Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Many of you have been knocking at the barn door inquiring when we're slated to have another U-Pick, and we are genuinely happy to say that after a two year hiatus, it’s finally happening! Next Saturday, June 17th, from 8 am ‘til noon, we will be having a tomato pickin’ party out at the Garfield farm that you won’t want to miss. We have an overflowing and endless tomato crop this year, and are thrilled that we have enough bounty to once again host a Tomato U-Pick. Our 2015 and 2016 tomato seasons were subject to severe weather, leaving our yields unusually low. But this year... we're swimming in oodles of tomatoes! Rows and rows of juicy red fruit, ripe for the picking. You wouldn’t believe all the large, firm slicers and snackable, sweet heirloom cherries. Plum tomatoes; and San Marzanos perfect for preserving. Yellow and red Romas, the perfect, succulent addition to augment any salad during the summertime. Are you hungry yet? Buy one (or more!) of our 10lb. boxes and fill it with your choice of our delicious, certified organic 'maters. You-pick your favorites! Pre-purchase your tomato box(es) for $25, or buy a box the day-of for $30.

Photo by Scott David Gordon.

A note on the kiddos: We might be biased, but we indubitably believe that this is one of the best events out there for your kids. We hope you consider bringing the whole family to bask in the sun and get some fresh air! The joy that comes from harvesting your own food, especially something as fun to pick as tomatoes, is hard to quantify. There's nothing quite like running down a row, choosing the perfect tomato, getting your hands dirty, and truckin’ home with the fruits of your labor. It's a memory and a snack, all in one.

Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Photo by Timothy Patrick Clancy.

Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Photo by Scott David Gordon.

In addition to the tomato-pickin' party, Ginger Armadillo will be there serving up breakfast and lunch in their spiffy trailer, and Cold Ones, the inimitable popsicle cart, will be providing sweet relief from the heat. As always, our monster sand pile is ready to be conquered and our fleet of tractors ready to be climbed. New to tomato preserving and want to learn more? We've got a workshop for that on the same day!

Kate Payne. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

We'll be hosting a Tomato Canning Workshop with Austin's own Kate Payne, author of The Hip Girl's Guide to Homemaking and The Hip Girl's Guide to the Kitchen, on June 17th from 11 am to 1 pm. Learn how to prepare tomatoes for canning (either whole, diced, or in preparation for sauces) and see the process for putting them up using a waterbath canner pot. Workshop attendees will go home with a methodology and recipe packet for tomato canning in the comfort of their own home. Pair this new knowledge with a few pounds of 'maters, and you'll have fresh-tasting tomatoes all year long. The tickets are $30 pre-order, and $35 at the door. This class will be in our shaded lunch barn, but it's likely to be a warm day! Please dress appropriately. If you plan to pick your own tomatoes, we recommend long-sleeves, closed toed shoes, and ample sun protection. On top of that, be sure to bring something to take notes in, you won’t want to miss noting down this highly coveted preserving intel! Wondering about how you will acquire tomatoes for this workshop? Well, there are a handful of ways:

1. You can come to the farm before the workshop and take part in the aforementioned Annual U-Pick.
2. You can purchase 10 or 30 lbs. of San Marzano canning tomatoes that we'll have packed up and ready for you to take home after the workshop (Want more than that? Give us a call).
3. You can order tomatoes from our Tomato Bulk Sale that you can scoop up at a farmers' market or your CSA Pickup Location at a later date.

Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Photo by Scott David Gordon.

If your tomatoes didn't take this year, or you're looking for a bit more volume, you don't want to miss this opportunity to pluck your own tomatoes straight from our bountiful crop and learn to can them all in one day! This is a true farm-to-cupboard experience! See you at the farm!