Lush verdant farmland, fragrant fruits and flowers, and the opportunity to interact with a menagerie of gentle creatures await during Loudoun’s 2011 Spring Farm Tour. The tour, which features 30 sites ranging from certified organic farms to small family farms, takes place this weekend, May 21 and 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Before you head out, go to www.loudounfarms.org, download a spring farm tour map and check out each farm’s offerings. You can also download an interactive map of the various farmers' markets in Loudoun.

At many of the farms, you can immerse yourself in a bona fide whole foods experience – sans the shopping cart. Nosh on lamb sausage sandwiches at WeatherLea Farm & Vineyard in Lovettsville, take a goat cart (not go kart) ride at Stoneybrook Organic Farm in Hillsboro, or feed chickens – and gather your own eggs – at Chicama Run in Purcellville.

For a fascinating look at another farm animal, head to one of Loudoun’s many alpaca farms. Known for their sweet nature, alpacas are understandably a big draw during the farm tour. Pet these placid animals at several of the farms, including Alpacas of Middleburg at Flowing Fleece Farm, Butterfly Hill Farm, Fiber & Fashion in Waterford, and Sweet Home Alpacas in Paeonian Springs.

According to Keith Bryan, who, along with his wife, Dorri, owns Alpacas of Middleburg at Flowing Fleece Farm, “The alpaca is a very docile, warm creature and highly intelligent for livestock. They are intuitive animals that have the ability to develop a relationship with people.” The benefits of alpacas, Bryan added, include “the highest quality clothing products known to us with approximately five times the insulating capacity of sheep’s wool with no known allergens to man.”

If you want to tickle your nose, meander on to one of the tour’s herb farms. Right here in Ashburn, fragrant herbs and heirloom vegetables take center stage at the working garden at Clyde’s Willow Creek Farm. You can also learn how to make seedling pots. If you’re a gourmand searching for chef-approved herbs and vegetables for your next culinary creation, head to DeBaggio’s Herb Farm and Nursery in Chantilly. Each spring, DeBaggio’s Herb Farm and Nursery grows more than 100,000 plants in its greenhouses. You will also discover a variety of seasonal flowers, vegetable plants and farm-fresh produce that fills Heiders Farm Market in Leesburg.

The farm tour isn’t just for kids to enjoy. Imbibe wonderful wines paired with fabulous vistas at the dozen-plus wineries that feature special events during the farm tour. Sunset Hills Vineyards in Purcellville, noted for its numerous award-winning wines, offers live music from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. At Zephaniah Farm Vineyard & Mill Road Farm in Leesburg, you can taste seven wines for a mere $3. Hungry? Zephaniah is offering a $10 “Spring Farm Tour Special” – a glass of Zephaniah wine along with a grass-fed Angus burger or sausage grilled to order. Epicureans will delight in Grandale Farm Restaurant’s “Three Course Local Menu Paired with Loudoun Wines” for $25 per person.  Call 540-668-6000 to make reservations at this Purcellville treasure.

If the farm tour inspires you to integrate more farm-fresh produce and products into your family’s diet, check out Buy Fresh Buy Local at www.BuyLocalVirginia.org. Go to “Search for Local Foods” on the homepage and select “Loudoun.” You’ll find nearly 150 listings. Buy Fresh Buy Local “helps consumers find local products while building relationships between growers, food artisans, farmers’ markets retailers, restaurants and institutions.”

So this weekend, fire up the Garmin and head to the farm to get connected with the fresh food, friendly faces and country communities that enrich our great county.