BYO Picnic Gear to the Pizza Farm

No, not farms that grow crops of pizza. (But how amazing would it be to see rows of veggies already in pizza form sprouting from the ground?) “Pizza farms” bake and serve pizza right on the farm, typically using ingredients grown themselves or sourced locally, and guests bring their own picnicking supplies. Whether you enjoy your pizza on a blanket with a beer in hand, or on a white tablecloth by candlelight, here are a few pizza farms to put on your calendar this season:

2016 Local Hero Award winner Jeff Ford and his merry crew at Cress Spring Bakery, in Blue Mounds, serve wood-fired pizzas on Wednesdays, 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., May through October. They sell beer and wine, so no carry-ins, please (it’s against Wisconsin law anyway). “We accept cash, checks, credit cards and chickens as payment.” (We made a visit to their pizza night last year - you can read about it here.)

New this year to the pizza farm scene is Vesperman Farms, in Lancaster. They’re offering pizza nights on the second Thursday of each month from April all the way into December.

For a fun, themed road trip, consider taking a few days off to meander north along the Mississippi River, hitting all the pizza farms on the way:

• A to Z Produce & Bakery, Stockholm. Tuesdays, 4:30 – 8:00 p.m., March – October.
• Oasis Eatery at Nesbitt’s Nursery & Orchard, Prescott. Wednesdays, 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., April – October.
• Suncrest Gardens Farm, Cochrane. Thursdays and Fridays, 4:30 – 8:30 p.m., June – August. Fridays-only in September.
• The Borner Farm Project, Prescott. Every other Friday, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m., May – October.
• The Stone Barn, Nelson. Fridays, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.; Mid-May – October 1.

Always check pizza farm websites to confirm hours and things to know about their particular location.