COLUMBUS, Ohio – Flower farming. Mushroom production. Pasture walks.

These are just three of many topics to be found during the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) annual Farm Tour and Workshop Series.

The 2025 series of public tours and workshops includes a number of events showcasing organic and ecological farms in Ohio and one in West Virginia, plus educational and social opportunities. The programming opens the door for farmers, gardeners, educators, and conscious consumers to learn about local foods and farming firsthand.

“OEFFA is excited about this year’s farm tour series and grateful to our farmer members and partners who are sharing their experience and expertise with anyone interested in learning more about farming, where our food comes from, and why healthy soil is so important to healthy food and the environment,” said Khara Strum, executive director of OEFFA.

Participants will have the opportunity to walk through garden beds, vegetable farms, sheep farms and more during the tours.

The tour gets underway June 7 at Marshy Meadows Farm in Ashtabula County, Ohio. There, visitors will be treated to the Grassfed Beef and Avian Habitat Tour, where attendees will see a combination of environmental and agricultural success at work.

This 113-acre, woman-owned farm was certified organic by OEFFA in 1996. Their old, slow way of making hay has fostered habitat for threatened ground nesting birds, particularly eastern meadowlark and bobolink.

Marshy Meadows is a grass-fed beef operation run by Mardy Townsend with the help of her mother Marge. Marge Townsend has been farming since the early 1970s in Ashtabula County. Although Mardy spent part of her varied career in Central America, she came home for good in 2001 to turn Marshy Meadows into the peaceful collection of hills, wetlands and pastures that it is today.

“We’re Ohio Farmers Union members of more than 30 years and we’re devoted to making this farm work economically and ecologically,” Mardy said. “After getting my master’s degree in agronomy from Ohio State University, I set goals that included assessing the topography of the land and finding the best agricultural fit for the rambling collection of hills, wetlands and valleys.”

Funding from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program was used to fence cattle out of the creek, drill a water well, and bury water lines reaching all pastures for the rotational grazed beef cattle.

Part of Marshy Meadows’ conserved acreage will soon be for sale, so attendees are invited to see a working farm, vibrant wildlife habitat and explore wetland access possibilities.

Townsend’s parents didn’t come from a farm background, and her father always had an off-farm job. But Mardy knew farming was what she wanted to do. She graduated from Wilmington College in 1978 with a degree in animal science and biology. She obtained her master’s degree from Ohio State in 1997, the same year her farm was certified organic.

“I started off with animals and then decided I should know something about what they ate,” Townsend said. “I’ve always liked growing things, animals or plants.”

On July 19, Chris and Leslie Burdette will welcome visitors to their Shady Oaks Farm in Putnam County, W.Va. The Burdettes will explain how they transitioned from a cattle farm to one rich with organic berries of all kinds.

“This farm was one run by Chris’ parents and they tended to cattle,” Leslie said, “but when we moved in, we decided to grow blueberries. Within five years, we noticed the soils didn’t really improve and so much was centered around petroleum-based fertilizers. We didn’t like that, so we planted up to 2,000 blueberry bushes and did things organically. It was a long process because we decided to diversify into other kinds of berries.”

Visitors at this tour stop will find the couple tends to blueberries, black berries, red raspberries, gooseberries, elderberries, Pink Lemonade blueberries and currants.

“The typical blueberry season lasts just three to four weeks and people want to move on from there,” Leslie said, “so we added an assortment of berries, some that would emerge at the beginning of June while others would take us throughout the summer. And for us it’s the start of a good business.”

The Burdettes found success growing turmeric and ginger. They also dabble with cherry trees on their farm.

Attendees interested in garden beds and livestock pastures will enjoy the following tours:

• June 14: Grass Based Sheep Farm and Forage ID Pasture Walk, The Tranquility Ranch, Perry County.

• June 21: Multi-Urban Farm Tour, NECIC Urban Farm and NECIC RiCi Urban Agricultural Site, Richland County.

• Sept. 27: Organic Grazing Pasture Walk, Finch Creek Farm, Greene County.

• Nov. 12: Ohio Soil Health Week Farm Tour, Brandt Family Farm, Fairfield County.

In addition, attendees can ask their farming questions and learn about food and farm policy during these OEFFA special events:

• Monthly: Farmers Help Shop (virtual)

• July 17, July 31 and Aug. 21, and Nov. 14: Policy and Pints, Athens County, Hancock County, Hamilton County, Cuyahoga County.

• Sept. 12-14: OEFFA at the Ohio Pawpaw Festival, Athens County.

OEFFA’s chapters are interest- and region-based groups interested in sustainable and organic agriculture. Many chapters coordinate events in their region:

• June 7: Southwest Ohio OEFFA Chapter: Urban Farm Tour, Hamilton County.

• June 27: Southwest Ohio OEFFA Chapter: Bowyer Farm Tour, Warren County.

• Aug. 1: Grain Growers Chapter: Meeting and Potluck, Henry County.

• Aug. 24: Southwest Ohio OEFFA Chapter: What’s Cooking at the Organic Farm at Bear Creek, Clermont County.

All events are free and open to the public. To see the full schedules with times, location details, descriptions and registration information, visit oeffa.org/farmtours.