Visitors to the 2016 East Austin Urban Farm Tour (Photo: East Austin Urban Farm Tour)
In Austin, “locally-grown” means right inside the city limits. Possibly even in your neighborhood. Each year, East Austin Urban Farm Tour celebrates some of the wonderful working farms in the heart of East Austin. The event gives visitors the opportunity to tour four working farms, all within walking distance of each other.
East Austin Urban Farm Tour Locations
Clockwise: Rain Lily Farm (Credit: rg-fotos vis Flickr CC), Boggy Creek Farm (Credit: Laura Taylor via Flickr CC), Boggy Creek fields (Credit: Rachelle King via Flickr CC)
These four farms are participating in East Austin Urban Farm Tour this year:
Boggy Creek Farm has been a pillar in East Austin since 1992. Billed as the “original East Austin Farm,” Boggy Creek has a market that sells fresh produce, dairy, and meat from Wednesday to Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 1 p.m., between September and July. If you’ve eaten at Olamaie, Odd Duck, Barley Swine, or East Side Pies, you’ve likely already tasted some of their fresh goods.
HausBar Farms is not only a sustainable farm raising vegetables, but also home to two donkeys, hundreds of chickens, rabbits, geese, and ducks. They have a GuestHaus vacation rental, and offer a number of day camps and workshops.
Rain Lily Farm provides organic vegetables, fresh eggs, and dairy from their goats. They also run a landscaping design business, specializing in native plants and best practices for sustainable gardens. Rain Lily also hosts special events like Shakespeare on the Farm.
Springdale Farm has a farm stand open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays, so you can buy their produce, eggs, and jams. They also sell products online at Springdale Handmade. If you’re looking for homemade soaps made with fresh, natural ingredients, or other gifts for the locavore in your life, you’re in the right place.
What to Expect
Trying farm fresh food during East Austin Urban Farm Tour (Credit: East Austin Urban Farm Tour)
The 8th annual East Austin Urban Farm Tour will take place on Sunday, April 9, from 1-5 p.m. Spend your Sunday strolling through the farms, talking to farmers, and meeting some friendly chickens, donkeys, and rabbits. Truly, chilling with donkeys makes for a pretty solid weekend.
On the tours, you’ll hear directly from the farmers as they tell you about their crops and answer questions. You’ll not only learn more about the food you eat at local restaurants, but you’ll also learn tips and tricks to apply to your own urban homestead. If your garden is anything like mine, it involves a constant battle between you, and the stinkbugs and caterpillars. I’m always on the look out for more organic pest control tips.
But what good is learning about your food without getting to try it? At each farm, you’ll get to taste the fruits of the farmers’ labor. Austin’s top local restaurants, winemakers, mixologists, and breweries will all be on site. They’ll share bites and sips showcasing farm-fresh ingredients. Lenoir, Juniper, Emmer & Rye, Uchi, and L’oca D’oro are just a few examples of the restaurants that will be providing samples.
You’ll also try drinks from a wide assortment of local businesses, including Texas Sake Company, Argus Cidery, Weather Up, and Zilker Brewing Company.
How to Attend East Austin Urban Farm Tour
Credit: East Austin Urban Farm Tour
To attend East Austin Urban Farm Tour, you have to register and buy tickets here. Tickets are $55 a person, but kids 10 and under are free. Proceeds from the tour benefit Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance (FARFA). This national organization supports independent family farmers and ranchers.
If you’re a fan of eating local, want to learn more about where your food comes for, or just want to spend your Sunday sipping and strolling through the fields of East Austin, this is the event for you.
@theAustinot wants to know:
What’s your favorite urban farm in Austin?
