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Hello farm friends!

Writer's picture: ketaki haldipurkarketaki haldipurkar

Updated: Oct 15, 2019

Ardenwood farms, is a historic landmark of Fremont, CA founded in 1850's, wow! Mostly on the weekends it's hosting an event which are always fun and engaging for the Bubu's. Animals + activities that's a win win!


Where: Ardenwood Historic Farms | 34600 Ardenwood Blvd · Fremont, CA

Open: Tuesday through Sunday | 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Visited: Saturday, July 21, 2018 | 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Tickets: Buy onsite


My Bubu has recently started expressing excitement looking at animals. So I thought it's the perfect time to show him some farm animals. As these one's he can feed and touch it will add to his sensory experience.

It was our first time at a farm. This activity was a part of my Meetup group To-do with Bubu, feel free to join if it interests you. My Bubu has recently started expressing excitement looking at animals. Until now he wouldn't even notice or show acknowledgement looking at one. So I thought it's the perfect time to show him some farm animals. As these one's he can feed and touch it will add to his sensory experience.

Ardenwood farms are awesome as is, plus they host some fun activities on weekends. So every time you visit it will be something new to experience. This time we went the theme was farming activities for kids. Bubu is just 14 months and he still enjoyed all activities but of course he added his own twist to it.


Activities we did

#1 Farm chores

There was small hay-barrel-ring area right in front of a barn. Here they had few contraptions to pick the corn kernels and another to grind them. Both of them were apt for kids 2 years +. I had to do this myself as after my demonstration My Bubu tried but wasn't able to get it. He instead preferred playing in the corn kernels putting them carefully in the corn-picking contraption treating it like a mini bowl. Also at the grinding station he had a blast seeing the falling crushed corn and using his hands to touch and play in.


#2 Feeding the hens

The farm volunteer then demonstrated how the corn we just ground is then fed to the hens. He gave each kid a handful to feed to the hens and roosters in the pen. Bubu enjoyed the sight of the birds pecking the corn as we threw them on the ground. He himself didn't feed the birds. I gave him a couple times but he liked to put it in his mouth instead after few failed attempts I got a little worried and reverted back to me feeding and him watching. That worked better for us :) We mostly enjoyed a very friendly turkey as she kept following us for more corn.


#3 Little Red Hen story time

We had to head back to the hay-barrel-ring area. Another farm volunteer then came in with a red hen. All kids could pet it, which led to lots of giggles and excited oh's and aa's. Then she handed us a wheat stalk each. She then kept the hen down, and proceeded to tell the story of 'Little Red Hen'. She did this with puppets. Bubu kept pointing at the puppets and smiling like to tell me he was enjoying it.


After this we left to take a train ride. The farm had two more activities which we chose to miss as we had to head out to see a show at the Library.


#4 Corn mosaics

This was making art using colored corn kernels and glue.


#5 Harvesting wheat

The name says it all.

We learnt that the train rides are only on Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

So we decided to read. I have a meetup called To-do with Bubu and this visit was a part of that meetup. So I had brought a book to read to the kids. It was a peek-a-boo book on farm animals. The older kids enjoyed guessing the animals and enacting like them while the younger ones listened and saw the pictures in the book. Join our meetup if it interests you, https://www.meetup.com/To-Do-with-Bubu/


Me and Bubu then headed out to go to the Fremont main library to see a show: Circus of smiles. Read about this adventure in our next post.


Takeaway

Farm is an enriching experience for Bubu's. It's a great place to facilitate any Bubu's love towards animals and nature. The older they get their understanding and respect can be focused towards the process to get food farm-to-table to result in them respecting food. I will love to spend more days exploring this farm and the different events they host. And on a non-event day I will love to tour their victorian home and garden. And of course our train ride is pending :)

Worth it! Look for a farm near you and explore with your Bubu!


P.S: Carry hand - sanitizer for your Bubu as they might get a chance to touch and pet animals.


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