By: Shayne Benowitz
Spend a morning at The Little Farm, with its petting zoo, butterfly garden and pony rides. For a down-on-the-farm experience that you wouldn’t expect while vacationing in Miami, look no farther than The Little Farm in South Dade’s Goulds area. Roughly an hour drive from Downtown Miami, Goulds is part of Miami’s heartland with wide open acres of farms and long country roads. In this region, farmers grow everything from tomatoes and strawberries to heirloom peppers and kale. They also raise livestock.
The Little Farm has been dedicated to exposing children and families to the farming lifestyle since 1978 by opening its gates to the public on most weekends throughout the year. It also hosts school field trips, children’s birthday parties and other special events. It’s a fully licensed, inspected and insured organization.
A visit to the Little Farm is filled with fun and surprises. Spanning 10 acres, you’ll have the opportunity to tour the farm and see its many animals including horses, cows, goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits, geese, ducks, chickens and turkeys. You’ll be able to help feed the animals, milk the goats and even pet a pony. The Little Farm has a lovely butterfly garden where winged wonders flutter freely, and there’s a shaded pavilion with blankets perfect for a picnic. For kids and adults alike, if you’ve never spent time on a farm, interacting with these sweet animals is a fantastic experience.
Fall at The Little Farm
October is one of the most eventful months at The Little Farm, when it stays open seven days a week for visitors to explore the pumpkin patch. If you’re in South Dade, this is absolutely the place to find your Halloween pumpkin. For every pumpkin that you purchase, you get a free pony ride. The petting farm is set up and you can create arts and crafts like scarecrows and other harvest décor items for the home.
Springtime at The Little Farm
Every year on the Saturday before Easter, The Little Farm hosts Easter egg hunts. Held four times throughout the day, families can reserve a two-hour slot that includes not only the egg hunt, but also a tour of the farm, the petting zoo and pony rides. A snack bar sells hotdogs, chips and soda.
Know Before You Go
If you decide to make a trip down to The Little Farm, be sure to confirm the hours of operation ahead of time by checking the website or calling 305-258-3186. In most cases, it’s only open on the weekends from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Price of admission is usually $10 per person but can vary depending on special events.