01 Jun Head to the Farm This Summer
The weather is looking up! Get up and get outdoors to visit Long Island’s lush local farms. The North Fork is home to several organic farms that offers tours, fresh produce, workshops and more. If you’re looking for a fun way to spend a day, we definitely recommend visiting one of these locations:
Garden of Eve Organic Farm
4558 Sound Avenue, Riverhead
Garden of Eve Organic Farm tops our list of farms to visit on the East End. Founded in 2001 by Chris and Eve Kaplan-Walbrecht, environmental advocates, their farm is dedicated to “providing delicious organic vegetables, fruits and beautiful flowers and to making changes in the world by living them.” They operate as as sustainably as possible and grow 70 varieties of vegetables, 20 varieties of herbs, and 30 varieties of flowers–all without the use of pesticides or herbicides. Instead they rely on plants’ natural defense systems and ecological solutions to solve any pest problems. Typical commercial farms are based on the practice of “monocropping,” growing many acres of just one crop which often means relying on large amounts of chemical pesticides and herbicides. This difference is one you can taste in the produce. Garden of Eve claims their organic produce has “deliciously intense, sweeter flavors than conventionally grown produce.”
To visit their farm, email farmer@gardenofevefarm.com with your contact information, name, requested trip date, number and age of kids or adults. They make farm tours custom, based on on your interests, the age of visitors, duration of the visit. You can take part in activities such as collecting eggs and caring for the chickens, harvesting crops, and learning about the diversity of “heritage” breed animals.
Sang Lee Farm
25180 County Rd. 48, Peconic
Established in the mid 1940’s, Sang Lee Farms, Inc. originally started out in Melville, supplying New York’s Chinatown with quality produce grown. Eventually, the owner and his family moved the farm to Peconic on the North Fork of Long Island since the moderate climate allowed for an extended growing season that capitalizes on the fertile soil. Sang Lee Farms also produces certified organize produce and grows hundreds of varieties of different fruits and vegetables.
They host open house tours, farm camp for kids, and gardening and herb workshops throughout the year. For example, this Saturday, 11am – 12:30pm, you can attend a workshop with Certified Herbalist Courtney Hall who will present a hands on presentation on how the herbs can be preserved and processed into medicines for health and healing. Sign up here to attend the event or explore other events.
Wickham’s Fruit Farm
28700 Main Rd, Cutchogue
Last, but not least, Wickham’s Fruit Farm is a family enterprise, which has taken pride in producing and marketing the choicest of fruit. They grow, apples, apricots, seedless grapes, and pears, apples, plum, peaches, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and more in the summer. They also make fresh apple cider donuts, cider, cheeses, and preserves. All fruits sold are grown on the farm’s verdant 200+ acres of land off the Cutchogue Harbor.
Their retail market is usually open from May through December, Monday through Saturday 9am – 430pm. If you’d rather schedule a visit, field trips can be booked in advance online here for groups of 20 or larger for $10.00 per person.
Harbes Family Farm
715 Sound Ave, Mattituck
For over 13 generations, the Harbes’ have been farming on Long Island, transforming their family farm into a North Fork destination. At the farm, families can enjoy anything from fresh picked corn to award-winning wines as well as various special events and tours.
Take a weekend and see it all! Reserve a stay at Hotel Indigo Long Island – East End by calling us at (631) 369-2200 ext. 0.