The inaugural Carbon County Open Gate Farm Tour was Saturday at The Farm at Blue Mountain Resort in Kunkletown, featuring an array of activities and presentations.

Jim Baker, of Macungie, works for Blue Mountain Resort and is helping with The Farm’s new beekeeping project.

“They wanted to do a pollen project two years ago, so I helped start that,” Baker said. “This year, they wanted to do bees. I was happy to help. They have a good plant diversity here, and it’s part of what they’re trying to do, to create a sustainable environment and to teach people.”

Baker showed the frames where the honey and beeswax accumulate, and more hives are planned. The Farm plans to sell honey and beeswax in the future.

The day featured tours of the farm, where visitors learned about organic produce, herb and flower production. There also was a session about beekeeping, and visitors enjoyed food and entertainment.

The Carbon County 4-H Youth Development Program gave information on the various 4-H program available. The Penn State Extension Service, which coordinates the farm tours, had information on its Master Watershed Stewards Program, and Penn State Master Gardeners offered demonstrations on container gardening.

The farm also sold produce, flowers, and other plants grown on their farm.

“This is an open tour that the Penn State Extension does,” said Joe Johnson, an employee with the Blue Mountain Farm. “They offer it at other farms as well. It’s an open gate day where people can come in and see what we do behind the scenes. The Extension Service picks other farms throughout the year. This is our first year doing it, coordinating it with the Extension Service.”

Johnson said Blue Mountain Farm is trying to expand into more perennial flowers and herbs.

“We grow the vegetables here, which go to the Slopeside Restaurant at Blue Mountain Resort and are used for any weddings or banquets they have,” Johnson said. “At the end of the week, whatever produce is leftover goes to the local food banks.”