Harvest Time!

Its hard to avoid Underwood Family Farms in October. And, who'd even want to? Its wonderful fun all-year-round, but in October they really go all out. Alex and Serene snacked at the food tents, enjoyed a wagon ride, danced to some live music, ran through a pumpkin patch, got lost in a corn maze, plus all the usual stuff like pony rides, goat feeding, mining for minerals, train rides, bouncers and more. It's an ideal stop for any city kid to learn about farming in a fun, interactive way that allows them to play and pick their own food.

Farming in the City

Alex learned to farm at Underwood Family Farms in Simi Valley, California. His second trip to the farm in the last few years, this time he took the wheel of a combine, rode the range on a pony and putzed around on Dolly the cow. Next time...we're going to have to pick some corn!

City Kid digs the Farm!

Just about 45 minutes north of downtown Los Angeles, a city kid can get a taste of the great outdoors in Simi Valley at the Underwood Family Farms. Alex rode his first pony, went mining for minerals, fed the goats carrots and took a train ride. There are two locations, the Somis Farm and the Moorpark Farm. Both boast pigs, llamas, ponies, goats and other farm animals, as well as opportunities to pick your own produce and buy organic at their fresh market. If you really want the full experience, you can sit on a tractor or bounce through the fields on a the back of an open wagon.

Mostly, Alex loved to dig in the giant sand box, run through the fields and climb the great pile of straw -- just like a real farm kid. As a kid who grew up on a farm myself, it's odd to pay the entrance fee and buy tickets for the giant air jumper just to get the farm experience. But, for small children in Los Angeles, its a great chance to escape the freeway, masses of people and play in the dirt!