How A Trip To Turner Farm Has Totally Invigorated Our American, Pioneering Spirit

Modern amenities and technology have vastly improved our lives. No doubt. But in many ways, we’ve lost touch with some pretty baseline concepts — namely, how to exist without those modern amenities.

Imagine a day without your cell phone, UberEATS, or Spotify streaming in your car. Whoa, that’d be rough, right? For a minute, yes. On the other hand, though, learning to live & lead a simpler life might do us a whole lotta good.

I experienced a fleeting feeling of what that might entail during a recent trip to Turner Farm in Indian Hill. Sitting on 230+ acres of land is a farm that’s dedicated to educating and feeding the Cincinnati-area community. With 13 full-time staff members, four part-time/seasonal staff, and six apprentices (including two in their Veteran to Farmer Training Program), Turner Farm is a model for living, loving, and breathing alongside the land.

The farm grows lettuce, beets, broccoli, carrots, potatoes, eggplant, pepper, mushrooms, flowers, and plenty of other things that I’m not including. (Because there are truly THAT many things.) Turner Farm also raises chicken for meat and eggs, along with lamb, pork, and beef.

While I’ve never been one with an urge to plant, I certainly appreciate the fruits of those who do. But more than that, what I can appreciate is the sense of calm that envelops me in the stillness of a day without status updates. Swatting flies instead of oncoming emails isn’t for everyone, but it is a good way to reboot your system.

If this sounds appealing to you, then a trip to Turner Farm should be in your future. In fact, the best way to get a sampling of farm life might be at the Teaching Kitchen. Ya know, just dip your proverbial toe in the pool, trade in your ball cap for a straw hat that kinda sampling. Anyway, the kitchen opened in September 2016. (Note: They converted a 100-year-old, two-story barn into a state-of-the-art kitchen.)

Stephanie Michalak, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, is the on-site chef and culinary manager. She’s in the process of developing a curriculum where folks can come for cooking classes. They’ve already had a few, but a more programmed course schedule is on the way. Which is good news for you (and for all of us, really). I’m bummed I missed the bread making class, but I look forward to seeing what’s cookin’ (couldn’t resist) soon.

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Turner Farm is one of three working farms left in the village of Indian Hill. It’s open to the public Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until dark.

ADDRESS: 7400 Given Road (45243)