Dirty Durham: How the Bull City Does Agritourism

There are an incredible amount of natural spaces that are just ready to be explored. They offer a lens into Durham's delicacies, from root to market to table.

Tour farms to see how local crops are grown, see how those fresh ingredients are brewed into one-of-a-kind beers and enjoy a meal made from local ingredients. Durham's agricultural destinations offer something special for budding or seasoned agritourists.

This is what agritourism is: a way to let visitors tour and engage with agriculturally focused sites and activities.

Pick-Your-Own and Farms with Events in Durham

From spring to early summer, Waller Family Farm is perfect for picking strawberries as they blossom. For blueberries, look no further than Bahama Bleubs. On this one-acre picking field, you'll find 5 varieties of blueberries that ripen at different times of the year, maximizing the picking season.

Lyon Farms sells produce at a number of partners in Durham. Elodie Farms, located in Rougemont in northern Durham County, has over 70 goats and hosts parties and events for children and adults, including spectacular farm tours followed by 5-course, byob dinners. Avery Family Farm has its famous goat yoga and meditation sessions nearly every weekend — an unfor-goat-able experience.

Durham Farmers' Markets

Produce is readily available closer to home, too. The Durham Central Park Farmers' Market is open year-round each Saturday, and Wednesday evenings mid-April through mid-October.

The South Durham Farmers' Market in the Research Triangle Park is perfect for sourcing locally-grown eats.

Head out to the neighborhood of Bragtown to experience the North Durham Farmers Market at Soul Sanctuary's 12-acre farm. Rotating between Durham and Raleigh every Sunday, the Black Farmers' Market offers quality, locally sourced goods from Black farmers and vendors.

Farm to Table Establishments in Durham

Durham’s commitment to sourcing ingredients locally is evident at restaurants like Nanas, Local 22, Foster's Market, Gocciolina, Glasshouse Kitchen, Farmside Kitchen and many more, all of which are intentional about sourcing ingredients intentionally in brews and plates.

But, it doesn't stop there. There are plenty of breweries, bars and other establishments that support local farms and growers. Fullsteam Brewery, Bull City Burger and Brewery and Kingfisher each have made green thinking integral to their business models. At Mystic Farm and Distillery, you can purchase spirits crafted from start to finish right on their 22-acre farm in Durham, NC. There are many more, offering seasonal delights whenever possible, and composting leftovers to fuel the next round of delicious eats.

Gardens and Nurseries in Durham

You don't need to eat your way through all of your adventures (but no shame if you do). The Sarah P. Duke Gardens is a sight for your visionary palate. Peruse the 55-acre garden with 200+ diverse plant varieties on more than five miles of walkways and paths. Take in seasonal plantings, fruits, and vegetables in the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden.

Visit one of the finest garden centers in the area, Witherspoon Rose Culture , which has more than 2,000 varieties of roses. If you find yourself downtown, stop by the two-acre urban garden of SEEDS. This community garden works with young people to foster in them a respect for the earth and the life on it through growing and cooking food.