Mid-Atlantic Farm Visits: Good Food and Fun

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Knowing where my food comes from is important. You can explore local farms for food and fun. Check out these Mid-Atlantic farm visits.
I’m lucky to have discovered how much fun it is to explore small farms in the Mid-Atlantic region. It all started in my food blogging days when I heard about Joel Salatin and his Polyface Farm in Swoope, VA, and wanted to visit him. After sending an email to Joel offering to come and cook for him and the crew, I was thrilled he accepted my offer.
I arrived on the farm early and hiked up the forested mountain to where the pigs were. The pigs looked healthy and happy in their woodland paradise. I also observed the mobile chicken coops and the cows in their pasture. The tomato plants in the high tunnels were some of the tallest and most productive I’ve ever seen. This was a great start in my small farm education.
Happy pigs at Polyface Farm trotted to the fence to greet me on my walk. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
I have since visited around 20 small farms in the Mid-Atlantic region and want to share some of my favorites. Knowing where my food comes from and that I’m getting the healthiest meat and produce possible is important. Several farms on my list offer delicious and healthy meat, eggs, fruit, and produce at their farm shops or farmers markets. Other farms specialize in flowers, alpacas, and mushrooms. Some reasons to visit these farms are for tours, U-pick apples and other fruit, education, or volunteer opportunities.
Mid-Atlantic Farms to Visit in Maryland
Third Way Farm in Havre De Grace was the first farm I visited after Polyface Farm. I got to know owners Tommy and Michelle Shireman while repeatedly shopping at the local farmers market. Tommy agreed to show me around the farm and share his story. That first trip was a glimpse at the real world of farming. Just minutes into my visit, an intern told Tommy that the fence that kept the pigs in place was down, and the porkers had made a break for freedom.
The Thirdway Farm shop is busy on Wednesday and Friday when the shop is open. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
I followed Tommy to the woods, where the pigs enthusiastically explored as Tommy and the intern tried to coerce them back to the enclosure. After several minutes of fruitless corralling of pigs, I told Tommy I’d be back some other day when the pigs were in their pen. I had no idea how hard it was to round up porkers on the run.
Over the five years I’ve known Tommy and Michelle, I’ve come to their farm for fresh veggies, pork, eggs, beef, and lamb. I occasionally visit and cook for them to get to know their farm even better. At the dinner table, I learn the day-to-day challenges facing small farms like Tommy and Michelle’s.
Third Way Farm chickens have moveable coops to keep the soil in good condition. Moving the coops also gives the chickens new opportunities for eating tasty insects. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
I asked Tommy the best way for new visitors to get to know his farm, and he said, “You can get to know Third Way Farm by joining our CSA program, visiting the on-site farm store, signing up for a tour, or becoming an intern!”
Furry Critters With Funny Faces
Not all the Mid-Atlantic farms I’ve visited are in the business of feeding their customers. Three Oaks Farm in Forest Hill, MD, raises Alpacas and is mainly an agritourism farm on 60 acres. Visitors to this farm get a guided tour up close and in the face of adorable bunnies, goats, miniature donkeys, comical pigs, sheep, one cow, funny-faced alpacas, and two miniature horses. Owner Pam Purce comes from a background of elementary school teaching, which shows how she engages farm visitors.
Alpacas are the main draw at Three Oaks Farm. This cutie was happy to pose for a photo. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
Pam is not just content to have kids and adults be close to her animals; she wants visitors to get a hands-on experience. I got a kick out of brushing the youngest donkey. Then Pam took me to the rabbit habitat, where I held a gentle fur ball bunny and a wacky-looking chicken.
Owner Pam Purce shows off one of her friendly chickens. Visitors are encouraged to hold a chicken or rabbit while touring the farm. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
I can imagine the magic when kids experience holding a rabbit or a chicken or petting goats, pigs, and alpacas. Visitors also get to see the vegetable and pollinator gardens. Tours requests can be made on the website, by phone, or by email.
West of Baltimore
Howard County, MD, is home to over 300 farms. On a recent road trip to a flower farm, I noticed Farmland Forever signs in front of some properties. Howard County is doing a great job preserving farmland through preservation easements.
Mary’s Land Farm is the biggest on my list at 160 acres. They raise pigs, 100% grass-fed beef, chicken and duck eggs, produce, and flowers. I love that the owners believe in sustainability by following beyond-organic practices and raising their cows only on grass. They also raise sheep on chemical-free pastures and pigs in a clean woodland environment.
A wide view of Mary’s Land Farm with the old farm store in the red barn. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
I visit Mary’s Land Farm for their excellent farm store selling fresh produce, dairy, frozen meat, seafood, and Secolari oil and vinegar. In late summer, a sunflower festival brings hundreds of visitors to wander the sunflower fields, take photos, pick sunflowers, and stop in the store for fresh farm goods.
The Sunflower Festival at Mary’s Land Farm draws a big crowd. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
More Than Produce
Farm tours and numerous special events are listed on their website. Mary’s Land Farm also has a renovated 1865 Farmhouse Inn for overnight B&B stays, cooking classes, and small group events.
Who Wants Ice Cream? Now that’s a silly question! But why not get your ice cream and tour the Mid-Atlantic farm that raises the cows too? You can buy high-quality ice cream, milk, and other dairy products at South Mountain Creamery near Middletown. Their ice cream shop, Karen’s Country Store, was busy the summer we found their farm. We discovered them by chance after visiting the nearby Washington Monument State Park.
South Mountain Creamery mother cow with twins. Photo by Lauren Harshman
My wife and I pulled up to a nearly full parking lot and went inside for ice cream cones. We were impressed with flavors like Grasshopper, Indonesian vanilla bean, black raspberry, and other tempting choices. The shop also sells fresh veggies, baked goods, and dairy products to take home. Take a self-guided or private tour to get to know this important local dairy farm. South Mountain Creamery mother cow with twins. Photo by Lauren Harshman
Baugher’s Orchard, in Westminster, is a very popular farm to visit. I’ve only visited Baugher’s fruit market once but later saw a segment about their farm on PBS. They offer U-pick strawberries, cherries, peaches, apples, nectarines, and even pumpkins! Check out their website for details on U-pick dates, restaurant, petting zoo, and fruit market hours and days.
This shelf of fresh apples was looking good on a warm October day at Baugher’s Fruit Market. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
A Flower Farm to Visit
USA-based farms used to produce most of the flowers for its consumers until South American growers took a large bite out of the local flower growers’ share. I’m glad to report that locally-grown flowers from the Mid-Atlantic farm area are returning. I knew about Two Boots Farm from the Jones Falls market in Baltimore when they were mainly an organic veggie farm.
Owner Elisa Lane switched gradually from veggie growing to flowers in 2016. I had signed up for the farm’s newsletter, and when I saw an email offering a flower-arranging workshop, I purchased a ticket to the event for my wife. I drove my wife to the event and joined a guided tour of the farm, witnessing so many gorgeous flowers I was green with envy.
If you attend a flower arranging workshop at Two Boots Farm, you can participate in picking flowers. Photo by Elisa Lane
Check out twobootsfarm.com for upcoming events like farm dinners, workshops/tours, and plant sales.
Eastern Shore: Mid-Atlantic Farm Country
Pop’s Old Place is a Century Farm (100 years or more in the same family) near Hurlock. This Eastern Shore farm has free tours on the first Sunday of every month from April through December. On a walking tour with Darlene, visitors learn about her farm, eco-practices, animal welfare, and more as Darlene does morning chores. Chances are you’ll even get to pet a cow or lamb.
Darlene walks Elsa towards the tour group for an up-close show and tell. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
Darlene Goehringer and her husband, Arthur Wilson, believe in regenerative farming practices that sustain and improve soil conditions. Without healthy soil, it’s difficult to get healthy food. I love this quote on Pop’s website: “Your buying decisions, as a consumer, are the driving force behind a positive change in food production.”
I love this sign at Pop’s Old Place in Hurlock, Maryland. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
Consumers can support the environment by purchasing meat and produce at eco-friendly farms like Pops. The farm store is open after the Sunday tours on the first Sunday of each month, Wednesdays from 4-6 pm, and Saturdays from 10 am -2 pm.
Pennsylvania Goodness
Barnard’s Orchard has been in the same family since 1726. Lewis Barnard is currently at the helm of the orchard known for U-pick apples. I love the delicious apple varieties that Lewis sells in the farm shop. I’ve discovered apples like Smokehouse, Mutsu, Stayman, Empire, Crimson Crisp, and Snapdragon at Barnard’s.
Owner Lewis Barnard helps me load apples for my yearly batch of applesauce canning. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
Their farm market is open most of the year but closes just before Memorial Day and reopens the first week of July, depending on the peach crop. Blueberries and apples are available in the shop or for U-pick. In the summer and fall, the shop is almost always busy with customers buying fruit, vegetables, homegrown flowers, dairy products, and many other goods.
Mushrooms Galore
Phillips Mushroom Farms in Kennett Square is a fourth-generation family business and one of the country’s largest producers of specialty mushrooms. In 2011, they opened The Woodlands as their retail store in a vintage 1828 farmhouse owned by the family since 1890. At their store, I’ve found probably the most mushroom products in one place anywhere. Find fresh Phillips mushrooms, mushroom soup mixes, dried mushrooms, medicinal mushrooms, and more.
The Woodlands at Phillips has so many mushroom goods. It’s a must-visit place for mushroom lovers. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
Just next door to the shop is their mushroom exhibit, a museum with real live mushrooms growing like on a mushroom farm. See crimini, portabella, oyster, and other types of mushrooms growing on the racks. They also describe types of mushrooms and a brief history of mushroom farming in Kennett Square. Admission is free and fun.
King oyster mushrooms are one of my top three types to buy when I visit Phillips. There’s nothing like buying fresh mushrooms from the source. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
Virginia is for Farm Lovers
Fresh farm goods lovers are awash with fruit and vegetables in Virginia, with over 40,000 small farms.
For a fun U-pick experience, I recommend Great Country Farms in tiny Bluemont. This farm has U-pick apples, a fishing pond, a farm play area, daily wagon rides, and more. Just next door is Henway Cider for adult apple beverages. Wine lovers should head up the steep hill above the apple orchards to visit Bluemont Vineyard for good Virginia wine and fantastic views.
The road to Bluemont Vineyard goes through the Great Country Farm apple orchard. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
Volunteer for the Greater Good
Hannah Wittwer, the director of Volunteer and Education Services at Shalom Farms , told me, “We are all about making quality, affordable produce available to everyone.” They believe everyone deserves access to good food and are doing something about it. Shalom Farms distribute its harvests through its Mobile Market, cooking and food skills classes, a Produce RX program, and a network of over 12 food pantries. Thousands of volunteers have helped Shalom Farms feed local residents.
I took this photo on the afternoon of my volunteer shift at Shalom Farms. It was a good way to spend three hours helping feed those needing high-quality fresh produce. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
Some volunteers come for a three-hour, one-time shift, but others come several times yearly. I participated in the three-hour session and was impressed with the overview and instructions given. My Shalom Farm experience showed me how much difference one farm can make in feeding those in need. Whether you live in the area or visit Richmond, consider volunteering at Shalom Farms for the greater good.
Farm Museums
I would be remiss not to mention some of the farm museums I know in Maryland.
I like combining a Steppingstone Farm Museum trip with a hike along the Susquehanna River. The museum has 23 acres and 23 vintage buildings.
Located in the Susquehanna State Park is a historic farm/museum. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
The Carroll County Farm Museum in Westminster has many farm artifacts, living history camps for kids, civil war events, and more.
Howard County’s Living Farm Heritage Museum has lots of vintage farm machinery. It has six miles of hiking trails through woods, fields, and hills. Check out their calendar of events.
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Last Thoughts
I recommend you visit these Mid-Atlantic farms or one in your area to see how fun and rewarding a small farm visit is. At some farms, you’ll come home with good things to eat, photographic memories, or a fresh bouquet. You’ll also learn the importance of supporting America’s small farms and their vital work. Let Wander With Wonder be your guide when planning a visit to Virginia or Maryland .
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Mid-Atlantic Farm Visits: Good Food and Fun
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