Farms show off suburbs' agricultural roots
If there's one thing Mother Nature taught us this year, it's that summer is fleeting. Now's the time to make the most of it, meshing an afternoon outdoors with some quality time with the family.
You can get fresh air and a taste of a more simple life by visiting historical or working farms around the suburbs. Whether your kids are interested in petting horses, watching chicks hatch or learning what life was like 150 years ago, activity-packed trips will keep them entertained and teach them about life before suburbia - and you might learn something, too.
Blackberry Farm
100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora, (630) 892-1550, www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and holidays
Admission: Fox Valley Park District residents pay $4.25 for adult, $3.75 for kids and seniors; nonresidents pay $7 for adults, $6 for kids and seniors.
What you'll learn: Built between the 1840s and early 1900s, Blackberry Farm includes a blacksmith, pottery shop and pioneer cabin where interpreters in period dress demonstrate different crafts including candle making, sewing and forge work as it would have been done in the 1800s.
Critter collection: The farm features pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys and a donkey, though they are fenced in. There are also pony rides for kids.
Upcoming activities: Working model train layouts will be on display at the park July 26 and 27, and a car show is Aug. 10.
Why it's worth the trip: The activities are very hands on, giving kids the chance to practice period crafts. They can also play in the corn, ride a carousel or take a hay wagon ride.
Bonner Heritage Farm
Sand Lake Road and Country Place, Lindenhurst; (847) 968-3421 or www.lcfpd.org/bonner_farm
Hours: 6:30 a.m. to sunset daily
Admission: Free
What you'll learn: Built in 1840, the farm tells the history of four generations of the Bonner family who worked on it until the early 20th century. Several buildings date back to the original homestead and, while they're not open, signs say what they're used for and whimsical exhibits teach about the history of the farm and general agricultural facts like how windmills work and why barns were painted red (the answer: it was cheaper than other colors).
Critter collection: There are no live animals at Bonner Farm but you will find huge steel statues of chickens, cows and sheep.
Why it's worth the trip: Bonner Farm sports one of the last intact great barns in the area and offers a unique way to learn about the evolution of farming.
Garfield Farm
Garfield Road, north of Illinois Route 38, LaFox, (630) 584-8485, www.garfieldfarm.org
Hours: 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday
Admission: $3 for adults, $2 for kids 12 and under
What you'll learn: All the buildings on the 370-acre working farm are original to the site, showing what farm life was like in 1840. The Garfield House has been mostly restored to show off its original purpose as a tavern and inn. Tours are available of the barns to see the animals.
Critter collection: You'll find oxen, geese, hogs, sheep, turkeys and chickens but there is no petting area.
Upcoming events: An antique tool show and sale will be Aug. 3 and an heirloom garden show is Aug. 24.
Why it's worth the trip: Part of an exchange with the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, the farm raises chicks from a historic breed from the 1840s.
Lambs Farm
14245 W. Rockland Road, Libertyville, (847) 362-4636, www.lambsfarm.org
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Admission: Day pass is $6 for adults, $12 for kids
What you'll learn: Since 1965 the working farm has served as a residence for people with developmental disabilities. Lambs Farm now offers services to more than 250 adults who work throughout the facilities, from caring for animals to giving tours to baking cookies. The residents are happy to explain not just how the farm works but tell visitors about themselves and about living with disabilities.
Critter collection: The farm has lots of goats, with five kids born this year and more expected. They also have horses, donkeys, llamas, alpacas, ducks, geese, roosters, rabbits, chinchillas, an African gray parrot, farm cats chasing mice and a 450-pound pig named Mrs. Wiggles who loves Oreos and Bavarian cream doughnuts, tastes she acquired from her former owner who ran a bakery. Kids can feed animals in the petting zoo area. What's around varies from day to day depending on who is feeling friendly, but goats and sheep are regular features.
Upcoming events: Radio Disney comes to Lambs Farm from 1 to 2 p.m. July 26 with family-friendly games and music, all to teach basic safety in a program sponsored by Underwriters Laboratories. Admission is free.
Why it's worth the trip: If spending the day with cute animals has you wanting to bring one home, Lambs Farm also offers the largest selection of puppies in the Lake County area along with kittens, fish, reptiles and a pet boutique where you can buy everything from purses to doggy nail polish.
Volkening Heritage Farm
1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg, (847) 985-2100, www.parkfun.com/recreation/SpringValley/ HeritageFarm.aspx
Hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, closed Monday
Admission: Free
What you'll learn: Founded by second-generation German-Americans in 1880, Volkenning teaches about the German-American population in the Schaumburg area. A working farm, its activities change daily with interpreters in period dress doing laundry, tending the gardens and plowing fields on Belgian draft horses.
Critter collection: Cows, draft horses, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese and pigs live on the farm, though there is no petting zoo.
Upcoming events: Try family fun and crafts from 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays in July at the Merkle cabin a short hike from the heritage farm.
Why it's worth the trip: Intepreters in authentic clothing take you back in time, where you can help with the farm chores or just visit the livestock.
At the zoos
Brookfield Zoo Children's Zoo
3300 Golf Road, Brookfield, (708) 688-8000, www.czs.org
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday
Admission: $12.50 for adults, $8 for kids 3-11 and seniors
What you'll learn: During the summer at 2 p.m. daily, the zoo runs an animals in action show, displaying how goats, dogs, llamas and mules are trained and activities that keep them healthy and in touch with their keepers. Hourly animal encounters highlight different animals, with keepers teaching everything from how to groom a horse to facts on boa constrictors.
Critter collection: The children's zoo features cows, goats and horses to pet along with a variety of other animals on display.
Upcoming events: Watch as the cows are milked at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily, and see how wool is spun on Tuesdays. Or catch a concert on the zoo's East Mall at 3 p.m. July 20. The Alternate Routes start the show, followed by Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers at 5 p.m.
Why it's worth the trip: The children's zoo features incubators and a brooder in a chick hatchery where eggs are dated with approximate hatch dates. Chicks hatch almost daily so you have a good chance of getting to spot a newborn breaking out.
Cosley Zoo
1356 N. Gary Ave., Wheaton, (630) 665-5534, www.wheatonpark district.com/pgs/parks/cosley/default.html
Admission: Free
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
What you'll learn: The resident coyote, who came to Cosley after he was kept for a time as a pet, gets twice-daily training to keep his mind sharp and help him cooperate with medical care. Ask for times so you can watch.
Critter collection: Plenty of farmyard animals and native wildlife, plus birds from orioles to owls and a collection of snakes, frogs and salamanders. Farm animals are free to wander up to the fence for petting. June, the American cream draft horse, is very sociable. Buy food to feed the ducks at 10 a.m.
Upcoming events: Go behind the scenes at "Evening with the Animals" July 25. Take a night hike and bunk near the animals at an overnight campout at the zoo Aug. 8 and 9.
Why it's worth the trip: The zoo raises young Blanding's turtles, a threatened species, for release into the wilds of DuPage County at age 2.
Lincoln Park Zoo's Farm in the Zoo
2001 N. Clark St., Chicago, (312) 742-2000, www.lpzoo.org
Admission: Free
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
What you'll learn: The 3-acre space replicates a small family farm with animals and a crop garden with common Midwestern produce. You can see how pumpkins, corn, soy and wheat are grown and learn tips on organic vegetable gardening with free programs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Wednesday and Saturday.
Critter collection: The farm features chickens, pigs, cows and goats with a new litter of piglets born in May. Kids can feed the cows at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. daily, pet goats from 10:30 to 3 p.m. and learn how worms are used in composting. A new beehive exhibit lets visitors look inside a real hive.
Upcoming events: Stop by the farmhouse on Mondays when Professor Boonie entertains with stories and songs, or catch Mr. Singer performing every Wednesday.
Why it's worth the trip: Beside getting to see the animals at the kid zoo, the free admission also allows you to spend the day checking out the rest of the Lincoln Park's collection with everything from rhinos to desert cats.