Since our farm is on the near edge of the Rochester NY metropolitan area, we see part of our mission is to communicate the vital role of agriculture to children, teachers and parents. Our grocery stores are brimming with fresh produce from all over the world but there has developed an awareness gap between the consumer and the farmer. This is especially true in urban areas. We think we can help change that. And make it fun for everyone.
A visit to our farm with your class will get your children “down to earth” very quickly. Each group has its own farmer guide to take the children into the apple orchards to learn about how apples grow, and get to pick one just for them; into the pumpkin patch to see how pumpkins grow and pick a small pumpkin of their own and on a fun and usually bumpy tractor and wagon ride around the farm. Each class enjoys of drink of real apple cider, (pasteurized, of course), a cup of fresh popped corn, and a touch and learn session about gourds and Indian corn and lastly each child leaves with a coloring paper to help them remember their trip.
And depending on the weather we may have the biggest muddiest puddles you have ever seen. Even that is part of the learning process as we talk about plants needing soil and water to grow. The farm is a real working farm, with grassy orchards with dwarf and semi-dwarf apple trees and pumpkin patches with real dirt. This means boots are often the best footwear.
The current charge for our tour experience is $3.50 per child, whether part of the class or siblings. Since the rise of schools using personal cars and the increased interest in parents and grandparents coming on the visits, we are charging $1.50 per adult. This is primarily because the group's size increases and wagons become filled to capacity as more adult bodies are added!! There is a minimum charge per group of $35 (ten children or less). If you are home-schooling find others to join with to meet the minimum cost.
All tour experiences are by reservation only. Generally, we start taking reservations in late August or early September. If several classes want to come together to share bussing expenses it is to your advantage to make arrangements early to accommodate multiple classes. Generally our threshold is 15-18 children for preschools (which have more parents with the group) and 20-25 children per group for elementary school groups (if fewer parents are accompanying the class) with a maximum of three groups at a specific time in the AM and two groups at a time in the PM. To make a tour reservation please call us at 585-594-9054
We also have a pleasant playground for you children to use if you have time available to you. We have plenty of room for parent parking and for school busses. We are expressway convenient and are 20-25 minutes from most places in Monroe County. We hope to see you this fall.