Herff Farm
Overview
Herff Farm is a spectacular, deeply historic 60-acre homestead estate operated by the Cibolo Center for Conservation, globally celebrated as a premier living history site and modern sustainable agriculture model in Boerne. Dating back to 1852, this beautifully preserved pioneer property features the original German-style limestone farmhouse, extensive historic livestock barns, and pristine heritage open fields. Every Saturday morning, the farm bursts into life as it hosts the popular Cibolo Valley Farmers Market, where travelers can purchase farm-fresh organic produce, hand-crafted artisan goods, and natural herbal remedies. Visitors can tour the organic teaching gardens, participate in eco-friendly farming workshops, and experience early Texas farming history firsthand.
Practical Info
Travel Tips
- The Farmers Market operates strictly on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM; the farm grounds are closed to drop-ins on weekdays, and parking spaces regularly max out before 10:00 AM.
- The historic homestead features unpaved gravel and dirt trails unsuitable for standard strollers; closed-toe, durable rugged outdoor shoes are highly recommended to traverse the muddy farmlands.
- Foraging or picking crops, herbs, or flowers from research plots is strictly prohibited; all produce constitutes protected agricultural assets and must be purchased legally through market vendors.
Reviews
- A historic farm full of Hill Country heritage; the weekly Saturday Farmers Market is bustling and perfect for buying fresh local honey, organic veggies, and artisan crafts.
- The farm's cypress-lined trails and historic limestone homestead are beautifully preserved, making it perfect for a peaceful, authentic rustic morning walk.
- They host wonderful free ecological workshops for kids and gardening enthusiasts, run by warm, passionate volunteers who provide great educational value.
- Equipped with clean portable restrooms; despite the dirt pathways, the route from the main entrance to the core market area is flat and reasonably accessible.
- The Farmers Market is only open for a few hours on Saturday mornings, and the grounds are mostly closed on weekdays, making it easy for out-of-towners to miss.
- Since the farm avoids pavement to stay rustic, heavy rains turn the entire grounds into a massive mud pit with standing water, ruining shoes and causing slips.
- During peak summer middays, the open-air market stalls lack sufficient shaded canopies or cooling fans, making the brutal Texas heat unbearable within 30 minutes.
- During market hours, crowds concentrate heavily and the temporary grass parking lot fills fast; the narrow access lane frequently causes local traffic bottlenecks.