About Gilbert's Heritage District

The Gilbert, AZ Farmer's Market, in The Spirit of Sustainability

For those tired of the processed foods and half-ripe fruits and vegetables that fill the shelves and the produce isles of the giant grocery mega-stores, farmer's markets can be a special joy and treat. This is especially true for those who are lucky enough to live in Gilbert, Arizona, where citizens can head downtown each Saturday morning to visit one of the most interesting farmer's markets that you are going to find anywhere in the United States, The Gilbert, AZ Farmer's Market, in The Spirit of Sustainability.

This probably sounds like a bold claim. But the word 'interesting' most definitely applies here – in fact, it is an understatement - because the Gilbert Farmer's Market is much more than just a good place to buy a fantastic variety of ripe, healthy, tasty, aesthetically-pleasing fruits and vegetables from vendors who eschew the use of pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers. The stated mission of the organizers of the Gilbert Farmer's Market is to promote local sustainability, healthy eating, and green living practices, and everything that is happening here is a true reflection of this comprehensive ambition.

Good Foods Galore in Gilbert

Four outstanding Arizona produce farms supply the Gilbert Farmer's Market with its terrific assortment of fine fruits and vegetables: Desert Roots Farm, Lilly's Farm, Hatching Bunnies Farm, and One Windmill Farm. But if it is high-quality organic and sustainable produce that brings people to the charming and picturesque Heritage District beneath Gilbert's famous Water Tower on Saturday mornings, it is the whole kit and caboodle that will keep them there for hours on end. Food at the Farmer's Market includes much more than just fresh produce, as some of the best-tasting and healthiest foods that can be found anywhere in the state of Arizona are offered for sale here. Fresh seafood, lean meats, breads, pies, pastas, jellies, gourmet popcorn – these are just some of the food products available from vendors working the grounds at the Gilbert Farmer's Market, which is truly committed to furthering the cause of sustainability by making itself a haven for those who are producing delicious, delectable, and healthy non-processed foods of all types.

Good Works in Abundance

Arts and crafts are well represented at the Gilbert Farmer's Market. Beautiful ceramics, magical and transcendent glass art, colorful scented candles, and lovely jewelry made from beer and soda bottle tops (yes, you read that correctly) are just a few of the wonderful objects of art that those who appreciate the work of true craftspeople can take home with them if they choose to come downtown to visit the Heritage District on any given Saturday morning.

There are a slew of non-profit agencies that have chosen to associate themselves with the Gilbert Farmer's Market. Some address the needs of those suffering from diseases like cancer, autism, and kidney failure, while others are devoted to the cause of rescuing and caring for animals. Overall, 14 non-profit groups have booths at the Farmer's Market, and they are always ready to educate those who want to learn more, or accept volunteers from among those who already know enough and would love the opportunity to become more involved.

The Spirit of Sustainability

The organizers of the Gilbert Farmer's Market truly are committed to promoting a higher quality of life for everyone. Good food, wonderful art, fascinating conversation and company, fun for those of all ages – these are the things that define the atmosphere in downtown Gilbert each Saturday morning from 7-11. Basically, any individual or group that is committed to enriching the lives of others will feel very comfortable at the Gilbert Farmer's Market.

This Farmer's Market is still a well-kept secret; it is true. But as word gets out, and more and more people come to sample the delights that are found here, it is inevitable that the Gilbert Farmer's Market is going to continue to grow. The spirit of sustainability that motivates the organizers of this wonderful weekly gathering is strong; those who experience it first hand are going to come back again and again, and they are going to tell everyone they know about the special things happening at theThe Gilbert, AZ Farmer's Market, in The Spirit of Sustainability.

The Farmhouse in the Heritage District of Gilbert, AZ, A Review

Fancy restaurants featuring pricey, exquisite culinary offerings are just fine for special occasions like anniversaries, birthdays, small family reunions, important business dinners, and so on. But sometimes, people just want to go someplace where the atmosphere is friendly, the prices affordable, and the food simple but absolutely delicious. For visitors to the Heritage District in downtown Gilbert, Arizona, this is exactly what they will find at a wonderful destination called The Farmhouse.

The Farmhouse has been around treating the residents of Gilbert and the surrounding Valley to the best in country-style cooking since 1989. Originally located in a farming district a little house outside of town, the Farmhouse has now become the Heritage District's go-to restaurant for those seeking delightful, scrumptious, traditional dishes with just a little something extra. Family-owned and operated throughout its existence, the Farmhouse is open for breakfast (served all day) and lunch Monday-Saturday from 6 AM to 2 PM, and on Sunday from 8 AM to 2 PM.

Checking Out the Menu at the Farmhouse

The staples of the lunch menu at the Farmhouse are an incredible variety of sandwiches and salads that will be sure to offer something to delight the taste buds of any connoisseur. All the basics of the sandwich world are available – hamburgers, roast beef, BLT, Ham, Turkey, Grilled Cheese, and the Reuben, as well as specialty burgers like the Long John, the Veggie, and the Farmhouse Chili Size. But the basics come with such a tremendous range of extra ingredients that pretty much any kind of sandwich someone might having a craving for can be custom ordered.

As delicious as this lunchtime potpourri is, what has gained the incredible cooks at the Farmhouse their fantastic reputation is their breakfast menu. Omelets and scrambles are the food of choice here, as the restaurant sells 24 different types that come in either option. Just about any combination you can imagine in an omelet or a scramble can be requested – or if the customer wants his or her egg done another way, it can still be ordered with an amazing variety of accompanying ingredients. In addition to eggs every way imaginable, from the griddle at the Farmhouse hungry denizens can get mouth-watering Belgian waffles, delicious French Toast, or amazing pancakes the size of Frisbees. From the ovens at the Farmhouse those with a taste for something sweet can get wonderful fresh muffins and/or cinnamon rolls that almost everyone agrees are to die for.

Plenty of Everything...

The Farmhouse really is appropriately named. Cozy, relaxed, friendly, and informal are the words that describe the ambiance here, as the Farmhouse surely recreates the hospitable and inviting atmosphere of a warm country kitchen on a cool autumn morning. Because of its coziness, seating is somewhat limited at the Farmhouse, and visitors on weekends know ahead of time there may be a line. But the wait for a table at the Farmhouse is notoriously short, and well worth it considering the quality of food that is waiting at the end of the line.

It is not just the quality of the food that is remarkable, however. One big “complaint” of many Farmhouse customers is that the servings are just too darn generous, and it is not always possible for customers to eat everything on their plates. For this reason, is recommended that anyone planning to dine at the Farmhouse try to bring along at least one relative or friend that is well-known for having a humongous appetite, just in case someone else in the group needs a little help.

...And the Food is Great, Too!

Because of its charming rustic country-style décor, incredibly friendly staff, convenient downtown location, and very affordable price range, the Farmhouse would likely be popular with residents and visitors to Gilbert even it its food were just mediocre. But the proprietors at this fabulous eatery have put so much dedicated effort into making sure each dish it sells is a bonafide taste treat that the Farmhouse, in its entirety, is a restaurant that can truly offer the total package. Good food, good atmosphere, good people, good times – this is what hungry visitors will find at the Farmhouse in the Heritage District of downtown Gilbert, AZ.