An Old Farm in the Middle of the City

Last Friday, I went on a visit to a very special place, called “The Farm at South Mountain”.  The farm is a rural oasis just 8 minutes from downtown Phoenix.  

My younger sister and her family (residents of “The Refuge”), were in town on a visit and we all journeyed together to explore this peaceful farm. 

 The 12-acre farm sits on an old riverbed and is blessed with rich soil.  A large pecan grove, organic vegetable and flower gardens, 3 award-winning restaurants, gift shop, artist studio and spa are all located on the farm.  Entry to the farm is free and guests are encouraged to enjoy the tranquil beauty of the farm.

As you first enter, you are greeted by the large pecan grove with numerous picnic tables, inviting you to enjoy breakfast or lunch from one of the restaurants on-site.  The pecan trees hide the sights of the skyscrapers of downtown Phoenix and make you feel like you are miles away from the city.

*Even in winter, I think pecan trees are beautiful.

The organic gardens greet you as you walk along the walkways.  Rows of vegetables and flowers were neatly laid out.  Roosters could be heard before you could see them nearby the vegetable gardens.

Organically grown vegetables, flowers and herbs surrounded us everywhere we looked.  I felt like a kid in a candy store – there was just so much to see and take pictures of.  

A farmer’s market is held on Saturday mornings at the farm.

Young tomato plants.

 Anaheim Chilis

The vegetables grown on the farm make their way to local restaurants, schools and markets.

Brocciflower, freshly harvested.

Tomatoes 

Carrots and turnips freshly washed.

Green and purple lettuce washed and packaged and ready to leave for a local restaurant.

No need to purchase natural fertilizer, with a ready supply available from the chicken coop.

Huge broccoli plants.

Purple and Green Lettuce.

I love the contrast in the colors of the green and purple lettuce.

How is this for a compost pile?

Daisy Mom, Fruity Girl, Little Farmer and Pastor Farmer. (Residents of “The Refuge” & “Double S Farms”).

We enjoyed a wonderful morning together and ended it with a picnic lunch underneath the pecan trees.

There was so much to see and I took over 118 photos.  But, don’t worry, I won’t make you look at all of them ;^)

But, I would love to share pictures of the flowers and the herbs and succulents in my next post with all of you.  They were just beautiful.  

Noelle Johnson, aka, 'AZ Plant Lady' is a author, horticulturist, and landscape consultant who helps people learn how to create, grow, and maintain beautiful desert gardens that thrive in a hot, dry climate. She does this through her consulting services, her online class Desert Gardening 101, and her monthly membership club, Through the Garden Gate. As she likes to tell desert-dwellers, "Gardening in the desert isn't hard, but it is different."