Hidden Villas Farm

I like to get away with Jack to nature when we can, and was interested to visit a farm so Jack can make the connection between the food we eat and where it's sourced. So I was excited to come across a tour for young kids at the Hidden Villa Farm which is tucked away in the winding hills near Palo Alto, about an hour's drive (which also means a built in nap on the way home in the car and is key since Jack does not nap anymore at home, only in the car.)

There were several other kids around Jack's age when we arrived. The tour started in the organic garden where we are able to see and touch a giant broccoli flower in the ground, taste growing arugula (did you know it gets more peppery the longer it remains growing?), touch silky soft Lamb's Ear (did you know it is inedible but has medicinal properties like using it as a bandage?) and discovered the grain amaranth (I never made the connection that the purpley plant I'd seen in the florist is actually where we harvest the grain). The kids got to see compost bins with their worms wiggling throughout. And crawl through tunnels in the garden and use the garden "iPhone" (a tube).

As we walked throughout the farm, we also dropped by the pigpen and were amused by several piglets as they squealed and ran in their pen, we chased chickens, patted sheep and cows, and found eggs to find in the henhouse.

Afterwards we had a snack and played in the small play area in the strong warm mid-day sun.

CLICK HERE for more pictures of our sunny day at Hidden Villas Farm.