Community Magazine May 2003

Green Meadows Farm 73 - 50 Little Neck Parkway Floral Park, NY 11002 - 0245 718-470-0224 www.visitgreenmeadowsfarm.com Travel Time from Flatbush: 45 minutes by car Price of Admission: $7.50 per person. Children under 2, free. Schedule: Open for families only a limited number of Sundays in late Spring and early Fall. Spring 2003, open May 18, 25, June 1, 8. Open for groups (schools) weekdays from May 13 to June 11. Call ahead for the schedule or to arrange for a group trip. Venue: Completely weather dependent. Ample parking on-site. Do you and your kids crave a little hands-on farm experience? When was the last time you enjoyed a real hayride? Wouldn’t you just love to cuddle a week-old duckling? (light as a feather! Pun intended.) If you’re anything like me, you don’t really want to deal with barns, or mud, or smelly animals, but patting cute bun- nies and holding 1-week old chicks, well, that sounds like something we could all enjoy. If you can find yourself a free Sunday in late May or early June, defi- nitely consider a visit to Green Meadows Farm, offer- ing the best and cutest of the farm experience for us (squeamish) Brooklynites. Close enough for an easy day trip, Green Meadows is unusual enough to be memorable and enjoyable for young and old. The 2-hour all-inclusive guided tour is interesting and educational, and will introduce you to each of the dif- ferent farm animals, many of which are specifically here for your (very gentle) handling pleasure. The fluffy-ball ducklings are my personal favorite. I once saw the look of delight on the face of a disabled young girl as she held a baby duckling. I was brought to tears of joy for her and her family. The tractor- drawn hayride is for everyone, except the very oldest and very youngest. The included pony ride is a great photo op. Some kids (and grownups) are even brave enough to milk the cow. My husband tried it and raved about his closeness to farm reality for weeks. If you were organized enough to pack lunch, there is an area with picnic tables and ample seating. There is a place to wash your hands (with soap after touching the animals), and for netilat yadayim before eating bread. If you are running late, or don’t have dinner waiting at home, do as we often do, and drive 15 min- utes down Union Turnpike to Main Street and turn right into Kew Garden Hills, where the men can catch Mincha (10-15 minutes before sheki’a) at one of the many (Ashkenazic) shuls (just ask any of the many yarmulkes walking the street), while the ladies order an early dinner at one of the many Halav Yisrael restaurants on Main Street. So if you have an avail- able Sunday in June (without a wedding or gradua- tion), herd the kids over to Green Meadows for a memorable back-to-nature experience. Out About B Y : B A T Y A A N T E B Y