Opening Bell and CLG Farm Tours

Greetings Conway Locally Grown Community,

Conway Locally Grown Farm Tour and Membership Drive
Conway Locally Grown is doing a membership drive this spring and instead of buying a billboard, we’ve decided to take people to the farm! We think our farmers are the market’s best advocates. So bring a friend who’s not a member of the market and come join us on Saturday, May 11 for a Conway Locally Grown Farm Tour of three of the Ozark Mountains’ most innovative and beautiful farms: Ratchford Farms, Falling Sky Farm, and Armstead Farm. The tour is $20 and if you bring a friend who’s not a member of the market, they come for free. The tour will include transportation, pastries and coffee from Serenity Farm Bread, and a potluck at Falling Sky Farm. Reserve a spot for you and a friend now at the Conway Locally Grown Market Page under CLG Events.

• The first stop will be at Ratchford Farms where the buffalo and cattle roam the wooded hills, graze in the open meadows, and drink the pure spring water. Originally, the ranch was founded to raise cattle and grow strawberries by the Ratchford family in the 1950’s. Currently, the second generation, L.C. Ratchford and family have utilized the 500 acre farm to raise cattle, buffalo. fruits, and vegetables.
• The second stop will be at Falling Sky Farm with Andrea and Cody, two first generation farmers who have been farming sustainably in the Ozarks since 2007. Falling Sky Farm raises chickens, ducks, turkeys, pigs, cattle, and lots of beautiful green grass. The cattle are 100% grass fed, and the poultry are raised on pasture and the pigs range freely in the forests. Neither their animals nor the pasture that sustains them ever consumes maintenance antibiotics, growth hormones, or synthetic pesticides or herbicides. At Falling Sky Farm chickens scratch, pigs root, and cattle graze.
• Our last stop of the day will be at Armstead Farm for a visit with Sue and Rusty Nuffer who have been farming fruits and veggies Organically in the Ozarks since 1972. Armstead Farm consists of 80 acres totally surrounded by the Ozark National Forest. Sue and Rusty enrich and build their soil with compost, cover crops, mulch, rock dust, and other natural fertilizers and minerals. They have approximately 4-5 acres in cultivation and 5600 sq. ft. of unheated greenhouse space. They are truly one of the pioneers of sustainable food production in Arkansas.

For more info on the tour click here

Don’t forget also Barnhill Orchards in hosting a field day and fish fry April 21st. Here’s the signup link

The market is now open! Go to conway.locallygrown.net/market to place your order. Single click the checkout button once you’re finished and you will receive a confirmation email. Have a wonderful week and take advantage of the farm tour opportunities.

Best regards,
Gabe Levin
Market Director