We've always harbored a secret, and likely quite idealized, fantasy of one day working on a farm. Until that day comes, we can get a tiny taste for what it might be like at Drumlin Farm, a working farm and wildlife sanctuary run by the Massachusetts Audubon just outside of town in Lincoln. We headed over there a few weekends back to check it out. While Drumlin Farm is certainly a working farm that grows produce and sells meat from the animals raised there, the space and the people who work at Drumlin Farm are also dedicated to teaching visitors about how our food is grown, how animals are raised, and in general, how farms work.
As we wandered through the barns and garden areas, we found interactive displays describing what we were seeing and were encouraged to touch, smell, and listen. The farm also has several nature walks and runs daily educational activities with staff members.
Photo Gallery
• 1, 2, and 3. When we were there a few weeks ago, the baby sheep, goats, and pigs were still a big attraction! Although we weren't really allowed to pet or interact with the animals, we could get very close and see the animals feeding, sleeping, and playing together.
• 4. The feeding schedule for the pigs.
• 5. The chicken house made us want our own backyard chickens more than ever. These chicken coops were like designer jungle gyms for birds! Drumlin Farm keeps several varieties and each pen is adorned with a plaque explaining that breed's temperament, laying capacity, and other details.
• 6. The eggs are collected and sold at the farmstand. (Check out the "Flew the Coop" sign for chickens exiting to the outdoor space!)
• 7. A greenhouse surrounded by a "learning garden" where people can wander among the beds and even pitch in if they want.
• 8. The compost heap is displayed prominently in the garden area.
• 9. We finished our tour with a walk to the fields. This early in the season, there still wasn't too much going on except for a few plots of this plant - looks to us like leeks or onions?
• 10. Frozen meat from animals raised on the farm is also for sale at the farmstand. If you're interested, there was also plenty of offal for sale! We saw lamb kidneys, lamb hearts, goat hearts, and more.
Drumlin Farm is open Tuesdays through Sundays all year round, and admission is $6 for adults and $4 for children (free for members). It's an hour or so out of Boston, so it makes a perfect day trip.
• Check out their website for more info on Drumlin Farm and Wildlife Sanctuary
Do you ever fantasize about working on a farm?!
Related: Meeting vs. Eating: How Do You Feel About Meeting Farm Animals?
(Images: Emma Christensen for The Kitchn)
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
My kids will love this! Thank you for posting, sounds like a good stop on our way to visit family this weekend :).
view ziacd's profile
Hi Emma,
What a neat place! Sounds like a really fun day. I love all the educational stuff they're doing. The Audubon Society only had a bird sanctuary near where I grew up - yet I still became a farmgirl. ; )
P.S. Those are garlic plants.
view Farmgirl Susan's profile
Having gotten really into eating seasonally and locally - I actually did get a job this season working full-time for a farm :) It is fantastic doing real work that actually means something.
view Lindsay722's profile
Drumlin is a wonderful treasure and I'm blessed to live ten minutes from there. I encourage all parents with small kids to join Mass Audubon and reap the benefits of free admission. Keep your eyes peeled for special events (Strawberry Festival, for one).
view leepert's profile
I went there for the first time on a field trip on kindergarten. I have been since and cannot wait to take my own children there.
view jemurphy530's profile