Bloomfield

This weekend, visitors to Bloomfield Farms' u-pick event will not only be able to pick their own certified organic produce, but plant it as well! Bloomfield Farms was selected to help grow the heirloom squash, pumpkins, and gourds for the giant tower of vegetables at this year's National Heirloom Exposition at the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds.

Families visiting the for u-pick on Saturday and Sunday, May 4 and 5, can help plant these heirloom seeds (contributed by the Petaluma Seed Bank and Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds). Then, come back in the fall to see how they've grown and pick a pumpkin, gourd, or squash (nature permitting, one per customer).

As usual, you'll also find a variety of great organic produce, including, kale, lettuce, chard, artichokes, leeks, broccoli, and more. We hear their new strawberry patch is in full swing now, too. Also, Chef John Lyle will be on hand again this Sunday for a "pay-what-you-can" Farm Fun Brunch. If you haven't been to u-pick yet this is a great weekend to check it out.

U-pick time is almost here! Starting April 14, Bloomfield Farms will be open on Sundays for you and your kids to not only see where your food comes from, but to pick your own seasonal organic produce, too! This certified organic family farm is located in the rolling hills west of Petaluma, and it's a short scenic drive from anywhere in Marin. It's a lot of fun, and at $30 for a large box of vegetables, it's a great deal, too.

This year, the farm has plenty of new activities and events in store, including a farm stand featuring farm-made products and plant starts for your own garden, and visits from local chefs, musicians, and artists. There will even be a strawberry patch later on this spring and pumpkins and other heirloom squash this fall.

The Collins Family, general manager Nick Papadopoulos, and the staff at the farm are warm and welcoming and happy to help and explain about the different crops growing at the farm.

Bloomfield Farms, a family farm located west of Petaluma, is a fantastic place to spend a day on the farm picking your own certified organic produce. But there are even more reasons to come out this fall with guest appearances by renowned local chefs who will be creating delicious and fresh family friendly fare using veggies from the farm and nearby producers.

Stop by the farm, dine on some fantastic food, and then go out in the fields and fill a box of fresh produce to take home. U-pick at Bloomfield Farms takes place Sundays, through November 4, from 10 am to 3 pm.

• This Sunday, October 7, locavore chef Brandon Guenther of the acclaimed Rocker Oysterfeller's in nearby Valley Ford presents a Table to Farm picnic, it's another pay-what-you can-dining event.
• The pay-what-you-can Farm Fun Brunch with Chef John Lyle and Hardcore Farm to Face returns on October 14, 21, and November 4.
• Paella expert, locavore, and food forager Gerard Nebesky of Gerard's Paella (and winner of the Food Network paella throwdown against Bobby Flay) will make an appearance on October 28; cost TBD.

Bloomfield Farms is open this Sunday for u-pick! Bring the family and pick your own certified organic vegetables, including broccoli, kale, potatoes, zucchini, green beans, cabbage, lettuce, and more. Make sure you bring jackets in case it's windy, sunscreen, hats, a wagon (if you have one—there's a limited number available at the farm for you to use), and a knife for mom or dad to harvest tough veggies like broccoli.

This Sunday, check out their new chicken sled, which allows the farm's 100+ heritage breed free-range chickens to roam the fields and eat insects and weeds. And of course you can buy their amazing farm-fresh eggs, too.

Bloomfield Farms is a certfied organic family farm located just west of Petaluma in Sonoma County. They sell produce at farmers markets, supply local markets, and provide CSA boxes to subscribers, but decided to offer a u-pick event so consumers could come experience how their food is grown and harvested.

It's a great deal too—fill a box with the freshest organic produce imaginable (after all, you just picked it!) for only $25. The kids love to choose and pick their own produce, and you can add your some tasty and healthy fresh veggies to your Labor Day cookout menu!

Like many families, we like to know exactly where our food is coming from. So when we learned about the new "u-pick" Sundays at Bloomfield Farms in western Sonoma County, we knew we had to give it a try. My kids love the opportunity to pick their own food, whether it's in our own backyard garden or at a local farm. While there are plenty of local farms that offer farmstands and sell at various farmers markets around the Bay Area, this is the first we'd heard of a farm offering pick-it-yourself veggies.

Bloomfield Farms is a certfied organic family farm located just west of Petaluma in Sonoma County. It's easy to get to, and makes for a fun Sunday outing for the family. They sell produce at farmers markets, supply local markets, and provide CSA boxes to subscribers, but decided to offer a u-pick event so consumers could come experience how their food is grown and harvested.

Pull into to the farm and register with Nick Papadopoulos, one of the owners of Bloomfield Farms. He's welcoming and enthusiastic, and he'll explain how the farm's u-pick Sunday works: head out into the fields, pick and cut vegetables, and fill your crate. It costs $25 for everything that you can fit into the box. Wagons are available, too, which makes carrying your crate of veggies a lot easier (there's a limited number of wagons, so bring your own if you can). While we were there we also got a chance to chat with Mike Collins, founder and farmer at Bloomfield Farms. He's extremely knowledgable and passionate about what he grows.