There are as many reasons for taking the Piedmont Farm Tour, as there are people who love farming. This is the tenth year of the tour and every year it offers more to more people who enjoy it.
The annual event is a fundraiser for the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA), an association of more than 750 farmers, businessmen and businesswomen who are interested in the sustainable and organic farming lifestyle.
Those who go on the tour get to visit a varied mix of farm businesses. Over the years its been demonstrated there is more offered to see than anyone can take advantage of in just the two days of the tour. For that reason - and convenience - CFSA now divides the tour into three regions, north, central and south; each region has its own hub site with refreshments, bathrooms and information tables.
Buttons, which serve as tickets, are sold per car. A provided map shows you where the participating farm businesses are located. The cost is $25 per car for all 30 farms ($20 in advance) or $5 per farm visited. Tour dates are Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, April 24, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
You can pick up an advance ticket and map at the following locations:
• Weaver Street Market in Carboro, N.C.
• Weaver Street Market at Southern Village in Chapel Hill, N.C.
• General Store Café, Pittsboro, N.C.
• Fearrington Farmers' Market, Durham, N.C.
• Durham Co-op Grocery, Durham, N.C.
• Durham Farmers' Market, Durham, N.C.
• Maple View Ice Cream Store, Hillsborough, N.C.
• Harmony Farms, Raleigh, N.C.
• Triangle Nutrition, Raleigh, N.C.
For more information, call (919) 929-0010, extension 115.