I read about Chickamaw Farm in a May 2008 article in the Austin Chronicle as having U-pick organic…read moreblueberries. I love U-pick of any kind, so I was intrigued. The article said "call first!" - so I did, and talked to super-friendly owner Bill McCranie. He gave me the lowdown on how the blueberry crop looked, when would be the best time to come, and specific directions. On a beautiful June morning, we packed up the kids and headed out. It took less than an hour to get there from Central Austin, mostly along 290, about 15 miles past Elgin. After getting through the cattle gate, we were greeted by a big group of very friendly dogs (our kids were a bit afraid at first, but warmed up quickly). Bill came to meet us, gave us buckets and some good advice (don't touch the electrified fence wire, don't worry about the cows - they are friendly, watch for fire ants, etc.) and we got to work. There were TONS of berries the morning we were there, and the kids were thrilled. We ended up getting about $50 in blueberries (at $7 a pint) - as fresh as they come and totally organic. There is nothing like eating a just-picked blueberry right off the bush, still warm from the sun. It was a great outing, and a great way to support a sustainable, earth-friendly business. The posting by Hoa N. covers pretty much what you will need to bring, so I won't repeat it here, except to re-emphasize the "closed-toed shoes" advice. Bill would prefer you call first before heading out so that he can let you know if someone will be there to let you in. He'll also let you know if there is enough fruit out to make the trip worthwhile, and provide very specific directions. The farm isn't marked with any signage, so follow Bill's instructions carefully. Bill, spouse Nancy and family have great plans for their farm - they plan to add fishing and other activities as time and effort permits. We'll be going out there again for sure as they grow.

This farm is awesome. We went to pick blueberries this past weekend and got plenty, and more…read more The owners are welcoming and fantastic folks and the farm offers organic, sustainable products. Nothing beats picking fresh blueberries off the tree and eating as you go along. The property is beautiful and an overall great place to take the kids for a weekend out in nature. We're looking forward to going back and taking our son on a tractor ride, fishing for catfish or purchasing some grass fed beef!!

What a charming little town Marble Falls is. The drive out to Sweet Berry Farm alone sets the tone…read morewith all the rolling hills and beautiful scenery. Even though we had chilly weather and a little rain, it didn't stop us one bit. We ended up picking close to seven pounds of fresh strawberries and they were so tasty and juicy. The whole experience of walking row by row and picking the perfect berry was so much fun. There's even a helpful little sign explaining how to pick the strawberries properly so they last longer. *Pro tip, leave a bit of the stem on the strawberry as you pick them, they stay fresh longer. We learned that after the fact, but we'll definitely do it right next time. The farm is huge, around 152 acres of expansive land, which was very green, open, and peaceful. It wasn't crowded at all the day we went, which made it even more enjoyable. The kids had a blast. They have a cute little train ride, a fun bouncing area, and plenty of space for the kiddies to run around. The goats were a big highlight for us. You can buy feed for 25 cents a tiny cup, and we went through four pretty quickly - you might want to grab more upfront because they close at 5 and we didn't get a chance to go back for more goat feed. The setup around the goat area was really nice and whimsical, and there's just so much open space to explore and walk and get fresh air. They also have a small gift shop with ice cream and little goodies, which was a nice touch after being out in the fields. Overall, it was such a peaceful, fun, and memorable day. Beautiful views, great atmosphere, and a perfect mix of activities for both kids and adults. We'll absolutely be back. Easily a five star experience.

It's an annual tradition for my daughters and I to go strawberry picking at Sweet Berry Farms. We…read morekept up with our tradition, braved the heat and visited this past weekend. Love that they don't charge entry fees! They provide you with a box for the berries and charge $3.75 per pound. My girls and I had so much fun picking the berries and eating them after! We also love the farm's homemade strawberry popsicles and ice cream - absolutely delicious. They also offer pick your own flowers, a bouncy area, a barrel train ride, and various arts and crafts activities for kids. There are also baby goats to feed! Fun for the whole family and an awesome day trip.

Today was a good time had by all. 5 kids, ranging from 3-9 driving to the middle of nowhere to pick…read moreplump sweet juicy blackberries. It is definitely off the beaten path but very worth it. Can't beat $3 a pound plus a friendly welcome by the owners. Call ahead to scope out the conditions.

From the owner: Thomas family ranch is a small pick your own Blackberry farm. Our blackberries are available from…read moremid May through mid June and cost $3.00 per pound. We provide buckets to use while picking but you will need to bring containers to carry them home in. We recommend wearing shoes and socks, no sandals or flip flops, ants and sticker burrs are common. Call to check availability.

They only let me give it 5 stars, so I'm going with 5. Great place, great people, good prices, and…read moregreat quality berries. It's a wonderful place and just a short trip from Austin. Make sure and check out their Facebook page since they are not open every day to make sure that they have plenty of berries for their customers. We go a few times every season and eat some fresh and freeze the rest. Great activity to get out of the house and get some fresh air.

Love love love this farm. Their FB page is always up to date with when they are open. They do not…read moreuse any pesticides and encourage tastings. So friendly and kind. They have both thorn and thornless berries, which makes it really nice for the littles that don't quite get the owie concepts. A lot of times they also have some other veggies for sale. I love coming here first thing in the morning with my family. Then smashing the berries to put on warm toast.

A beautiful escape off the beaten path! Absolutely love the variety of flowers offered and their…read morevibrant colors. Lots of unique experiences on offer here so give them a call to see what suits your needs best. Viewing the farm is currently by appointment only, but you can buy grab-an-go bouquets from their little shop for a steal of a price - the quality is SO MUCH better than what you get in your local chain, not to mention they have bouquets that look nothing like what I've seen before. Come out and support this local gem!

My roommate and I are obsessed with fresh flowers so we went to Basecamp to see what they had in…read moretheir flower shop! My roommate and her boyfriend went last weekend and got the most stunning flowers. When we went inside the shop (very cute and extremely neat), they had so many options for bouquets even though we were there pretty late in the day! We bought 6 bouquets (she has amazing deals on her bouquets)!! Georgia is extremely kind and accommodating, as well. They have two options, the flower shop and pick your own! Thank you for letting two A&M students have an amazing start to their week!

My husband and I had such a wonderful experience! We picked strawberries and flowers !! You ride…read moreon a trailer being pulled by an old tractor to the strawberry patch! It was so much fun. There were adults and children all enjoying themselves. On the tractor ride back to the main building, there was a little one that was covered head to toe in strawberry juice! You could tell he enjoyed himself immensely! He was adorable!! Even though they ask people not to eat the strawberries while picking, I don't blame this little guy for sampling some. They are sweet, juicy and delicious!! Can't wait to go back during peach season to pick peaches!!! There are so many things to do for little ones too! Big inflated jumping trampoline area and water slides (too cold right now for that right now, though I'm sure during the summer it's a big hit!) Do yourself a favor and eat at Leroy's Tex Mex BBQ too!!

Super cute farm with great peaches and really good peach ice cream. We ate peach ice cream at 3-4…read moreplaces over the weekend and this was by far the best. A little disappointed that we weren't able to do the pick your own option but strawberry season had just ended and there were no options for peach picking the Saturday that we went out. Picked up some peaches to take home with us though and they are divine!

It's been a long time since I've been to this farmers market. It's a little small, but they have a…read morelarge selection of venders. Hand made lamps, plants, produce, soaps, seafood, dog treats, Always like to support local farmers and artist.

Barton creek farmers market has doubled in size since I last went. You can choose from a selection…read moreof fruits and vegetables to gumbo, tamales and sweets. My favorites include the gumbo and bread pudding, homemade breads and scones. Omg Tamales addiction chicken and mole tamale made my heart hum. Many vendors provided samples and were super friendly. This farmers market has a little of everything. The booths sprawled throughout the parking lot. Total chill vibe...

Very fun experience! We were able to do the strawberry picking and ride the tractor train. They…read morealso had games and food for us to try. As well as animals to pet and see!

We spent time here today for our 27th wedding anniversary. It could not have been a more enjoyable…read moreday. Perfect weather. We got to pick fresh blackberries. Walked amongst some beautiful flowers. See 50k Ladybugs be released. It was a wonderful day to spend with my beautiful wife.

As BCS grows and diversifies, folks are getting better access to healthy food products, and…read morelearning to eat better. Oh this is still a burger and taco town, make no mistake about it. But places like this are a welcome addition for the healthy crowd to take advantage of. Its a hydroponic farm, possibly the first and only one, and yes they give tours. They also have deliveries of produce baskets which you can sign up for (check their website). I've tried some of their produce and can attest to its quality. Since they supply some local restaurants, and are at the farmers market in Bryan, you've probably tried their produce to. If not, give them a try. Eat healthy! Friendly staff.

From the owner: Earth Galley Farms serves the Bryan/College Station area by providing highly local, fresh foods…read morestraight to your doorstep! Through our basket delivery service, you can order a variety of local produce, meats, baked goods, jams, salsas and more with no commitment. It is our goal to integrate and immerse ourselves in the community by providing highly local foods directly to our customers, while simultaneously promoting and educating the public on sustainable environmental agricultural practices. Dedicated first and foremost to our customers, everything we provide is grown using the best organic practices available. Items that we do not grow or produce ourselves are sourced ONLY from local farmers, ranchers, and bakers. With our current food system being the massive "supply-web" that it is, most people have no clue as to where their food comes from, how old it is, or the methods in which it was produced. We want to bridge that gap and put power back in the hands of local farmers, ranchers and most importantly, you, the end consumer. Through education and forming a personal relationship with the local farmers, we can all help Bryan/College Station become a healthier, more sustainable community to live in. We care about our food, where it comes from, and how it is made!

I had the privilege of ordering, cooking and eating a heritage turkey from Alexander Farm this…read moreThanksgiving. What a treat! I so happy that when I saw the sign for ordering at the Sunset Valley Farmer's market, I sprung for it, even though I didn't know what a heritage turkey even was, other than it was free range. Well, it is more than that. From the website: http://www.localharvest.org/features/heritage-turkeys.jsp "Prized for their rich flavor and beautiful plumage, Heritage Turkeys are the ancestors of the common Broad-breasted White industrial breed of turkey that comprises 99.99% of the supermarket turkeys sold today. But the Heritage Breeds still exist and are making a comeback. Most breeds of heritage turkey were developed in the United States and Europe over hundreds of years, and were identified in the American Poultry Association's turkey Standard of Perfection of 1874. These breeds include the Standard Bronze, Bourbon Red, Jersey Buff, Slate, Black Spanish, Narragansett and White Holland." The experience at Alexander Farm was cool. I, of course, forgot to pick up my turkey at the right day, so they called me and I drove over before work just after sunrise on Wednesday morning, with a cooler in my trunk. The Farm is only about 8 miles east of the Airport and it really is a farm. The gentleman who met me at the gate assured me that my turkey had lived a good life hanging out in the pretty pasture behind the barn. How cool is it to pick up your turkey from the very farm it was raised in??!! All the other animals at the farm looked pretty happy, too, enjoying the beautiful morning. As for the turkey, it was AMAZING!! Although much leaner and less breasty than the factory farmed grocery store models, I was amazed at how juicy and flavorful this bird was. I have always hated the white meat of the turkey and went straight for the wings and thighs, but this turkey's breast was just fantastically moist and tender and delicious and had real flavor. It was not like any bird I have ever had before. So so so so worth it. It really wasn't very expensive, given that these turkeys take twice as long to grow. At 5.99 a pound, I think these are probably the least expensive heritage birds available in the country. A recent article I read in my research said that they typically sold out quick at $10.00 a pound most places. I seriously feel very lucky to have had the experience of eating this bird. I don't think I will ever eat a factory farmed bird again. Good job, Alexander farms!!