THE FARM IN SALINAS, CA

Because of its temperate climate and productive soil, the Salinas Valley is known as America's Salad Bowl. Hundreds of farms, small and large, dominate the landscape in an intricate design. If Salinas Valley is a quilt, The Farm's square is of the finest pure cotton.

The Farm is a working, organic farm open to the public from April through November. It has an organic produce store, and offer tours to the public. The tour consists of animal education, area history, and farming. These are presented in the most wonderful of ways.

Children and adults alike sport wide smiles when learning about, feeding and petting the rabbits, goats, ducks, chickens, calves and other animals typically found on a farm. And some not so typical. While you can't pet the ostriches, they are fascinating to watch as they strut about their pens, as interested in you as you are in them. From the animal area, join the farmer in the fields of the demonstration farm.

Come prepared to get your hands dirty as you learn first-hand about farming in general and organic farming in particular. With a little guidance on how to pick properly, you'll fill your bag with organic produce that you have chosen and picked yourself. After five minutes of picking, you will come away with a renewed respect for those who spend their days doing an honest day's work in the fields. It's not an easy task. And it's not only fruits and vegetables in the field.

Rows upon rows of beautiful flowers take up valuable produce real estate. But as Farmer Frank explains, it's all part of caring for the land. Those flowers attract beneficial insects and render the use of undesirable pesticides unnecessary. Ears of corn are pulled to the silk to show the damage unchecked pests can do. Big bags of ladybugs are brought out and opened to the delight of all, demonstrating how insects are used as pest control.

With ladybugs still clinging to arms and shirts, hop on board for an old fashioned hayride around the farm. The tractor sputters as it fires up, the hay is clean, and the smell of fresh flowers and crisp air in your face make this a highlight for many. The end of the hayride stops near the picnic area, where you can enjoy snacks and cold drinks available for purchase, or lunch brought with you.

Whether you eat organic for the health benefits, or the benefit to your taste buds, the produce at The Farm's produce stand will fit the bill. Enjoy a bite out of strawberries that weren't picked too early for market, but left to sweeten to ripe perfection. Purchase a huge head of beautiful Romaine lettuce for a song. If you're daring, buy a jar of extra hot homemade salsa.

Make certain to bring your camera, as photo opportunities abound. Take a little walk out into the field and have your picture taken with the Giant Farmers, larger-than-life art sculptures that adorn The Farm. They're big enough to be seen from the Highway, and you'll be not much taller than a head of lettuce standing to next to one.

There's a $25 minimum charge for tours; for most of us, that means going with another family. Call to make reservations at least a day in advance. If you don't have anyway to go with you, call to see when tours are already scheduled. Tours are offered all the way to Christmas, and large groups such as schools or churches are heartily welcomed.

Click here for the current Farm coupon.

(c) 2000 Paul and Julie Gentry. Note: this article first appeared in The Classmate magazine.