WATSONVILLE — For the fifth year, farms throughout the Pajaro Valley will be open to the public for a day of family-friendly activities and tours.
Open Farm Tours, started in 2014 as the Corralitos Open Farm Tour, was organized to connect residents with local famers and learn more about where their food comes from.
“So many people, especially children, are disconnected from what they eat,” said Penny Ellis, a founder and organizer of the event. “These tours are meant to give them a bit of insight and maybe change their view of food.”
This year’s event adds five new farms to last year’s 10. First focused in the Corralitos area, this year’s event will expand, with locations from Aptos to the Royal Oaks area. From 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, everything from applesauce making (Prevedelli Farms) and hard cider tasting (Luz Del Valle Farm), to learning about farm animals (Monkeyflower Ranch) will be available to guests, adding to the various tours at each location.
A Market Place will be held at Aladdin Nursery, offering food, live music, a kid’s activity area, and food preservation demonstrations.
According to Ellis, the 2018 Open Farm Tours will focus on its commitment of zero waste, partnering up with Sambrailo Packaging and Green Waste Recovery to promote proper ways of disposing of waste.
“Many people don’t realize how much everything is connected,” Ellis said. “How much our food is connected to the earth and how we treat it.”
In conjunction with Open Farm Tours, Corralitos Brewing, located at 2536 Freedom Blvd. in Watsonville, will be releasing a commemorative brew just for the event. The beer is made with lemon verbena and lemon grass sourced from Blossoms Biodynamic Farm.
Every farm participating in Open Farm Tours does something different, so choose wisely, Ellis recommended.
“First thing’s first, go online and research what each place will offer,” she said. “Don’t try to do everything. Find something that appeals to you.”
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The following farms will be participating in the 2018 Open Farm Tours:
• Dos Aguilar Farm, 1855 Pleasant Valley Road, Aptos
• Thomas Farm, 1690 Pleasant Valley Road, Aptos
• Luz Del Valle Farm, 1875 Hames Road, Aptos
• Sol Seeker Farm, 1800 Hames Road, Corralitos
• New Natives Nursery, 1255 Hames Road, Aptos
• Blossoms Biodynamic Farm, 358 Merk Road, Corralitos
• Blue Heron Farm, 210 Mark Road, Corralitos
• Prevedelli Farm, 375 Pioneer View Road, Corralitos
• Live Earth Farm, 1275 Green Valley Road, Corralitos
• Fruitilicious Farm, 1881 Green Valley Road, Corralitos
• Terra Sole Nursery, 240 Pioneer View Road, Corralitos
• JSM Organics Farm, 135 Maher Road, Royal Oaks
• Monkeyflower Ranch, 1481 San Miguel Canyon Road, Royal Oaks
• Whiskey Hill Farm, 371 Calabasas Road, Watsonville
• Aladdin Nursery, 2905 Freedom Blvd., Watsonville
For information on the 2018 Open Farm Tours, including a full list of participants and sponsors, visit openfarmtours.com.
