Come participate in Polk County’s third annual PolkFresh™ Farm Tour, and learn about small-scale agricultural initiatives in our communities. Traverse fertile bottomland, forests and open meadow pastures that line rivers and streams. Pick your own sustainable vegetables and fruits and relax in herb fields and gardens, sample from local vineyards and wineries and take a day to steer off the beaten path to meet your neighbors. You will be astonished to see what is happening in agriculture in Polk County.
Polk County is fully embracing agriculture as an economic engine, a lifestyle and the very backbone of our history and culture.
Over the past couple of years, many Polk County farmers have been expanding their operations in very exciting ways. We have added vegetable operations, greenhouses, aquaculture, buffalo, water buffalo, free-range chickens, berries, herbs and hops. Each farm is unique and reflects the character of the farmer and their families.
As it was last year, the tour is in partnership with the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, or ASAP Family Farm Tour, throughout western North Carolina. Your PolkFresh™ vehicle pass will get you on the neighboring county farms the next day. Visit www.asapconnections.org for their downloadable tour map.
The price of a vehicle pass includes the cost of the tour, and any number of people in that vehicle may visit as many participating farms as desired during each farm’s specified hours. Proceeds benefit the Mill Spring Agricultural Development Center.
New this year is an individual bus pass, with pick-up and drop-off at Mill Spring Ag Center. This option allows you to let someone else navigate while you relax and socialize. Two buses will be running; space will be limited and on a first come-first-served basis.
Farm tour participants are encouraged to bring a camera, a cooler and cash to make purchases that day, as well as to wear farm-appropriate clothing.
Lunch options are available all along the way and each farm stop will offer sales, samples or tastings of their goods. Or take your own picnic and lunch riverside or fieldside in the shade at any one of the farm tour stops that day.
The day will culminate in a celebration farm-to-table potluck that evening with Slow Food Foothills beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Mill Spring Ag Center. In Slow Food potluck tradition, bring your own place setting and refreshments and a locally sourced dish to share. Learn about the fast-growing chapter, its mission and projects and how you can participate to support the foothills farmer and our local, traditional food system and heritage.
You can find information about participating farms and their profiles, demonstration activities and times, and ticket sales locations at www.polkcountyfarms.org.