At Buckingham Farms, we take great pride in delivering the freshest quality produce, homemade food, and memorable moments to our friends, family, and the community of Southwest Florida.
Located in Fort Myers, Florida, Buckingham Farms is a 80+ acre ranch, hydroponic farm, country store, counter service eatery and event destination serving Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Bonita Springs, Estero, Naples, and surrounding regions. We specialize in providing the finest fruits and vegetables, farm-produced products, and one-of-a-kind events in an unmatched countryside setting. We’re taking farm-to-the-table food to the next level. Everything at Buckingham Farms is naturally grown by agricultural specialists with years of experience. We get more crops from less space, so we’re able to harvest more with a smaller impact on the planet. We only practice responsible farming and pledge a commitment to our local community and economy.
Vegans, environmentalists, fans of locally grown food from local growers, or anyone craving extra comforting foods made with real ingredients, will discover something fresher and tastier at Buckingham Farms. You’ll come by for our natural goodness; you’ll come back for our fresh approach to wholesome foods, exceptional experiences, and homegrown hospitality all year long.
In the 1950s the land on which the farm now sits was initially used as a Hog farm. Over time the farm evolved into an orange grove known as the Galman ranch. After many years of citrus production, the ranch dissolved, leaving oaks and native trees to take over, transforming it into the beautiful landscape it is today. Then, in 2009, we purchased the land out of bankruptcy and the decision had to be made on what to do with it. Our family got together, deciding what the community needed was a place to purchase what the supermarkets could not provide, fresh quality vegetables. For several years the farm operated as a small produce stand selling what we grew. After a lot of hard work and dedication to grow the best quality and variety of products, we realized the farm could not support itself on vegetables alone. It also came to our attention that our customers were only buying conventional produce, leaving the many great varieties and other unique vegetables to rot on the vine. Even after trying to convince customers that Kale was good for them, many would say ‘We just don’t know how to cook it’. This temporary setback led to our next venture, building a demonstration kitchen adjacent to the market. Now we could cook and educate people on how to prepare all of the vegetables produced on the farm. As things continued to evolve our customers were asking to purchase what we were cooking, turned out people wanted a good quality meal made with local ingredients. This revelation led to our quick service restaurant concept that is the Buckingham Farms Restaurant you can enjoy today, serving breakfast, lunch and Friday night dinners.
One day, while sitting under the oaks next to the restaurant soaking up all the beauty around us, conversation turned to the thought of what it would be like to have a beautiful venue to accommodate all types of celebrations nestled in amongst the trees. That conversation turned into reality and in 2013 the Buckingham Farms Rustic Barn hosted its first wedding. The strings of Edison lights hung in the rafters, mixed with our custom deer antler chandelier and flowing white curtains makes the perfect setting for any type of event. The classic country charm and elegant lighting were unparalleled to anything in this area for hosting parties, celebrations, holidays or group gatherings. Currently, the Rustic Barn is the only full-service agrarian wedding venue in the area that provides a beautiful rural SW Florida setting with a Chef prepared custom menu.
Today reaching almost 85 acres including the produce growing areas, the farm is now home to our Dexter cattle herd and over 200 chickens, which provide all of the eggs for our restaurant.
Today, Buckingham Farms is still owned and managed by our family. We are local people committed to providing locally grown, top quality food and service. We invite you out to try one of our hearty breakfast selections, satisfying lunches or Chef-prepared entrées today.
We also thank you for the support you have shown us over the years. Hope to see you on the farm soon!
I’m Booger and I am an African Spur-Thigh tortoise. Here is some info about me:My species is the world’s largest mainland tortoise, easily reaching 30 inches (76 centimeters) in length and well over 100 pounds (45 kilograms) in weight. Some males even reach 200 pounds (90 kilograms)! We are surpassed only by the island dwelling tortoises from Aldabra and Galápagos in size and weight.
Turtles and tortoises are a very old group of reptiles, going back about 220 million years. Of all the animals with backbones, turtles are the only ones that also have a shell, made up of 59 to 61 bones covered by plates called scutes, which are made of keratin like our fingernails. The turtle cannot crawl out of it because the shell is permanently attached to the spine and the rib cage. The shell’s top is called the carapace, and the bottom is the plastron. Turtles can feel pressure and pain through their shells, just as you can feel pressure through your fingernails.
Given the sizzling hot climate where it lives—where days can reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius)—this tortoise digs dens up to 10 feet (3 meters) deep to recline in during the heat of the day. These underground havens are significantly cooler than the air above ground, dipping into the 70s (20s Celsius). These dens are often the only respite for other animals as well, so they reuse abandoned tortoise burrows.
The spur-thigh tortoise is most active during the rainy season between July and October. It is crepuscular in habit, meaning it leaves the den to forage at dawn and at dusk. It warms itself in the morning sun to raise its body temperature after the chill of night. The tortoise will become inactive during extreme temperatures and will hole up in an underground den.
