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Women in ag farm tour May 14 in Franklin County



This year’s Second Annual Women in Ag “Local Foods” Tour is dedicated to the Franklin County Women in Ag group and its promotion of Agritourism in Franklin County. Contributed photo

LOUISBURG — Discover local food, flower and fiber farms in diversified Franklin County. An eight county-wide farms will be open to the public Sunday, May 14 — rain or shine — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., a news release says.

This year’s Second Annual Women in Ag “Local Foods” Tour is dedicated to the Franklin County Women in Ag group and its promotion of Agritourism in Franklin County. Tour goers can buy produce, eggs, cut flowers, plants, meat and other products at many of the farms, visiting three or four a day. 



Farms visits include the Franklin County Beekeepers Beekeeping Association, franklincountybees.org. The farm, according to press materials, began in 2007 due primarily to the efforts of Larry Green and a small group of people he recruited to help him. Franklin County had been, until then, without a beekeeping club.

Other farms are Koi Creek Farm, with 14 varieties of organic microgreens, greenhouse plants, free range eggs, koi pond, walking trails.

“If you’ve never had fresh, healthy microgreens then you’re in for a treat,” a news release says.

Koi Creek is a 50-acre farm which partners with JJ’s Greens.

Soggy Dog Farm offers beef, pork, chicken and eggs, “from farm to table.” Bought in 2014, the land was overgrown and needing attention. What started with a couple of brush-eater goats to help with the mowing, matured into a “hobby farm” that fed the family and has now grown into a self-sustaining small-scale farm with customers across the Triangle. 

Rocky Ridge Farm is an organic fruit nut and vegetable farm nestled on 30 acres in Bunn. 

“We are a small family farm, dedicated to using regenerative farming techniques. We make and use our own biochar on the farm to create the most beneficial microbial environment for our soil. Our specialty crop is chestnuts and will have chestnut trees available to order. We have two caterpillar tunnels, a high tunnel, a carport high tunnel and a passive solar geo-airgreenhouse. 

McPhetridge Family Farms includes agritourism, livestock, elderberries and more. “Meet Hurricane the rescue steer, who thinks he’s a dog, ‘Nosie’ Rosie the horse who loves being in everyone’s business, the goats who never say no to a treat and Fernando the pig who loves belly rubs.”

The farm started with a crop of hemp and has since changed over to growing primarily elderberries. Several other trees and other small crops grow around the farm, as well.

At Meadow Lane Farm, visitors can buy pasture raised beef, pork, lamb and goat, as well as organic strawberries, asparagus, vegetables and fruits. “Recognized as a Century Farm, enjoy the vast and beautiful rolling pasture land, an 18th century home, and vintage mule and grain barns.”

White Level Plant Farm grows all types of hanging baskets and ferns, bedding plants, flowering plants, succulents and more. 

“We offer petting of our goats. We have geese and ducks, and guinea fowl, one turkey. … We offer fresh brown eggs and honey and have two gift

shops. We grow all types of hanging baskets and ferns, bedding plants, flowering plants, succulents and much more.”

Shrooms 2 Grow is a small gourmet mushroom farm specializing in hardwood grown mushrooms. It includes log inoculation demonstrations for growing mushrooms in a natural forest setting, along with a tour and brief description of growing mushrooms indoors. 

“We will have fresh and dried mushrooms, along with grow kits, and inoculated logs for sale. 

For more information about the tour and farms, visit franklin.ces.ncsu.edu/, call (919) 496-3344 or contact Martha Mobley, Agricultural Extension agent, martha_mobley@ncsu.edu. Bring a cooler and cash, as s ome farms may not take debit or credit cards.