While it is unfortunate that food deserts exist in Phoenix, it is heartening to know that there are…read morecommendable efforts to correct this situation. One of these efforts is this community and urban incubator farm which was established by Cultivate South Phoenix (CUSP) to give residents of South Phoenix affordable access to healthy food while encouraging them to appreciate active living and healthy roots of their cultures. At the Saturday farmer's market you can get very locally grown produce and craft items while taking in the cultural performances of local talents. The site of Spaces of Opportunity includes a 10-acre incubator farm where quarter-acre to one-acre plots of land are made available with a preference to farmers who are part of the South Phoenix community and who have limited resources. Also, community members can rent a plot to plant, grow and harvest produce for their own use or to share with others - and the rental fee is an super-affordable $5 a month! I love that here I was able to get fresh locally grown produce as well as craft items to be given as presents and in so doing I celebrate the culture and encourage the efforts of South Phoenix gardeners, farmers and farm workers.

I visited Project Roots on an expedition with UA and I had a great time learning about the farm and…read moreenjoying the weekend market. I highly recommend paying Spaces of Opportunity a visit.

A cute little farmers market with big heart located in Tempe. There were about 10 or so booths with…read morelots of variety. I stopped by closer to noon, so I missed out on the free morning yoga in the park but there was still plenty to be found from fresh vegetable, eggs, baked goods, sweets, soaps, art, jewelry, and more. You can also grab breakfast from a food truck and listen to live music as you walked around - I enjoyed hearing the drums from Beats by Marilyn. The best part was I saw so many dogs!! To say this farmers market is dog-friendly is an understatement. It seemed like many of the vendors are dog lovers themselves. There are tons of water bowls out and you can even pick up treats for your furry little ones from Pet Wants. I ended up bringing home some hummus and pita chips from Doctor Hummus and a jar of raw, unfiltered honey from Phillip's Honey Farms. Because the market is still small I wouldn't drive across town for it but if you are close by or in the neighborhood definitely check it out and support the local community. Wishing all the vendors much continued success!

Fun community farmers market in the heart of Tempe. It's not the biggest farmers market around,…read morebut there's still a great variety of vendors and activities. On my first visit, I tried the free community yoga at 9 am (bring your own mat!). Then I got brunch from a food stand and a food truck. I shopped at the vendors and bought some gourmet dog treats for my pups. My friend bought HUGE locally grown lemons and I was tempted to buy some local eggs, but I have a full dozen in my fridge at home. There was also live music, massages, and an art project! A great place to shop, eat, and hang out on a Saturday morning.

An indoor/outdoor Bazaar of SW decorations, statues, wind chimes & homemade chilies…read more The prices are desert "dirt" cheap for the mix of creative, artsy handmade products. I didn't purchase anything as I'll return to do so when they re-open in September. Yet, absolutely enjoyed the round table of chatting with the "OG" owners.

Looking for something to spruce up my front door/patio area and this place had exactly what I…read moreneeded. They had a nice variety of designs and colors, and were exceptionally friendly. I'll be going back to get more for both myself and presents. Shop local. Support your community.

Hurray!! The Capitol Farmers Market has opened today! I look forward to this every year like the…read morestate fair! They have a lot of vendors, a lot of fresh organic and seasonal crops, seeds, and honey and ready to eat foods from small businesses. There is definitely something for everyone!! They open every Thursday 10:30am to 1:30pm and the vendors are always happy and professional. If you need to you the loo, you could probably use the one in the museum, it's free too so check it out!!

Cute and small shop with plenty of local and fresh treats. We stopped by last Saturday and it was…read morepretty busy both inside and out. We watched the animals for a bit and found them quite entertaining. We saw zebras, a llama, goats, chickens, rooster, piggies, horse, and some cows. Check their IG page for updates!

This place is a highlight for the whole fam!! They have the most delicious treats, bread, jams,…read moreetc. We have been a few times and look forward to seeing what they will have that week when it comes to baked goods. The sourdough bread is by far the best I've ever tried. We've added this place into our weekly rotation because everything is so good!! Go earlier in the day for more of a selection. I've showed up a few times in the afternoon and they said they had sold out of the item I was hoping to buy. My kids especially love the animals that will occasionally come by to say hi. This is seriously one of the cutest shops that I continue to tell everyone about because it's such a hidden gem.

Excellent local, family owned business. Lots of fresh, quality fruits and vegetables, as well as…read morebulk staples. Spanish spoken. Cheaper than Walmart or Fry's, get to know the owners and who you are buying from.

Although the farm is small and has its charm, our experience at a recent birthday party was…read moreunfortunately overshadowed by the behavior of a staff member who claimed to be the owner. She was rude to several guests, which created an uncomfortable atmosphere. Most of our party parked in the overflow parking lot, which is clearly marked with multiple signs. However, during the event, the employee walked over and padlocked both gates, preventing anyone from accessing their vehicles. We were told to reach out when we were ready to leave so she could unlock the gates. When the party ended, I texted her as instructed, but she refused to open the gates. She claimed no such arrangement had been made and told us we would have to walk all the way to the front entrance and then back to our vehicles, instead of simply unlocking the gates. This situation was frustrating and unnecessary, especially after being given different instructions earlier. While the location itself is nice, the lack of professionalism and poor communication significantly impacted our overall experience.

I've been to several pumpkin patch experiences in the area now, and I'm convinced this one is the…read morebest value for your money. Highlights include: feeding the rescue animals, getting a pumpkin to take home included in admission, and browsing the unique gift shop. I also liked that we didn't have to buy tickets in advance, even on a weekend, and there's more shade when it's still toasty in October. The only thing they're missing is a corn maze. I highly recommend checking this place out, whether you have little ones or you're just looking for an autumnal date or photo op. Wear comfy shoes and budget yourself about 2 hours for this experience.

I've lived in Tempe for so long and had no idea this was here! I saw there were beautiful grounds…read moreyou can walk around so decided to check it out this morning while the weather is still so nice. Gotta get that outside time in! The farm was easy to find and had clear signage to follow for parking. I walked around the grounds a bit and enjoyed the flowers. The salvia especially stood out as looking so healthy! And of course, the lavender - a plant I always struggle with! I stopped in the shop and picked up some lavender goodies including a blueberry lavender drink and a lavender sugar cookie. The drink is light and subtle. I appreciated that it wasn't overly sweet. Its also not carbonated. They had other flavors as well. The cookie is SO GOOD. Next time I'm getting 2! The shop is cute and has a lot to look at, and the woman working was friendly and helpful. There are water features and lots of seating areas around. I took my drink and cookie to a seating area and just enjoyed the scenery. I asked one of the staff members -- all really friendly and welcoming! - and yes you could bring a sandwich and enjoy it here. Make a whole meal and get a cookie! They do tours of the mansion, which looks quite impressive and I look forward to learning about its history. There are also soap and candle classes and various seasonal events. I'll definitely keep a watch on the calendar!

A very cute place to take your family or for a date! The grounds are free to walk around and on a…read morelovely day, it's quite nice to just take in the sights. Even though the outside area wasn't large, we spent an hour here taking the time to just enjoy the bridges, plants, water and of course, lavender. You must go to the gift shop and SMELL EVERYTHING! Even though they're a little pricey, the items there are so unique, and you get a cute little gift bag with it. The bathroom is in the gift shop if you need it. They have a variety of paid events too like making soap, tours, and tea parties if you wanted to do more than just walk around. As far as I can tell, they change it up frequently too so you'll never get bored!