The Little Farm in Berkeley

By: Ben Clemens - Practicalist

We’ve been taking our daughter to see the animals at the Little Farm and to Jewel lake since she was 6 months old, and there is always something new for us to visit. The animals grow, breed, and change, the lake has new wildlife, or the light is somehow different that day. It’s worth a half-day trip coming from around the Bay area, or even just a stop if you are passing through Berkeley.

The Little Farm is a tiny but genuine working farm sited within Tilden Regional Park, in the hills above Berkeley. The Little Farm is not a petting zoo, but rather a real working farm where kids can witness farm life. It's still low-key and comfortable, and kids can feed the cows, goats, and sometimes sheep. Chickens, ducks, rabbits, and pigs are bred and raised on the farm, and occasionally short-horn cows are milked. The last time we visited, the big mama pig had just birthed seven small piglets. Older volunteer kids are around helping the full-time farmers, and my daughter watched them caring for the rabbits and other animals with envy and respect. My baby girl and the other kids I see there quickly get over initial fears of the animals, crinkle their noses at the smells, and generally have a great time.

Right nearby the Little Farm is the path to Jewel Lake, a one-quarter mile, easy 15-minute walk. Part of the path has an alternate route on a wooden walkway over marshy Wildcat Creek and through dense brush where you'll likely some see opossum, deer tracks, and probably a few deer themselves. Jewel Lake itself is more of a pond, but is very pretty and teeming with fish, bugs, frogs, turtles, and many kinds of birds.

Kid Logistics:
There are two flush toilets that are reasonably clean at the Little Farm, but no changing facilities for infants. The Tilden Environmental Education Center nearby has some, as well as some modest exhibits about Tilden Park. Water fountains are available and there's a soda machine in the Education Center, but there are no snacks sold anywhere nearby so bring some food. The crowds are usually not too large, but in my experience it's busy around noon, just before nap time. There's some parking, but it fills up very early on weekends. Near the lot is a playground with climbing rocks and a slide and picnic tables with grills. The path from the parking lot to the farm is paved, but strollers won't work so well on the steep dirt paths near the goats and sheep. Bring hats or sunscreen, shoes not sandals, etc.

The path to Jewel lake is partly paved and partly on a wide dirt road or wooden path that should be fine for strollers. Along the path there's unfortunately some poison oak. Make sure kids have covered their legs, ankles, ankles and feet in case they brush up against it, don't let them get off the paths, and know what the plant looks like so you can avoid it. Up the hill from the lake are flush toilets (no changing tables).


Photo credit: Ben Clemens