Spring is here! And with it comes sweet, juicy strawberries, vases of fresh cut flowers, local honey and jams, blueberries fresh off the vine and colorful salads full of garden veggies all thanks to our local farmers and artisans, many who are participating in the third annual Aiken Ag & Art Tour. Join along for a chance to visit farms and markets in the area, see where our food comes from and watch artists in action.
Started by the Clemson University Cooperative Extension and led in each county by volunteers, this grass roots program is in its thirteenth year. It has grown to be the largest, free farm and art tour in the nation with over 150,000 visitors participating since 2012. This year over 22 counties in South Carolina will be taking part in the tour on the weekends throughout the month of May, including Aiken which will be held on Saturday, May 10 from 9am-4pm.
Aiken’s Ag & Art Tour chairman, Maggie Rutland, is all too familiar with the benefits of agritourism as she owns her own first generation farm. Offering recreational, educational and cultural experiences on working farms educates the public on the importance of farms and also helps farmers bring in other types of income. Farmers and artisans also have a woven connection; they rely on each other to successfully continue their trades and crafts. Rutland states, “Getting the public involved in agriculture can encourage people to buy from their local farmers, local artists, and maybe even get people interested in starting their own farm.”
This year in Aiken, there will be eleven places to visit on the self-guided tour. Redcliffe Plantation will offer informational demonstrations by Aiken Master Gardeners, Trusty Farms will have flowers, honey, fruits, and gourmet mushrooms available for purchase, and Aiken Equine Rescue will have food trucks and artisans. Even the Aiken Farmers Market is on the tour! There are so many others to check out. Information can be found at www.agandarttour.com/aiken
Getting the public involved in agriculture can encourage people to buy from their local farmers, local artists, and maybe even get people interested in starting their own farm