The Queens County Farm Museum is a 47-acre farm in the neighborhoods of Floral Park and Glen Oaks in Queens, New York City. The farm occupies the city's largest remaining tract of undisturbed farmland and is still a working farm after being founded in 1697. The farm is a 37-minute drive from mid-town Manhattan and is a 1 1/2-hour commute from The Bronx. According to Wikipedia, "The farm was privately owned by a Dutch family, the Adriances, from 1697 to 1808. Their three-room farmhouse, built in 1772, has been restored and still stands. After 1808, a series of families owned the farm, as it evolved from a colonial homestead to a modern "truck farming" or market gardening business. Under its last private farmer, Daniel Stattel, it became, by 1900, "the second largest [farm] in size in Queens County and the highest in dollar value...assessed at 32,000 dollars." In 1926, the Stattels sold the farm to real estate investor Pauline Reisman, who, in turn, later that year sold it to Creedmoor State Hospital, which used it for occupational therapy, to stock its kitchen, and to grow ornamental plants for the rest of the hospital campus. In 1975, state legislation authored by Frank Padavan transferred ownership of the farm from the hospital to NYC Parks for the purpose of starting a museum."
The farm houses two cows, a few alpacas, chickens, and adorable goats that will eat right from, your hands, but be careful, only feed the animals food given to you by the farm, or you can make the animals very sick.
Queens County Farm hosts a vegetable stand on their farm which sells all the food grown on the property. Fields and fields of vegetables can be seen growing on the land during crop rotations.
All of the animals are well taken care of, and to be frank, the farm didn't smell like a farm. The animals are rotated throughout the farm space to graze on grass patches. Alpacas are sheered, and their fleece is skirted and cleaned before being sent to the spinning mill. The yarn is then sold in the Farm Store.
The chickens are plentiful and live in a large coop on the land. The farmers give tours of the land and its animals during open hours, 7 days a week between 10 am and 5 pm. For $6.00 you can buy a ticket for the hey ride which will give you a quick tour of the farm grounds.
Queens County Farm Museum hosts events all year long and as I was told by one of the farmers their events are massive and a lot of fun. Before you leave this farm stock up on some local honey that comes from their bee hives and don't forget the beeswax candles produced by them as well. To visit this farm just go to 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy, Queens, NY 11004. Overall, this is a great day trip for the family or yourself if you have a little time off from work.
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