Heartwood Farm

Getting Muddy On The Farm

Posted : April 7, 2022

Our blog is chock full of great ideas for fun things to see and do in York Durham and Headwaters. We are always adding new content and updating old posts, but sometimes you might stumble upon something from our vault. If this article has inspired you to hit the road, be sure to double-check that the featured stops in this post are still welcoming visitors.

Getting muddy has never looked so fun! If you’re looking for things to do this spring with family, friends, or your significant other then consider a fun farm experience. York Durham Headwaters is home to hundreds of fabulous farms that you’ll want to add to your Spring bucket list! You’ll find a tractor load of fun things to do for all ages!

Don’t let a little rain and muck get you stuck in a rut this spring! Get outside and experience some hands-on muddy fun at these farms across the region.

Brooks Farms

Strawberry picking

Best known for their pick your own berries and pumpkins during the summer and fall, Brooks Farms is a fun-filled farm to visit in the spring too! Brooks Farms, originally started in the mid 1800’s, has been welcoming families and visitors to experience their farm for over twenty years.

Along with a gift shop, bakery and café, the farm is home to lots of activities that both the kids and adults will love! Meet the farm’s many residents for their Barnyard Playland experience. Here, you’ll enjoy a meet and greet with the livestock that call Brooks Farms home. Spend a few hours mucking around with miniature cows, pot belly pigs, sheep, goats, Norman the farm dog, and many more. Plus, there are other Playland attractions to burn off your winter blahs. After you meet the farm animals check out the pirate ship playground, the singing chicken show, and giant inflatables for bouncing.

On select days in April, Brooks Farms hosts EasterFest. This family-friendly event provides the perfect opportunity to get outside and have some egg-cellent fun! You’ll get to meet the Easter Bunny, take a ride on the zipline, and enjoy playtime in their Barnyard Playland! However, the big attractions are the egg and the scavenger hunts!

Heartwood Farm and Cidery

Heartwood Farm Pig

“After the sugar bush tours during maple season in late winter and early spring, you’ll still find a variety of fun things to do at Heartwood Farm. If you’re looking to get your boots dirty then sign up for one of their unique farm experiences. Throughout the year you can learn all about their regenerative farming practices. You’ll discover how they help the fruits and crops on their land grow through sustainable methods. Plus, you’ll get to meet the many animals that call Heartwood Farm home, like pigs, llamas, sheep, and cows. They even have a place to stay on the farm for a truly memorable glamping holiday. It’s the perfect destination for a digital detox. You’ll leave rejuvenated and with a better appreciation for what farm to table really means.

Along with their farm experiences, which are always evolving and growing, they offer cider tastings. This working cidery has some of the best cider in Ontario! All of the apples, fruit, and other ingredients that go into making each bottle come from Heartwood Farm as well as other local producers. They have a range of ciders to suit everyone’s palate, from mulled to sparking and even a spicy one.”

Lionel’s Farm

Goats

For those looking for farms close to the GTA where the kids can get outside and play with some cool animals, then pay a visit to York Region’s Lionel’s Farm. For over 50 years, Lionel’s Farm has been welcoming visitors for everything from birthday parties to Christmas on the Farm. The farm is located in Whitchurch-Stouffville and is home to a variety of animals that range from livestock to exotics.

At the farm you can visit all the animals in their petting zoo, like alpacas, goats, peacocks, and so many more! Plus, depending on when you visit, you may see a few baby animals running around the farm too! Along with meeting the animals and petting them, you get the chance to feed them too!

Another fun activity at Lionel’s Farm is the pony rides! During the ride you’ll get to take a bit of a tour around the farm and see some of the other ponies and horses. In inclement weather they have you covered! Literally! Under a large covered riding area the kids will get to hop on one of the farm’s ponies and take a jaunt around. Pre-registration is required

Forsythe Family Farms

Forsythe

If you’re looking for a perfect place for a digital detox then a visit to Durham Region’s Forsythe Family Farms is what you need this spring! Set amongst the rolling hills just outside Uxbridge, this 50 acre farm’s motto is, “Get back to Good Food, Family Fun, and Connecting to Nature.”

Forsythe Family Farms has something going on during nearly every season. In summer and fall, there’s pick your own berries and pumpkins. Along with other seasonal events, there’s a farmer’s market where they sell their own fresh fruits and vegetables as well as that of other local producers.

The best spring experience is their Farm Discovery Trail! A winding trail takes you into the woods, over hills, and through a meadow. It offers an ideal opportunity to put the phone away, don your rubber boots, and soak in the tranquility of nature. Take a stroll among the trees, along the brook, and listen for the birds. Plus, along the trail, you’ll find rest stops to relax and breathe it all in. However, if you’re visiting with children there’s a special trail for them too! Hop aboard for a wagon ride that takes you and your family down Fairy Tale Lane. After the ride you can hike a short trail that’s lined with artwork by Gillian Iles and Howard Attewell as well as the handiwork of Elvin Ramer.

Grab your rubber boots and rain jackets and head out to one of these fun farms this spring! You may get wet and muddy but you’ll have memories for years to come.

Author: Stephanie Mayo of The World As I See It

Happy Travels and Tales!

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