Summer is short and so sweet in Minnesota (ok, Wisconsin too)! Let’s savor each day with plenty of outside time, fun new experiences, family time and play… for us this mean plenty of farm visits!

I’ve got quite the line-up for you guys! I’ve gathered my favorite farm visits that are also family friendly. These farms will get you feeling one with nature, closer to your roots, and eating farm to table to boot.

These are the real deal. Real crops, real animals, real history, real fun. Grab the sunscreen, pack the picnic basket and buckle up!

Bruentrup Heritage Farm

Dairy Day Ice Cream Social June 17 FREE
Locally made ice cream at a farm, nuff said.

Farm to Table Summer Camp: August 5-8
Camp for kids entering 2^nd-5^th grade that brings them through the Farm to Table process of milk to butter, cheese and ice cream- and making their own bread from farm fresh ingredients! More info HERE.

Bruentrup Heritage Farm is nestled between Maplewood and White Bear Lake and comes with the idyllic big red barn and front porch. Run by the Maplewood Area Historical Society, this is a community hub of family fun activities. The Bruentrup family donated their farm to the society in 1999 and the community has been in love with it ever since. This is also an amazing spot for weddings if you know anyone who’s looking Their Facebook page is the place to follow for event updates and announcements.

Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center

Apple Festival October 12 & 13

The annual highlight of this little gem of a non-profit nature center is their Apple Fest! Good old down-home fun where kids can pick heirloom varieties of organic apples, get dirty and play in the hay bales- they’ll have to run off all that cider and apple crisp somehow…

The Carpernter St. Croix Valley Nature Center is the best kept secret on the river. They have both MN and WI campuses and miles of glorious trails overlooking the river that divides them. The apple orchard is magical, and be sure to check out the old farm house off of the north loop trail! They hold some sweet Summer Camps, a good selection still have availability, check out the variety of options HERE.

Co-op Farm Tour

July 13th FREE

Mark your calendars for the ‘Eat Local’ Co-op Farm Tour. This event lets you tour some of the best local farms in the (extended) area. There are a record high 26 farmers participating this summer! Farms include Beef, Dairy, Fish, Flower, Honey, Hops and good old Vegetables. This is kind of the grand-daddy of all farm visits!

Pack a picnic, bring lots of ice cold water and an extra cooler for all the (REALLY) farm fresh food you can find that day! It’s a great way for kids and adults alike to see first-hand where the food they eat starts out. The farms that participate usually have something to entice the little ones out- check each farm’s page link for more info.

Gibbs Farm  

General Admissions: $8 adults, $7 seniors 62+, $5 children 4-16

Ice Cream Sunday: Every other Sunday, June 16^th to August 25^th
Make your own sundae and enjoy fresh local dairy!

Prairie Festival: August 3^rd included in General Admissions.
Celebrating the Dakota people and foodways, past and present with stations to learn about the seasonal ways like wild ricing.

This is the little farm that could. This well loved historical farm is tucked into the east side of the cities along the edge of U of MN Ag land. Costumed staff provide a glimpse into nineteenth century Pioneer and Dakota daily life.

There are both original and replica buildings, including and one-room schoolhouse (my kids favorite) a log-and-sod home, plus the original Gibbs farmhouse and barn. What sets this place apart is the inclusion of a Dakota summer bark lodge, and a tipi and their almost equal representation of Indigenous history along with European settler history.

The historical tours are led by knowledgeable costumed interpreters open most weekends in summer. Pioneer Tours at 10:30am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm. Dakota Tours are 11:30am and 1:30pm.

MN Food Association: Big River Farms

Small Scale Composting with Worms: June 22, 10-12

Growing Oyster Mushrooms: June 29, 10-12

All About Monarchs: July 27, 10-12

The staff at Big River Farms provide farmer education and technical assistance in all things sustainable farming. This summer they are doing a few new classes lead by their farmers in training; organic weed management, composting with worms, planting for monarchs and growing your own mushrooms.

The classes are probably more adult friendly than family friendly, but they made it on my list anyway. An adult could go to the class and the rest of the crew could wander and enjoy the beautiful farmland, or is worm composting a perfect start to a romantic date night… They also go above and beyond welcoming families during the Co-op Farm Tour.

Oliver Kelley Farm

Admission: $12 for adults, $6 ages 5-17 FREE for 4 and under and MNHS Members

Dairy Days:
June 22 + 23

Poultry Weekend:
July 20 + 21

Pickling Weekend:
August 17 + 18 

This is such a unique experience, and I’m so proud of our MN Historical Society for preserving this one of a-kind-farm for generations to come. Visiting is a way to get up close and personal with farm life from 150 years ago (that’s the 1860’s for anyone else who can’t do math).

The costumed staff are experts in teaching without preaching and making you feel part of the farm. I know that sounds corny, but go see for yourself. There’s always some in-season farm task, skill/job to be done and everyone gets to pitch in. It’s a real working farm, so visitors can meet the animals in the barn, help work in the fields and gardens, and see what’s cooking in the farmhouse.

The Oliver Kelley Farm is a National Historic Landmark which became a way more family friendly farm visit after opening their new visitor center! The addition of a farm lab to the site takes it above and beyond. Yes, I’m gushing but this is one of my happy places! My kids love the BIG oxen, and all the barn cats, and pumping water from the well to water veggies.

Tamarack Nature Center

Meet the Gardener: Mondays 10:15-11

OK, this one is more garden than farm, but it’s a comprehensive garden laid out in a way that gives you solid ideas you can take home and make your own. And since my real motive is actually to get you growing more of your own food this fits perfectly

Plus this Ramsey County Nature Center boasts the Discovery Hollow Nature Play Area. It doesn’t get much more family friendly than helping plant in a community garden and then wiggle your bare toes in a stream before hiking to the perfect picnic spot. They rotate topics for “Drop in Discoveries” on Saturdays. I’m super excited for the ‘Meet the Bees/Garden Party’ drop in sessions, on June 22, July 27 and August 24. Tamarack also holds a slew of the most desired summer camps in the metro area. A few spots remain.

White Pine Berry Farm

Strawberry Shortcake Social: June 29

A PYO farm run by The Zwald family, White Pine is a newbie on our list this year because of their Organic Certification! The name sells them a little short, as they also grow; asparagus, beans, ginger, (!!!) plums, tumeric, tomatoes and watermelon, yes my mouth is watering…isn’t yours!?!

They’ve got some fun events planned for this season with “A Day in the Country later this Fall. Check them out as part of the Co-op Farm Tour on July 13^th. Follow their Facebook Page to stay in the loop.

Honorable Mentions

These family adventures are too good to miss! While not technically farm visits, they tie in gardening, local food and getting back to Nature. I just had to mention them…

Blueberry Fields of Stillwater – Organic P-Y-O blueberry farm from heaven. I love them so much I did a story on them last summer!

Borner Farm Project: (delicious) Pizza Nights with a chill vibe on a mostly volunteer run farm in the middle of Prescott WI. Boom!

PolliNation Festival– August 25th The most fun you can have helping save the bees!

So, the only question now is which farm will you visit first?

If you happen to have a farm you love to visit, I’d Love to hear about it- as you can tell I’m a little obsessed with farm fresh!

Looking forward to digging into Summer!

Michelle

The post Family Friendly Farm Visits appeared first on Forks in the Dirt.

Harvest Festivals can be the culmination of a good growing season- or a feel like a bland mix of pumpkin spice and everything nice. Lucky for us, our vibrant local food scene is bursting with phenomenal farms of all flavors. They each celebrate their love of local food and drink in unique ways. Family friendly and full of fall fun, find the hip harvest party of your dreams below…

Urban Roots 20th Anniversary Party

20 years of awesomesauce. Urban Roots is one of those groups that’s just got it going on. Through their Market Garden Program they work with inner city youth interns that purchase, grow, maintain, harvest and sell- sometimes even  serve- the produce they raise on their urban farm plot. Cook St Paul is one of the local restaurants that carry their produce. The Chef + Owner of that fine establishment, Eddie Wu, is the emcee for the night’s festivities. *See Cook St. Paul’s listing below too* Live auction items for foodies and farmers alike to drool over. Featuring BANG Brewing and Chowgirls Killer Catering. If you want to have fun and support changing our food systems at the same time, this is your ticket. Those tickets are available Through Wednesday (that’s tomorrow!!) evening.  Get ‘em while they’re hot!

Thursday, Oct 12, 6pm- 9pm
Tickets $75 and up Available through Wed
Harriet Island Pavilion, 200 Doctor Justus Ohage Boulevard Saint Paul, MN 55107

Harvest Days at Oliver Kelley Farm

We love the way they make historical farming come alive here! Help bring in the harvest at the Kelley Farm by helping out with field work, playing 19th-century games, making corn husk dolls and more. They had their grand re-opening this spring and if you haven’t seen all the ways they make the old new again this is so worth your time!

Thursday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Oct. 22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
$6-$12, free for Minnesota Historical Society members and children 4 and under
Oliver Kelley Farm, 15788 Kelley Farm Road, Elk River; 763-441-6896; mnhs.org.

Apple Fest at Carpenter Nature Center 

Photo courtesy of Laurie Schneider

The Carpenter Nature Center is one of those unique places that grounds you to the past while looking towards the future. Celebrate the harvest at Carpenter Nature Center with hayrides, live animal programs in between the live music sets, apple brats, caramel apples, pumpkin decorating, bake sale, cider-making demonstrations and more. Jams, jellies, squash, honey, maple syrup, salad dressings and more volunteer crafted goodness for sale at the Apple Shack.

The orchard was started by the original land owners, and with good management including integrated pest management system using minimal spraying and planting new trees every year (like 300 this Spring!) they maintain about 2,000 apple trees! These are the varieties ready this weekend; Honey Crisp, Haralson, Regent, Macintosh, Cortland, Connell Red.
PYO – Pick Your Own is only available during the Apple Fest!

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 14-15
FREE
Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center, 12805 St. Croix Trail S., Hastings

Stillwater Harvest Fest

Two Words: Pumpkin Regatta. That’s right, those crazy huge gourds are hollowed out and paddled down the old St. Croix…and it is hilarious. Along with the giant pumpkin weigh-off (serious food growing skills on display) a pie eating contest, this feels like enough of an off the wall festival to make the list. Also not to miss; a chili cook-off, microbrew tasting, food trucks, kids tractor pull, costume parade and live music. But those pumpkins! Totally family friendly event except parking, bc: Stillwater. Full schedule of events HERE 

Oct 14-15, 10 am – 6 pm
FREE
Stillwater Riverfront, 101 Water St. S. Stillwater; harvestfeststillwater.com.

Oktober Wine Festival

Chateau St Croix is hosting an afternoon of German fun paired with beautiful fall colors in the Saint Croix Valley. The reason this event made the list: Federweisser wine tastings! Federweisser is the product of fermented freshly pressed grape juice (from the 2017 harvest) known as must. It is semi-sweet and refreshing. This is a German tradition that you will love, or at least be able to say you’ve tried   The festival includes live German Music 1-4pm, German Food by Adventures Food Truck, a Hammerschlagen, Local Oktoberfest Beer and amazing scenery.

October 14^th – 15^th, Noon – 5pm
FREE
Chateau St Croix, 1998 Hwy 87 St. Croix Falls, WI 54024

Oktoberfest “Friends in Need Food Shelf” Event

The Historic Hope Glen Farm is a stunner, with 130 years of stories that adds to its charm. This is their big annual event, and the only way to get to see the farm without being at a private event. With around 1,000 people expected to visit during the 4^th annual open house style event, it’s a good thing they have the support of the police for parking, the Lions for cooking and the all the other festival trappings; a silent auction, music, food, games, a petting zoo and henna tattoos. All proceeds benefit the Friends in Need Food Shelf located in Hastings. The $10 ticket gets you lunch and a chance to enjoy this once a year community event. This land looks amazing!

Oct. 15, noon – 4pm
$10 for adults, $5 for ages 4-12,  free for children 3 and under
Historic Hope Glen Farm, 10276 E. Point Douglas Road S., Cottage Grove

Bail Out Houston: From the Eastside to Sunnyside

This makes the list because Cook St. Paul is one of those places that walks the talk; they buy local, create out of this world meals, and have a collective heart that beats for ALL…
Plus Bi Bim bop. And Peterson Craftsman Meats hot dogs with Koritos. Love how the food world is coming together to make this happen. This is a fund and item raiser to help send Eddie Wu back down to Houston and cook meals out of Fire Station 55 in order to feed the first responders, and the people in the Sunnyside neighborhood. Eddie was barely back in the city from his first trip down right after Hurricane Harvey when he decided he needed to go back. He can’t stop, won’t stop until the people are fed! They are working with Mayor Sandra Massie Hines to coordinate how to best support Sunnyside, a neighborhood similar to The Eastside of St Paul. Food + Music, I can support that bailout.

Sunday Oct 15^th, 4-10pm
$20 cover
MN Music Café: 501 Payne Ave, St Paul, MN 55130

Harvest Potluck

This event elevates the term ‘melting pot’ to another level! Big River Farms http://www.mnfoodassociation.org/  is a teaching farm that works with immigrant farmers, so asking everyone to bring a dish to share to a potluck…well, you’ll have to taste it to believe it! Along with the amazing array of global dishes, (of course cooked with locally grown food) there will be beer, wine and cider, wagon rides, live music, a raffle and crop art. Very family friendly. A great time to try out that new recipe you’ve wanted to make… This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy this peaceful farm, eat great food and meet some amazing new farmers. Link to Details. http://mnfoodassociation.org/events

Sunday, Oct 15 4-7pm Free – Bring a dish to share
Big River Farms – MN Food Association
14220-B Ostlund Trl. N, Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047

Farm Day at Natura Farms

First Time Farm Day! As some of you might remember, Natura was one of the farms in the direct path of that nasty hail storm this June. They weren’t able to open up for their typical PYO strawberries or raspberries, but did have their farm stand open and now, after a season of healing, have invited us all to come down to the farm. There will be  a Pizza Truck, Raffles, Vendors with handmade Quilts, Art, Honey, Veggies and more!  As a Farm Day treat, they’ll have horse drawn wagon rides available for the first time EVER! There may even be (weather permitting) the possibility of some Fall raspberry picking. Please check out the Facebook Event Page to stay up to date.

Oct 21,  12pm-5pm
Free
Natura Farms 19060 Manning Trail North

Wheee! What a ride this weekend could be! My bushels and packed. My baskets are bursting and I couldn’t be happier to get in all that this Fall has to offer.

Go get your Forks into some new farms this weekend, and let me know where you went and what you ate!!

Dig In!

Michelle

The post Forks’ Weekend Spread – Harvest Time! appeared first on Forks in the Dirt.

This summer is growing by fast. Even with Fall right around the corner, if you’re like our family we plan on squeezing every last drop of summer out of the rest of this Summer. And this weekend is ripe with opportunity to do just that, by exploring local farms, flavors and vineyards and learning more about our pollinators. Let’s jump right in, the sun is set to shine just in time for these weekend farm and foodie events!

Friday August 18th

Great Table Dinner at the Dancing Dragonfly Winery

Enjoy the vineyard like never before with a unique and memorable al fresco dining experience, while mingling with fellow wine lovers at our large, family-style table. A 3-course dinner, featuring locally sourced foods from the St. Croix Valley region. The menu includes: Wilted Spinach Salad with Bacon, Top Sirloin with Garlic Crusted Portobello Mushrooms, Champagne Chicken Breast, Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Vegetables, and dessert. The website also mentioned dressing in layers, which was the first time I got legitimately excited for Fall. You can also add on wine pairings (a glass chosen for each of the three courses) for $20. Our regular lineup of wine also available. Simply put this sounds like heaven.

Details: Friday, 6pm-8pm. $55 in advance Registration Link.
Dancing Dragonfly Winery 2013 120^th Avenue, Saint Croix Falls, WI 54024

Saturday,  August 19^th

Cheese & Wine Festival at Dancing Dragonfly Winery

Enjoy sampling premium cheeses and other food goodies from a variety of local vendors while enjoying your favorite glass of wine. Live music from Benny Weinback Trio, 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m, and David Ybarra and the Northside Dukes, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and make it a day! All this surrounded by the beauty of this vineyard tucked into the St. Croix Valley…yes please!

Details: 11am-7pm. Free and open to the public,
Dancing Dragonfly Winery 2013 120^th Avenue, Saint Croix Falls, WI 54024

Breakfast on the Farm at Gale Woods Farm

Get your breakfast straight from the source. Enjoy a farm-fresh breakfast made from locally grown foods and catered by Dakota Junction. Menu includes Scrambled eggs, sausages, cheesy hash browns, zucchini bread, cinnamon rolls and more!  Also, listen to live music, visit the barn, meet the animals and explore the gardens. Sounds like a dream come true for more than a few kids I know! Children 17 and under must be accompanied by a registered adult. Reservations recommended. Sign up at their Website.

Details: 8:30-11am. Reservations- 11 years+ $15, 2-10 $8, under 2 free.
Gale woods Farm, 7210 County Rd 110 W, Minnetrista, MN 55364

And…if the breakfast reservations get sold out, there’s another fun kid friendly option at the same farm…

Saturday Mornings on the Farm at Gale Woods Farm

Same activities as above without the breakfast. A great way to participate in seasonal farm activities, and get your hands a little dirty!

Details: $5 reservations, under 2 free. Gale Woods Farm Facebook Page
Gale woods Farm, 7210 County Rd 110 W, Minnetrista, MN 55364

Kowalski’ Markets “Joy of Local Food” Event

All Eleven Kowalski’s Market locations are showcasing different local suppliers throughout the day. My local market, The White Bear Lake Market, will be featuring over 20 different local producers including:  Salad Girl Dressings, Bolton Bee’s Honey, Grand Ol Creamery, New Bohemia Sausages and Unteidt Farms corn with K-Hand Rolled Butter, so much yum in one place! This is going to be a feast of local flavors. All this sampling will lead to new discoveries- I can’t wait! “We are excited to give the limelight to our amazing local partners on Saturday, they deserve it and we’re ready to share their good food with you,” said the White Bear Lake Market Assistant Store & Grocery Manager, Aaron Gallagher. I’m ready for some new local flavors, how about you!?!

Details: Saturday, 11am-4pm, All Market locations

Borner Farm Project Classes:

The Borner Farm Project is the culmination of blending agriculture with community and watching those seeds take root. They also have pizza nights, and other classes offered throughout the year.

Brick Oven Basics: Building and Baking Class  Saturday, 9am-5:30, $90
Learning how to build and bake on your own Brick oven is a dream of ours, talk about eating local! You can take your dream one step closer to reality by signing up for this class! Curious about baking wood-fired pizza and bread in your backyard, but not ready to commit to permanent oven construction? Want to find a cheaper alternative to a prefabricated oven? Join us and learn how to build a portable stacked-brick oven from loose bricks. After the oven is built, we will fire it up and learn how to make dough for flatbread, pizza, and artisan bread. Then we will bake, eat, and have a good time!

Gut Healing Cooking Class  Saturday, 10am – 12:30pm, $30

This class will focus on meal planning for GAPS and Grain-Free Sugar-Free Meals: Broths, Entrees, Side Dishes, and More”. Even though this is a specific list, the applications to all kinds of cooking are endless- and SO healthful! Join instructor Aileen Abliss to taste and learn how delicious nourishing food effectively treats depression, bi-polar, autism, ADHD/ADD, anxiety, autoimmune diseases, digestive disorders, arthritis, and other mental and physical conditions.

To register for either of the above classes, please email bornerfarmproject@gmail.com and include the following informa

tion: Name, number of people who are signing up, which class/es you would like to take, your email address, and your phone number.
Details: Registration Link
Borner Farm Project, 1266 Walnut St, Prescott, WI

Sunday, August 20th

Up Close with Pollinators at Steady Hand Farm

This is a unique experience where kids and parents can learn about beekeeping from an expert- Erin’s even got child sized bee suits! Last year about 15 kids and their parents attended and learned about pollinators, their habits in the hive and wider world, current ecological concerns facing them- all with lots of fun adding to the buzz. Same game plan for this year’s event. It gets real when getting into those bee suits and exploring the hives on Steady Hand Farm with Erin Rupp. Erin “founded Pollinate Minnesota in 2015, to connect with students and teachers of all ages to live honey bees and the science, policy and media story of pollinator decline,” straight from the Pollinate Minnesota website. Also, Steady Hand Farm looks like quit the place to enjoy!

Details: Register for the fun at Steady Hand Farm, 1231 135th Street, Amery, WI 54001

Just in case that wasn’t enough…Sociable Ciderwerks is holding a NE Brewers Block Party and Red Barn Pizza Farm has a Pizza Night this weekend as well; but since I covered them in earlier weekend spreads, I thought I’d give more space to the newbies!

So many options… Ohh August, you’re always worth the wait!

Dig In and Enjoy!
Michelle

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