There are approximately 14 farms in London. I've been to a few and I think they are great. People can go and visit the farms and get the 'country' experience. The farm that I go to the most is
Stepney City Farm.
The farms are working farms and mostly run by volunteers. Stepney grows their own vegetables which are used and sold in their cafe. Check out the green house... it is made from water bottles.
The farm(s) also provide allotments where people can come and grow their own veg.
The farms also have animals. Some have different animals than others. Schools will come to farms for field trips. Most city kids have never seen these animals.
Here is mama pig taking a needed break from her 5 piglets... spring is here! :)
Chickens and roosters just run about... The farm sells chicken, goose, and duck eggs. This is a bantam rooster. Bantam chicken eggs are about half the size of a regular chicken egg and they don't lay everyday either. I hear duck eggs are very rich...
Daddy goat... donkeys in the field behind him.
Mama goat and one of her babies. There are 4 baby goats this year.
Mama sheep and her lambs.... I think I counted 5 lambs in all....
CUTE!
I found out about Stepney Farm when I was looking at volunteering for something. Stepney Farm has a project called Furry Tales. We take some of the smaller more cuddly animals to senior homes as a therapy project. It is amazing to see the seniors light up when we bring the animals out.
Butterscotch had 5 bunnies this spring. We took her and all her bunnies one week. This week we took Ginger (from her last litter) and 2 babies... A mama and 5 babies get heavy to carry after a bit. Butterscotch's babies will be handled as much as possible to prepare them to be therapy bunnies. (The brown bunny there only has 1 ear)
We also take Guinea Pigs.... They make good therapy animals.
And believe it or not, we also take a chicken. Mable had a broken leg when she was born and was handled a lot. She has been a good therapy pet. The east side of London was a very poor part of the city and it was not uncommon for people to have their own chickens in their gardens. Mable seems to trigger a memory for some of the seniors. Some seniors are a little intimidated by her at first but once they stroke (pet) her, they fall in love. Mable will perch on our arm and we can walk her around... she is very calm and as soft as silk.
Don't you just LOVE this face!! I wish I could take her home with me... but I don't think she would last long in a 500 sq ft flat :(
Here is mama telling her baby to get away from the crazy human!!
And what would a city farm be without pigeons?!?
Stepney City Farm also provides a metal working shop, a wood working shop, and a ceramics class. They also have a farmers market once a week.
I hope you have enjoyed!!
