As we settle into spring and look ahead to summer, we’re called to spend more time outdoors. Luckily, there are a variety of farms just outside the Birmingham city limits (and even one downtown), where you can find opportunities to explore the season’s offerings and get to know local producers — everything from U-Pick floral bouquets and berries to beekeeping experiences!
Blue Rooster Farms
Location: Sterrett, AL
More Info: blueroosterfarms.com
Flower fans won’t want to miss the “Flower Walks” scheduled at Blue Rooster Farms this summer. Situated in Shelby County, Blue Rooster Farms became a flower-focused farm back in 2020, and they have approximately 30 to 40 varieties growing at any given time. Fun fact: They plant more than 10,000 flowers each season, so something is always blooming.
Flower Walks are scheduled throughout the late summer and early fall, allowing visitors to tour the fields. (There’s no better spot to capture those Instagram-worthy pictures!) Plus, you can learn all about the flowers and even create your own beautiful bouquet to take home.
New this year at Blue Rooster Farms is a U-pick opportunity. Visitors can pay for a cup, wander the picturesque fields, and cut flowers. During May, U-pick times are by appointment only, but June plans include opening without an appointment. Check the website or social media for the most up-to-date information regarding Flower Walks and U-pick opportunities.
Foxhound Bee Company
Neighborhood: Downtown
More Info: foxhoundbeecompany.com
If you’re looking for an authentic, one-of-a-kind experience that you won’t find anywhere else, make plans for a Beekeeping Experience and Hive Tour with Foxhound Bee Company.
Beekeeping was a decades-long hobby for Foxhound Bee Company owner Adam Hickman, but he turned that hobby into a full-time business a few years ago. Foxhound Bee Company’s only beekeeping supply store in Alabama is conveniently located in downtown Birmingham.
In addition to maintaining a supply store, the company provides educational classes to anyone interested in learning about bees. Foxhound Bee Company hosts the Beekeeping Experience and Hive Tour at their downtown shop, allowing visitors to suit up and experience honey bees firsthand (including opening up the hives and tasting the honey)!
Lyon Blueberry Farm
Location: Wilsonville, AL
More Info: Facebook
For over 20 years, Lyon Blueberry Farm has offered a chance to pick blueberries straight from the bushes. With approximately 2.5 acres of blueberries, this Wilsonville farm has plenty of blueberry bushes to peruse. They provide the bucket, and you can go to town! You can even bring a picnic and find the perfect spot to lunch, laugh, and lounge in the sun once your “chores” are complete.
Though the blueberries at Lyon aren’t quite ready yet this year — they’re not expected to be ready for picking until June — the strawberry fields are ripe and ready to be picked.
Stone Hollow Farmstead
Location: Harpersville, AL
More Info: stonehollowfarmstead.com
The excitement of springtime extends well into the summer at Stone Hollow Farmstead. This family business is located about 30 minutes east of Birmingham in Shelby County. It offers a wide variety of items for sale, from cheese and honey to botanicals and cosmetic extracts.
With more than 20 years of hospitality under their belt, the Stone Hollow family warmly welcomes guests to their farm. They will be hosting Dahlia Day on July 14 — an event where guests can tour the farm, visit with the animals, and learn how to grow dahlias from Stone Hollow Farmstead founder Deborah Stone. Kathy and Ed Whitfield from the Alabama Dahlia Society will also share tips.
The schedule includes Art in the Garden, where a local artist will teach the art of dyeing fabric with plant material. It also includes a class on Beneficial Insect Release, which will be hosted in the garden and share details about those necessary garden bugs. Of course, no visit to the Farm is complete without sampling some of the tasty treats, so be sure to visit the Stone Hollow Farmstead tasting table.
Sugar Hill U-Pick Farms
Location: Verbena, AL
More info: pentonfarms.com
Springtime is time for strawberries at Sugar Hill U-Pick Farms in Verbena. The farm prides itself on offering some of the best strawberries around, and the growing team has spent the past 15 years perfecting the techniques! This year, the strawberry patch picking got going in March.
For those who would rather not pick themselves, there are also pre-picked baskets for sale. In addition to strawberries, you can often find other fresh produce such as broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, kale, onions, collards, and even strawberry onions.
Brandberry Farms
Location: Hayden, AL
More info: brandberryfarms.com
Brandberry Farms is a locally family-owned farm in Hayden run by a mother, daughter, and close family friend for over 30 years. Their passion for all things produce initially began as a hobby, and today, the operation is a full-fledged business.
In addition to selling strawberries and other produce at The Market at Pepper Place and a variety of other farmers’ markets around the state, Brandberry Farms welcomes visitors to pick up their own delicious produce. Currently, only strawberries are being harvested, and patrons can even place orders for chocolate-covered strawberries while the berry supply lasts.
Soon, the farm will also be harvesting vegetables such as corn, squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, okra, peas, green beans, and blackberries. For anyone interested in growing their own strawberries, Brandberry Farm also has strawberry plants for sale.
Sleepy Hollow Blueberry Farm
Location: Hayden, AL
More Info: Facebook
When Billy and Linda Edwards planted blueberry bushes in the late 1980s, they were just looking for something to do to keep them busy in retirement. They never expected it to turn into a highly anticipated blueberry U-pick each year.
Located in Hayden, Sleepy Hollow Blueberry Farm is gearing up for harvest, though it’s not quite ready yet. The family expects blueberries to be ready for harvesting by early July. When they’re ready, visitors can pick their own fresh fruit. Be sure to bring your own container — an empty milk jug is recommended.
Hepzibah Farms
Location: Talladega, AL
More info: hepzibahfarms.com
Hepzibah Farms is a small eco-farm located in Talladega, about an hour east of Birmingham. Though it does not offer on-site opportunities to check out the stunning flowers or produce, they can be purchased at The Market at Pepper Place.
The farm’s exquisite flower selection has become a staple at the Saturday farmers’ market, and they can even be enjoyed through the Farm’s Flower Club. With the club, Hepzibah’s freshly cut flowers are delivered straight to your front door each week — an easy way to bring nature’s beauty into your home.
Morgan Creek Vineyards
Location: Harpersville, AL
More Info: morgrancreekwinery.com
Morgan Creek Vineyards may not technically be a farm, but it is a unique destination — just a short drive from Birmingham — that offers a morning or afternoon filled with fun in a picturesque setting. The vineyard started in 2000 when Charles Brammer Sr. decided to use the fruits grown on their family farm to produce wine. Just one year later, Morgan Creek Vineyards and Winery was official, providing niche muscadine and fruit wines, which are typically a little sweeter than traditional wines.
While many of the wines can be purchased at wine shops and grocery chains across Alabama, you can make a day out of sampling them at the winery itself. Not to mention, you can take advantage of the beautiful views.
Get out there and enjoy all that spring in Birmingham has to offer!
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