Festival of Farms is Saturday

Editor's note: Provided by Just Food Co-op

Saturday is the third annual Festival of Farms tour for area farms, sponsored by the Cannon River chapter of the Sustainable Farming Association-MN.

This year we will feature several new farms, and a collection of farms on the north end of town. has generously donated the services of a bus (the bus is almost full, but if it fills, you can meet us at the co-op to create a caravan). The bus will leave Just Food at 12:30 p.m. sharp.

Our first stop will be Cherry Leaf Farm at 9697 Decker Ave, Northfield. Here John Porterfield, a new ambitious farmer, is creating a place of fruit and more. From there we will travel north to Little Berry Farm where Aaron Wills and Molly McGovern Wills have transformed their terrific soil into a blueberry patch, with plans for a U-Pick operation in 2013 and beyond. Right next door is Spring Wind Farm, the new location of Betsy Allister and Andrew Erhmann at 4175 320^th Street. Betsy and Andrew moved last fall to continue providing the with delicious greens and vegetables, in addition to growing for their CSA membership. The final stop is Open Hands Farm, 4151 320^th Street, home of Erin Johnson and Ben Doherty. Erin and Ben grow for upwards of 150 area families, as well as sell product to Just Food and the college food services.

At the end of the tour, to show our appreciation for the curiosity and support given to us by our area eaters, and we will be hosting an Ice Cream Social for tour participants. Please plan to stay for the ice cream!

The Cannon River chapter of the Sustainable Farming Association promotes and supports the work of new and not-so-new sustainable farming operations. We meet quarterly to plan events and offer workshops for area farmers. For more information see www.sfa-mn.org.