Know Your Farms Tour- 2012

Yesterday we went on the Know Your Farms Tour around the area. This is a self-guided tour of local farms, where you can go and visit each farm, see how they run, and how they benefit our local economy. It also teaches children and adults how to make healthy choices in what we eat and how we cook. It was so much fun, and definitely something we will do again next year! We went to 5 farms, which was a little ambitious, and it took us the full 5 hours- from 1pm to 6pm. We visited Perry Farms (they had 100% grass fed beef and lamb) and the kids got to see goats, sheep, horses, and cows. We then went to Coldwater Creek Farms, a farm that practices organic sustainable methods, and they are the largest producer of garlic in Cabarrus County. This was fun for Doug and I since they had chefs there preparing foods, and the kids got to climb on the farm equipment and see how they work. Next we went to Creekside Farms that specializes in beef, pork, chicken, turkeys, and brown eggs. This was probably the most fun for the kids, since the pigs were HUGE and came really close to us, we could hold the baby chickens (they were only 3 days old!), and the roosters just ran around and Trey could chase them (which was hilarious to him). Here Doug and I also got some information on co-ops in the area that provide all-natural, hormone free meat and produce, something we are definitely considering! Next we went to Dover Vineyards where we got to tour the vineyards and gardens and learn about the wine making process. The vines were beautiful, and this was fascinating to me, especially since the owner is a young girl who is doing this on her own. It is amazing how much time and effort she puts into her business, and you can see her passion in her work. The wine was free, since she is manufacturing in a profit and tax free facility. She is also employed by another wine label, where she does manufacture wine for their line, at a price. The last farm we visited was Cackleberry farm, right around the corner from our house! They specialize in hard and soft cheeses, butter and eggs. This was really cool, since they focus almost entirely on cheese and they don't sell to the public, so we got to glimpse the inner workings of a dairy farmer on a wholesale scale. Plus, the cows were HUGE at this farm!!! I know this seems a little "country" and may not be enjoyable for everyone, but it was a lot of fun for us- the kids loved to see all the farm animals and equipment, and I really like the practice of supporting our local economy and learning how to make healthy decisions for our family!