Try a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) membership!
Photo: Lancaster Fresh Farm
How it works In the CSA model, community members pay a local farm or farm co-op for a share at the start of the growing season. This payment guarantees the shareholder a portion of the season’s bounty through weekly or bi-weekly produce shares. Members can also buy into other products such as grass-fed beef, free range poultry, cheese, dairy, and even flowers.
It’s a win-win situation
Members receive fresh, local–often organic–produce at reasonable prices (delivered to a chosen location), while local area farms produce better quality food securely with upfront financial support. Here in the D.C. area, we are lucky to have an abundance of CSA options, many offering flexible payment plans, pantry items, prepared foods, and delivery options (if your school-year is just too crazy to squeeze in pick-ups).
Sign me up! Choosing the CSA that is right for you can be daunting. For an idea of what’s out there, check out these six unique fall CSA’s. Fall is a wonderful season to try CSA out. The season is short and offers the best of both worlds—a mix of summer produce and cooler-weather items. For even more options, visit Local Harvest to search by area and view CSA details and pick up locations with maps.
From the Farmer (Washington, D.C.) Choose from: six different plans offering fruits and vegetables, with optional add-ons like bread and pantry items Season: year-round Pick-up: home delivery to all of D.C. and much of Maryland and Virginia What’s unique: You can remove or add items from your CSA box via their website.
Online: fromthefarmerdc.com
Lancaster Fresh Farm Cooperative (Lancaster, Pa) Choose from: vegetable boxes in three different sizes, with option to add fruit, cheese, eggs, meats, fresh flowers, or herbal medicine Season: year-round, divided into spring, summer, fall, and winter shares Pick-up: various locations in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia What’s unique: Over 100 family farmers own and invest in the co-op, guaranteeing it’s efficiently run and provides a wide variety of products.
Online: lancasterfarmfresh.com
Groundworks Farm (Pittsville, Md) Choose from: produce, egg, meat, chicken, and cheese shares in two sizes Season: winter/spring, summer/fall Pick-up: various locations in Virginia and Maryland What’s unique: Offers whole farm shares, a combination of all shares (above).
Online: groundworksfarm.com
Little Farm Stand (Virginia) Choose from: fruits and vegetables, with the option to add on eggs, grass-fed beef, preserves, pies, honey, and maple syrup Season: Spring, summer and fall Pick-up: Home or office delivery to Washington, D.C. and Rosslyn, Va What’s unique: Very flexible—you pick exactly what items to include in your weekly box.
Online: littlefarmstand.com
Think ahead: Great Country Farms (Bluemont, Va)
This CSA offers a farm share only from April to October but this is a fantastic option for families. Every membership includes fruit in each share, free farm visits, free weekly U-pick options and free or discounted admission to all the farm festivals and events. For busy families, the various pick-up and delivery options–public or private community sites, or delivered to your door–are a perk.
Online: greatcountryfarms.com
Does your family have a favorite CSA? Tell us about it in the comments below.