Lake Farmpark

Lake Farmpark is a working farm located in Lake County, Ohio. The farm is part of the Lake Metroparks park system and was opened in 1990. The farm is located on 235 rolling acres with fields, gardens and normal farm buildings. The purpose of the park is to help people understand that farm life is still going on and how it has developed over time. Lake Farmpark strives not only to help people understand the past of agriculture but also to draw attention to the present situation of the industry and see future applications. It was named one of the top 10 educational sites to learn about farming by USA Today and is open year round, except for holidays, from 9 to 5.

Features and attractions

*Science center with educational displays on hydroponics, organic gardening, honey cultivation and building greenhouses.
*Woodland Center has displays on forest conservation, making maple syrup and other outdoor activities.
*Other educational activities, including learning to milk a cow, to sew a quilt or plant a garden.
*Regular tourist events, including horse-drawn hayrides and sheepherding demonstrations.
*Seasonal and monthly displays of quilting, horse shows and tractor pulling, along with musical programs. The seasonal festivities include a haunted hayride and a festival of lights at Christmas. In the spring, many new farm babies can be seen romping with their mothers.
*Petting zoo where you can pet pigs, lambs, alpacas and many more farm animals.

Facilities

There is catering, but visitors are also encouraged to bring a picnic lunch and roam the grounds on foot or by cart.

ources

* [http://cleveland.about.com/od/lakeandashtabulacounties/p/lakefarmpark.htm Lake Farmpark] Sandy Mitchell, Your Guide to Cleveland, About.com
* [http://www.lakemetroparks.com/select-park/farmpark.shtml Lake Farmpark] Lake Metroparks, Select a Park
* [http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/10great/2007-03-22-historical-farms_N.htm?csp=34 10 great places to dig up old dirt on farming] Kathy Baruffi, USA Today, 2007-03-22
* [http://ourohio.org/index.php?page=back-to-the-land "back to the land"] , Susie Taylor, Our Ohio