2023-07-14 09:41:18
"It’s a powerful thing when a visitor asks where this bread, cheese or wine comes from to be able to point to a field or a vineyard and say: ‘right over there’.” – Jenni McCloud, founder of Middleburg’s The Ag District (Locksley Farmstead Cheese, Little River Bakehouse and Chrysalis Vineyards) George Washington hailed Loudoun as “The Breadbasket of the Revolution.” With four distinct seasons, rich, loamy soil and storied agricultural traditions, Loudoun’s family farms and specialty cultivators supply a bounty of fresh food. Go straight to the source with these farm experiences. FARM TOURS Temple Hall Farm Regional Park: Explore interpretive hiking trails, pick sunflowers and pumpkins in season and say hello to all the cows, goats, alpacas, sheep, pigs and chickens at this 268-acre educational working farm run by NOVA Parks. Blooming Hill Lavender Farm & Gift Shop: Visitors to this small Blue Ridge foothills farm can explore gardens of lovingly tended lavender (close to 100 species) before purchasing locally made lavender products from soaps, oils, creams and candles to coffee and a range of lavender-infused ice creams in several different flavors. U-PICK Wegmeyer Farms: Discover deliciously ripe strawberries in the spring and a variety of pumpkins in the fall at all three locations of this family farm that helped pioneer pick-your-own in Loudoun in 2008. Hope Flower Farm & Winery: On select days of the year, pick (or rather cut) dahlias, peonies, sunflowers and more in the fragrant fields of floral designer Holly Chapple’s exquisite farm outside Waterford. Farm STORES & MARKETS Find urban farm markets and roadside farm stores all over Loudoun. Leesburg, Middleburg, Purcellville and Ashburn host popular weekend markets selling beef cuts, heritage pork, pickles, preserves and seasonal produce. Visit loudounfarms.org for times and locations. On Route 15 south of Lucketts, Brossman’s Family Farm (open May through October) sells everything from fresh local vegetables, fruit, herbs and honey to eggs, baked goods, old-fashioned pickles, jams, preserves and even ice cream. Jewel-box sized Spring House Farm Store off Route 9 near Hamilton sells grass-fed beef, pork, poultry and honey from its nearby Hillsboro farm. Paige’s Pit Stop offers fresh-baked goods and produce. Find more FARM STORES & MARKETS
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