Harvey Godfrey likes to talk flowers. And butterflies. And birds. Earlier this spring, the purple martins circled above the pond at Olde Carthage Farm, swooping low over the water in search of insects before darting through the soft, damp air.
The martins are just one part of the thriving ecosystem Harvey and his wife, Jane, have cultivated since transforming the former tobacco and cotton farm into a certified organic berry and grape operation. Today, blueberries, strawberries, and scuppernong grapes flourish alongside butterflies, bees, and dozens of bird species. “The local birding club comes quite a bit,” Godfrey says. “We’ve identified 78 different species on the farm.”
Take home a freshly picked bouquet of zinnias, marigolds, and cosmos from Olde Carthage Farm. Photography courtesy of Olde Carthage Farm
During berry-picking season, lines form outside the farm’s gate as early as 7:45 a.m. By 8 a.m., strawberries quickly tumble into baskets — later in the season, it’ll turn into sweet rabbiteye blueberries that start to ripen closer to July. “They’ll pick the field clean of pickable berries,” Godfrey says. “We encourage them to eat as they go.”
In Moore County, Olde Carthage Farm is in good company. More than 800 farms dot the Sandhills landscape, taking advantage of the region’s rolling terrain, mild climate, and enthusiastic appetite for fresh produce. To help you plan the perfect farm-fresh getaway, we asked a few locals to share their favorite spots.
The Sandhills area beckons all visitors. From world-class golf to local shopping and dining, our Southern hospitality is why people have been coming to the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area for more than 125 years. Plan your Sandhills getaway today!
Pair one of Roast’s imaginative handhelds with a local brew. Photography courtesy of Roast
Start your weekend at one of Godfrey’s favorite restaurants. Roast is a farm-to-table sandwich market serving upscale sandwiches, salads, wraps, and bowls from its home in Southern Pines. “They have really, really good food,” Godfrey says, noting that the farm’s strawberries star in some of the menu items.
The Buddah Macro Bowl is a fitting start to your farm-focused weekend: Greens, buckwheat, avocado, chickpeas, shredded beets, cherry tomatoes, English cucumbers, organic tri-color carrots, watermelon radishes, and alfalfa sprouts all blend for a taste of the garden. If you’re in the mood for a sandwich, the steakhouse black Angus brisket is topped with sharp cheese, horseradish crema, fire-blistered tomatoes, and pepperoncini.
If you save room for dessert, don’t miss the banana pudding or peanut butter mousse pie at Pinehurst Brewing Company. Photography courtesy of Pinehurst Brewing Company
After dinner, drive over to Pinehurst Brewing Company, where the head brewmaster concocts up to 10 beers on-site. Many are made with fruits from local farms, including the light-bodied strawberry Kolsch ale.
As you sip your drink, take in the building, once the historic steam plant that powered hotels and cottages in the Village of Pinehurst. Today, you can see the smokestack, rebuilt using its original base, as well as salvaged plant ruins, now reimagined as table legs and light fixtures.
Browse local offerings from peaches to potatoes and honeys and jams at the Moore County Farmers Market. Photography courtesy of Moore County Farmers Market
The best of Moore County’s farms is on full display at the Moore County Farmers Market in Southern Pines.
“It’s very kid-friendly; there’s music, and kids just dance around and do activities,” says Maria Williams, whose husband, Will, is a fourth-generation peach farmer with his family’s Kalawi Farm in Eagle Springs. (The name comes from founders Jan and Art’s three oldest children: Ka for Katie, La for Laura, and Wi for Will. Ben’s Ice Cream is named after their youngest son, Ben.)
At their flagship bakery, The Bakehouse sells European-style breads alongside lunch-time favorites, such as the Barcelona Burger. Photography courtesy of The Bakehouse
When they’re not manning their incredibly popular booth at the farmers market, Maria and her sister-in-law, Laura, usually visit The Bakehouse’s booth. “They have awesome bakery items, cakes, and breads,” Laura says.
During Peach Week, enjoy live music, restaurant specials, and scavenger hunts for glass peaches across the Sandhills. Photography courtesy of Starworks
Kalawi Farm’s busiest time of the year coincides with Moore County’s annual Peach Week in July — five days of restaurant competitions where peach-inspired meals steal the show and scavenger hunts for 20 handcrafted glass peaches, made by glassmakers at Starworks, unfold across the Sandhills. The days culminate at the North Carolina Peach Festival in Candor.
The Williams start to pick their peaches about mid-May, and the harvest runs through late August. If you’re visiting earlier in the season, Maria recommends the Winblo variety, a yellow freestone peach. “It’s really sweet and juicy and just the right amount of tart,” she says. Plan to stop by the farmstand on Sunday for a bushel to take home.
Stroll through the blooming fields at Lazy Fox Lavender Farm before relaxing on the porch with an elegant afternoon tea. Photography courtesy of Lazy Fox Lavender Farm
Unwind in the fresh, fragrant air at Lazy Fox Lavender Farm in Cameron, the long-time dream of Clem and Lindsey Lochner. “We actually picked the name out years before we ever stepped foot on our farm,” Lindsey says. “Everyone knows a fox is anything but lazy — except when it’s in a lavender field, because the smell of lavender has been proven to relax you.”
For Lindsey, one of the most relaxing spots on the farm is the reflecting pool, a tranquil brick pond filled with goldfish, water lilies, and lotus flowers. It’s her favorite place to spread out a blanket and indulge in one of the farm’s boxed lunches — chicken salad sandwiches, lavender fruit salads, a bag of locally made potato chips, and lavender lemonade or iced tea. “Parents can chill while kids play badminton and cornhole,” she says. “It’s very peaceful.”
If you’re visiting their farm in June, make reservations for the farm’s High Tea, held Saturdays at 3 p.m. The savory sandwiches, scones, and dainty sweet treats are served with a selection of hot teas and the farm’s signature lavender lemonade. “And it comes with either a fresh-cut or dried bundle of lavender,” she says.
At James Creek Cider House, sample their selection of Stargazer Ciders, a collection of “modern ciders with Southern flair.” Photography courtesy of James Creek Cider House
While you’re in Cameron, make your way to James Creek Cider House to sip a glass of homemade cider while overlooking the heirloom apple orchard. Seasonal ciders are made with fresh, local produce, such as strawberries and rhubarb in June. In July, cool off with the peach and blueberry cider slushies.
Enjoy seasonal, local flavors prepared in New American dishes at Ironwood. Photography courtesy of Ironwood
When Maria and Will have time for a date night, they often make a reservation at Ironwood in Pinehurst. Sitting on the back patio, tucked among raised beds and under Southern magnolias, the couple knows the owners prioritize local ingredients. “Their menu tells you exactly which farm the ingredients come from,” Maria says. “I usually get one of their salads — especially in the summertime when they have fresh peaches.”
Stock up on bushels of farm-fresh peaches and ripe watermelons at Kalawi Farm. Photography courtesy of Kalawi Farm and Ben’s Ice Cream
Enjoy a slow start to the morning, and before you leave town, pick up picnic supplies for your final stop: a visit to Kalawi Farm and Ben’s Ice Cream, which opens at 1 p.m. on Sundays.
“People bring a cooler with lunch, get ice cream, and set up while their kids play,” Maria says. “I’ll see them out there hours later!”
You’ll know you’ve reached the roadside attraction when you hear squeals of laughter from one side of the road and see rows of peach trees on the other.
After you visit the farm stand, cool off with a homemade scoop, banana split, or sundae at Ben’s Ice Cream. Photography courtesy of Kalawi Farm and Ben’s Ice Cream
After you park your car in the sandy lot beside the farmstand, get in line for a memorable scoop of ice cream. Ben’s is known for its banana pudding ice cream, but if you’re visiting in the summertime, you’d be remiss not to order the peach. Better yet, ask for your scoop on top of a bowl of freshly baked peach cobbler for the sweetest send-off.
A bounty of experiences and flavors await just a short drive away. Click here to learn more and start planning your farm-fresh tour of the Sandhills.
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