The 2017 Farm Crawl will take place Sunday, October 1st from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This is the 11th year of the event which attracts over 1,500 visitors to a small circle of farms in south-central Iowa. Attendees of the crawl will be able to tour farms, visit the animals, meet the farmers, sample the different foods, and discover locally grown and produced products while having fun in the Marion County and Lucas County countryside. At several of the host farms there will be guest area businesses and farmers that produce fiber/yarn, photo cards, artisan beer, honey, desserts, iron works and pork. Entrance to all of the farms is free. The 2017 farm crawl is sponsored by Practical Farmers of Iowa and South Central Coop.

MORE INFORMATION
Visit the Farm Crawl website at www.farmcrawl.com for more details, maps and directions. NO PETS – for the safety of our farm animals and guests, please leave your animals at home. The seven farms include:
Blue Gate Farm (Jill Beebout & Sean Skeehan) – Certified Naturally Grown, chemical-free produce, pastured eggs, handspun yarn and honey bees benefit our CSA and markets. Sample homemade jams, jellies and honey; guided tours; visit the new high tunnel, alpacas and chickens! Homemade cookies, cocoa & herb lemonade available.
Coyote Run Farm (Matt Russell & Patrick Standley) – A 110 acre chemical-free, sustainable farm growing chemical- free produce, eggs from hens on pasture, hormone-free/grass-fed beef, and mules. Walk the farm, see the livestock, learn about our integrated production systems including a high tunnel, and enjoy complimentary borscht soup and desserts.
Crooked Gap Farm (Ethan & Rebecca Book) – A good representation of contemporary homesteading, the Books started their farm on a 40 acre piece, with no buildings, that had been fallow fields and timber for many years. They built a house and outbuildings and now raise grass-fed Dexter cattle, heritage breed pigs, poultry and lambs. During Farm Crawl they will have their meats available for sale.
Pierce’s Pumpkin Patch (John & Joy Pierce) – Thousands of different pumpkins, squashes, gourds, decorative corn and a shop full of Halloween celebration décor. Enjoy brisket or pork sandwiches, hot dogs and all the fixings.
Schneider Orchard (Arnie & Jane Schneider) – Stroll through the orchard, enjoy fresh fruit pie ala-mode, apple crisp and caramel apples. Rope making demonstration. Games, activities and tractor wagon rides for the kids.
Trojan Iron Works (Monte Collins and Erin Cook with Pleasantville FFA Students) – Come and enjoy the family oriented stop. Students will be selling metal artwork including barn quilts and fall décor. Also for sale will be cotton candy, cheese curds, and beef sticks. They will be taking orders for beef and pork raised at the Pleasantville FFA Teaching Farm. Lunch options will be available. Children activities including calf roping, cheese welding, face painting and a big corn pile to play in.
White Breast Pottery and Weaving (Sharon Seuferer & Carol Oliver) – Clay, from beneath the waters of White Breast Creek, is used in making pottery that reflects the area. View the beautiful loom-woven rugs made onsite. Visit a herd of miniature horses. Pottery, broom-making and loom demonstrations. Visitors will also see Sharon’s log carving projects: a train engine, a totem, a gnome tree, and a Fred Flintstone car. Live music and refreshments.
For more information about Farm Crawl 2017 or to schedule an interview, contact Kelly at 515-462-0002 and/or e-mail at info@farmcrawl.com; Web address: www.farmcrawl.com; also on Facebook at Farm Crawl.