Worden Farm

Battling Florida's bug-laden environment without pesticides may seem a nearly impossible task, but the owners of Worden Farm in east Punta Gorda have found a way to outsmart the insects and grow some great-looking, healthy produce in the process.

The farmers stagger crops, planting small areas of each variety at different times. "It confuses the pests, and they can't flourish," says Eva Worden, who owns the 55 acres of certified organic farmland with her husband, Chris. The three-year-old family farm grows vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers without conventional pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Besides aiming to produce food that's healthy for humans, they employ environmentally sound techniques to conserve the land and water. Among the crops they grow are arugula, daikon, eggplant, kale, kohlrabi, scallion, potato, tomato, zucchini and watermelon.

Locals can sign up for 12- to 24-week memberships, which entitle them to weekly packages of the just-picked crops they can pick up at the farm or at drop-off points in Punta Gorda Isles or Sanibel Island.

One of the few organic farms in the area, Worden offers tours by reservation. Eva recommends visiting between November and May, when guests can see the crops growing and get an up-close look at the equipment, including a 1940s-era tractor that helps control weeds.

Worden Farm is located in Punta Gorda at 34900 Bermont Road. Call (941) 637-4874. Tours and field trips are available by reservation on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Tours are free to farm members. Nonmembers can tour in groups of 12 or more for $8 per adult, $5 for children two to 18, free for younger children.