The weather this time of year is wonderful. Warm days and cool nights are as welcome to the plants as for us. Its also a great time of year to tap into a deep seated desire found at the core fibre of humankind: our agrarian roots.

Though denied for generations most people long for at least a taste of the rural, farming lifestyle. The smell of dew on small plants, seeing animals as part of life, planning meals from the garden not the store adds, family centered homes, doing aerobic and resitance excercises from the end of a shovel and dirty fingernails entice most of us.

One family-fun way to get some rural in your life is to visit some of the many farmers' markets or family farm direct markets. Nearly 30 exist around the valley and hundreds throughout the state. This is not counting the countless roadside stands.

Many farm-direct operations offer more than just fresh produce. They have displays, events, activities, baked goods and friendly people. Farmers' market vendors also offer a bit of the farm with fresh produce, honey, dried flowers or gourds. All representing farming in the area.

Most of the markets or farms lay close-in to the metropolitan areas. Even from dowtown Phoenix the furthest travel would be enjoyable 30 minute drives to Waddle or Queen Creek.

Its unreasonable to list all the markets or farms. A couple come to mind as being both the most established and as far to the east or west as any. Duncan Family Farms caters to city folks, commercial packaging companies and resort chefs. Located to the westr on Cotton Lane a couple miles north of I-10 makes it easy and convienent to take the family.

Across the valley to the community of Queen Creek is Schnepf Farms. Though not as close to a freeway the drive south on Power Road then east on Rittenhouse immerses you in farming. Run by the mayor of Queen Creek and his family the visitor gets a real feeling for farming plus all the fresh produce and other goods.

Again these two mentioned represtes the many markets and farms to visit. Its fun just driving around in the rural areas and stumbling upon other stops. There are many places popping up all over the valley.

The newest one is the South Mountain Farmer's Market. Open on Sundays its located on 26th Street south of Southern at Waldron Farms. Besides fresh produce and goods you will find gourds of all shapes and sizes and people who grow gourds. Gourds are fascinating, usefull, beautiful and part of life for thousands of years.

If gourds interest you as they do me and you want to meet a great group of people with similar interests mark Novenber 20th. The Annual Southwest Gourd Festival happens at Mother Nature's Christmas Tree Farm on Baseline east of Stapley. Besides displaying the craft, beauty, utility and charm of gourds the location is another family farm to add to the list of stops.

Our office has a limited number of phamphlets a partial listing farms and markets around Phoenix send a SASE to our office. Address it Farm-Fresh 4341 East Broadway Phoenix, AZ 85040.

Written by Terry Mikel, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the University of Arizona, 602-470-8086.
Material originally appeared in Arizona Republic
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