It is my pleasure to introduce you to one of my local farmers, Ron and Cherri Clark. The Clarks have been tending this beautiful patch of earth for years, producing primarily organic strawberries but also squash, beans and other produce during the off season. They sell their berries to local stores but also open their land to the public for a much anticipated annual U-Pick.
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| The Beautiful and Organic Jordan Farm, Plant City FL |
Jordan Farm is the only “in the dirt” organic strawberry farm that I take my family to. Do I go to the local, organic hydroponic farm? No way. Ron and Cheri’s berries are much more nutritious and, hence, last longer. I love that I can let my children run wild in the strawberry patch, picking berries right off the plants and eating them with no fear of pesticide residue or chemical fertilizers.
I would never allow my kids to participate in a strawberry U-Pick at a conventional farm. Strawberries are one of the most highly sprayed crops and the thought of them picking berries in such a polluted environment is absolutely out of the question.
On the other hand, exposure to “clean” dirt is good for children. It primes their immune system and helps them avoid allergies. Kids who play in the dirt are healthier than those that don’t. Getting your kids out to local farms where they can be exposed to soil based microbes in an unpolluted environment is a great thing for their health.
And besides, it’s so much fun too!
Who are the local farmers that are dear to you? If you don’t have any, don’t you think it’s about time to get to know these hard working folks and have them part of your life?
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
Picking strawberries with my kids means summer to me! I don’t have an allergy to strawberries, but my arms break out in hives if I don’t wear long sleeves–I bet it’s the pesticides on the plants in the fields we’d picked years past. I look forward to finding an organic option in our beautiful Oregon landscape!
I hope to be able to participate in this next year with our little one! She loves strawberries & would love picking them out on her own! Sounds like good fun.
We love Jordan Farms! Some of our favorite photos of our kids were taken there over the years…dirty, strawberry-juice laden faces with grins the size of Texas. 🙂
I DO know my farmers! Michael and Anja, of Trillium Have Farm in West Michigan. I have been a member there for 4 years now, and I also teach classes they offer and also do food demos twice a month at the produce pick-up location. Next year I am teaching a class on lacto-fermentation, tho I have only been fermenting for a year now. Lots of studying to do this winter in preparation!
We love this farm too, Sarah, and look forward to the straweberry picking every year.
We have a CSA farm in the town next to use that also does cheesemaking classes, and other activities such as canning tomato sauce, etc… I haven't attended any of their classes, but have friends that have, and they loved it!
They are organic and operated by a small family. The farm is called Worden Farm (http://www.wordenfarm.com/) and it's owned by Eva and Chris Worden.