familyties Parents and their kids can spend quality time under the stars, at the museum or on the farm
BY BRAN DEE G RUEN ER | PHOTOG RAPHY B Y B ETH MAN N
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porting rain boots and clutching combs, a group of toddlers and their families braved the mud on a mild December day at Old Mill Farm. Toby, a miniature rescue pony wearing fake reindeer antlers for the occasion, munched on feed in a bucket while the kids brushed his long coat. They then climbed into the saddle one after another. While waiting for a turn, some tots wandered off with their parents to collect eggs laid out in the grass, to push ride-on tractors or to practice “mucking out” a stall full of straw and rubber duckies. The farm is one of many unique venues in Durham offering a chance for parents
and their little ones to both learn and spend time together in a variety of subject matters. For its part, the My Little Farmer program at Old Mill Farm is rain or shine and holds farm-education classes – which cover themes including riding, art and music – every day of the week. Children as old as 5 have a chance to meet with pigs, donkeys, a goat, chickens and a very talkative turkey. All the animals are rescues who have been socialized to spend time around young children who might have little experience with farm animals outside of storybooks. As an educational farm, Old Mill has none of the usual sharp tools lying around, but instead has plenty of sweet touches like a cheery sunflower mural, farm animal cutouts, and
ABOVE Jovan Murphy, 3, is no chicken when it comes to picking up a chicken at Old Mill Farm. RIGHT Katherine Wilson, 10 months, prefers her soft toy chicken and bunny slippers. 68
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durhammag.com
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FEBRUARY / MARCH 2020