Historical Summer 2008 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
One of my favorite things about living in Skinker-DeBaliviere is our proximity to so many fantastic (and free) area attractions.
The Zoo, Art Museum, History Museum and Science Center are so close that we can probably get to them faster by bike than by car. Busch Stadium, Union Station, Laclede’s Landing and The Arch are less than a half-hour away by metro. Summer with my kids is a lot of fun as the city becomes our playground, yet even we city diehards look for atypical venues to visit once we’ve had our fill of the chilly penguin house and the latest Omnimax show. Does your family enjoy places like Grant’s Farm, The Butterfly House, petting zoos and pumpkin patches?
The following kidfriendly destinations offer handson learning about farm animals and agricultural production.
They probably haven’t made your standard summer-places-to-visit list, but located less than one and a half hour’s drive from St. Louis, they are well worth the day trip. Just be sure to call ahead to make a reservation or plan a tour. Jefferson Farm and Gardens is a 67-acre demonstration farm located within the 1,500-acre University of Missouri South Farm in Columbia, Missouri.
This new educational farm officially opens in Spring, 2009, but open house previews are scheduled throughout the summer and early fall. Take a wagon tour around the farm, visit the MFA Children’s Barn to see a variety of farm animals, and head down to the lake to admire blooming aquatic plants from the zig-zag boardwalk and island. Tour the orchard, berries and native wildflower meadow.
While exploring, chat with experts on agriculture, gardening and conservation. Open houses are free and will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Upcoming open house dates are July 19, August 2, August 30 and September 27. 573.449.3518 / jeffersonfarm. org. R Pizza Farm is located on Route 3 just 9 miles west of Alton in Dow, Illinois. Owned and operated by farmer Walter Gregory, R Pizza Farm is an educational, organic farm shaped like a pizza.
Each “slice” of the 1/2-acre organic farm represents a different pizza ingredient including tomatoes, peppers, grains and herbs, and pens for dairy goats, pigs, chickens and beef cows. Cost is $7.50 per person.
Following the tour, visit the farm’s pizzeria and savor a slice of their pizza made with homemade organic whole grain wheat crust and R Pizza’s secret tomato sauce recipe. 618.466.5950. Sayersbrook Bison Ranch and Lodge in Potosi, Missouri is a 4,000-acre ranch where a herd of 1,000 bison roam free.
A tour of this ranch situated in the Ozark Mountain range includes riding on a covered wagon to feed a bison herd. Group tours cost $12 for adults, $6 for children. Open tours are conducted on Saturdays at 10 a.m. 573.438.4449 / sayersbrook. com. Walk About Acres in Columbia, Missouri is a great place to interact with animals.
The familyowned farm boasts peacocks, rabbits, turkeys, llamas and goats. You’ll also learn all about beekeeping as you watch live bees working in a real hive.
They also sell plants and produce in the farm’s store. Guided field trips cost $4 per person. Unguided trips are free. 573.474.8837 / walk-aboutacres. net.
Original photograph caption
Rob Myers, executive director at Jefferson Farm and Gardens, returns from a late summer planting. Dr. Myers has implemented a diverse crop rotation in the field crop demonstration area.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, Summer 2008.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2008_06.pdf, printed page(s) 4; PDF page(s) 4.
