Greener Pastures: Day Trip it Out to These Beautiful Organic Farms in NJ

cherry grove farm lawrenceville nj

Cherry Grove Entrance: Photo taken with the Lumia Icon by Anthony Russo

I always feel lucky to live in the Princeton area, not only because of the diverse, well-educated community that is here, but also because of the many beautiful farms that offer a wide variety of organic produce and grass-fed meat (you can even get raw milk by hoping the border 25 minutes west to Pennsylvania).

Many of the organic farms here welcome visitors and a few will even allow you to picnic on the property. So this past weekend, Anthony and I took our new Lumia Icon phone to our favorites and snapped some shots of the properties and onsite markets.

For organic fruits and vegetables, I head to Terhune Orchards, which has an abundance of gorgeous,  healthy produce. On Sunday mornings, I look forward to plopping crisp lettuce, curly kale, amethyst-colored eggplant and bunches of fresh herbs in to my basket then waltzing around the small rows of freshly baked pies and cider donuts — the scent of cinnamon and butter filling the air.

Terhune Market: Photo taken with the Lumia Icon by Anthony Russo

Even though I’ve done it countless times, I always stop to admire their smiling sunflowers and the beautiful outdoor area where rambunctious chickens play and sleepy goats lay. In the fall, I count down the days until their organic apples sprout in the orchard and I can savor that first perfectly crisp, subtly sweet bite.

The farm often holds events and regular wine tastings at their onsite winery, which are open to the community.

Terhune Winery: Photo taken with the Lumia Icon by Anthony Russo

One of the most scenic farms in the area is Cherry Grove, located off of Route 206 in Lawrenceville (not to be confused with the other Cherry Grove farm just down the road, which produces fruits and vegetables). Known for its delicious raw milk cheeses (which are always on offer to sample!), fresh eggs, whey-fed pork and  grass-fed beef and lamb, Cherry’s Grove’s 400-acre property (230 of which is certified organic pasture) is home to chickens, cows, goats and a few resident cats — all can be seen playing, foraging and lazing about the farm. There are a few areas to sit, relax and just soak in the serene landscape and plenty of spots for children to get up close and personal with the animals. The farm also offers a variety of excellent cheesemaking and fermented vegetable classes, which tend to fill up rather quickly after being announced.

Cherry Grove Farm: Photos taken with the Lumia Icon by Anthony Russo

Approximately 12 minutes down the road in Pennington is Honeybrook Organic Farm, one of the oldest operating organic farms in New Jersey, and the oldest certified organic Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program in the Garden State. The farmland here is certified organic, which means the fields and growing practices meet strict federal standards. Honey Brook’s CSA program is one of the largest in the nation with over 2,700 memberships providing seasonal, locally grown organic produce to more than 3,500 individuals.

Daytrippers can stop by the farm’s market to explore and purchase seasonal fruits and vegetables.

This post was sponsored by Microsoft Devices

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