The Carolina Farms Stewards Association, with sponsorship from Whole Foods, has organized the first Midlands Farm Tour, scheduled for April 6 and 7.

The self-guided tour will feature 11 sustainable working farms and gardens in Richland, Lexington and Kershaw counties. Tickets, good for both days, are $25 per vehicle (one ticket covers however many passengers are in the vehicle, so load up!) in advance or $30 per vehicle during the tour or you can choose to pay $10 per farm. Groups of cyclists count as one vehicle. Tickets can be purchased now online and you can download a tour brochure at www.carolinafarmstewards.org/mft/; purchase tickets at Whole Foods Market in Columbia closer to the event date.

Participating farms include Doko Farms in Blythewood; Carolina Bay Farms, Hopkins; Round River Farms, Leesville; City Roots, Columbia; Crooked Cedar Farm, Blythewood; Terra Kotta Farms, Leesville; Heritage Fields Farm, Irmo; USC’s Community Farm & Garden, Columbia; Wil-Moore Farms, Lugoff; Paradise Acres Farm, Elgin and NOMA Community Garden, Columbia.

Visit any farm, in any order and don’t forget to bring a cooler so that you can take away some farm fresh products available at many farms.

Staff reports