The Farm at South Mountain

Since the 1920s, the Farm at South Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona, has been producing agricultural products just on the outskirts of an urban center. The Farm has an interesting history and was originally part of a large parcel of land owned by the wealthy Dwight Heard, for whom Phoenix's famed Heard Museum was named. Planted with over 100 pecan trees, the Farm is now a welcome escape from the concrete and asphalt of Phoenix's increasingly modern downtown area.

The Farm's property includes a pecan grove, certified-organic gardens and both casual and high-end dining options for visitors. The Farm's
restaurant main restaurant, Quiessence, features a seasonal, ever-changing menu with produce from the Farm and other local purveyors. The Cafe is a wonderful place to order a "basket" lunch of a salad or sandwich on weekends, and diners are welcome to eat on a picnic table in the pecan grove or on a shaded patio. After a harsh Phoenix summer, lunch in the pecan grove is pure bliss.

The Farm is not only a pleasant place to visit for a bit of relaxation, but it is also educational for a society that has become increasingly removed from its agricultural roots. At the farm, guests are welcome to wander the fields and see the baby romaine lettuces, Italian basil and other culinary delights growing in its well-tended gardens. If you are in Phoenix between October through May, take a few hours to visit the Farm - you will be glad you did.