Agritourism in Jacksonville

When you think of Jacksonville, farms are not the first thing that typically comes to mind.

You might be surprised to learn the Flip Side of Florida actually has quite a few farms in town. Each one is unique, focusing on different aspects of farming while also giving back to the community.

One of the best examples I found of this ideology was at Eartha’s Farm & Market. It is a Clara White Mission initiative, and I was humbled to learn the history during a farm tour one Saturday morning. The farm is located next to the former residence of Dr Eartha M. M. White, founder of the Clara White Mission. Our tour leader Trey informed us that Eartha’s former home will be renovated and turned into a history and education center.

Eartha was a great humanitarian, and it was wonderful to see her spirit still alive on the farm today through programs like their row rentals. This program enables community members to rent rows on the farm for a low annual price.

I was able to see many families on the grounds tending to their rows, harvesting their crops. In one of Jacksonville’s worst food deserts, this was a welcome sight. Another way Earth’s Farm and Market gives back is through the Saturday farmers markets. These markets not only allow the farm to sell their produce, they also create a space for local vendors to sell their items and for health care professionals to provide care to the community. Check their website and social media accounts to see all their events, like their Saturday markets and special farm-to-table dinner events.

One of the more popular farms in town is Congaree & Penn. There are many things you can do on the farm like wagon rides, farm tours, wildflower, blackberry and grape picking. Tickets to Congaree and Penn’s agritourism activities are available online. If you’d like to simply roam the farm at your own pace, you will need to purchase a farm pass, which can be done upon arrival.

Congaree & Penn also hosts unique events like canine field days, special dinners and Fridays on the Farm Grounds. I attended Fridays on the Farm Grounds and had a blast. They had a food truck on site and a band playing live music under the oaks. There were many families with kids and dogs running around enjoying the farm. It was a nice relaxing evening that I look forward to doing again.

In addition to a bustling farm, Congaree & Penn also has a well-known restaurant on site that serves seasonal produce grown from their gardens, house milled grains, humanely raised meats and locally caught fish. They often have food events like fish frys, crawfish boils and chef’s tasting menus so make sure to visit their website regularly to see what’s happening.

Berry Good Farms is a unique farm that offers a farmer’s market every Thursday where you can purchase fresh produce from the farm as well as plant starters, artwork made by students, dog treats and fresh cut flowers. The produce is harvested less than 24 hours before it is sold in the market. It's hard to get much fresher than that!

Berry Good Farms is located inside the North Florida School of Special Education. The students gain skills working on the farm while enrolled, then are eligible for compensated employment post-graduation. Many different programs are offered in addition to the horticulture program for postgraduates:

The Culinary Arts Program focuses on menu creation, shopping for items, and creating recipes using the farm’s produce.
Berry Good Farms On The Go is a farm-to-truck vocational training program where postgraduates learn how to shop, prep and serve customers on the food truck. The Berry Good Farms On The Go menu changes weekly, based on what is sprouting up at the farm and can be found at a variety of outlets around Northeast Florida, Check out their social media pages for the most updated BGF On The Go schedule.
Barkin’ Biscuits incorporates fresh ingredients from the farm into all-natural dog treats made by the students.

While most of our local farms focus on growing crops, Eat Your Yard Jax is a nonprofit edible plant nursery and education center that offers workshops and seminars aimed at helping homeowners turn their yards into edible landscapes.

The workshops cover a wide range of topics including soil biology, urban agriculture, growing and brewing herbal teas and growing shiitake mushrooms. While some events are offered on specific dates only, many of the workshops can be created on your schedule, if there are a minimum of 3 people attending. Once you have all the knowledge to start your garden, you can also shop for trees, organic veggie starters and herbs on the farm grounds. They are open to visitors Fridays and Saturdays, and you can also shop and order online to be picked up for free.

Founded in 2021, Green Legacy Farm has already made a name for themselves by operating micro-farm sites all over Jacksonville in partnership with schools, communities and churches. They also host farm-to-fork events, green mixers, seasonal beer releases and educational workshops.

Another one of their ventures, Farmery Bakery and Bodega, is a farm-to-fork retail storefront located in the historic Springfield. They are open every weekend offering fresh produce from Green Legacy Farm and other items for sale.

No matter what kind of farm experience you are looking for, you are sure to find it here in the Flip Side of Florida. With many of the farms located in the same area, you could easily make a day of it and hop around checking each one out. Whenever you are inspired to pick up a few veggie starters for the garden, grab fresh produce from a market, or have a romantic dinner date, our Jacksonville farms have you covered.

Author

Jill Cruz

Local Expert Guest, Visit Jax Insider