Just in time for the fall harvest, a farm has popped up at Pasadena’s Kidspace Children’s Museum. Dubbed “Muddy Boot Farm,” the whimsical new outdoor exhibit and play space opened September 24, inviting children and parents to become a part of the farm-to-table movement.
Kids can grab a trowel and a wheelbarrow and avail themselves of any part of the farm process, from planting to harvesting.
The more entrepreneurial types can grab a spot behind the cash register and play in their own produce store. Or perhaps serve play salads at the Muddy Boot restaurant.
Kid farmers can also prepare, sort, weigh, and sell the harvest at the farm stand. Or perhaps explore a silly “beak-easy” chicken coop and unwind with the hens after work.
“Muddy Boot Farm is a wonderfully silly space that will engage children in serious play and learning,” said Lisa Clements, Kidspace CEO. “We’ve designed the exhibit for a variety of ages and play styles, from digging and harvesting to sorting, weighing, selling, exploring, and of course plenty of imaginative role play.”
As Clements explained, “It’s a rich story world that is the most magical and welcoming farm, farm stand, restaurant, that has such a sweetness and surprise and humor, and we see kids really spending a lot of time here, sometimes 30 to 40 minutes.”
Daily programming will dig deeper into plant growth cycles. Children can also explore the path food takes from the seed to the store, watching how seedlings sprout and grow, or dig into the world of decomposers, learning how organic food scraps turn into rich nutrients to help fruits and vegetables grow.
Along with the new permanent Muddy Boot Farm exhibit, Kidspace is gearing up for its annual Halloween celebration, which was set to begin Saturday, October 1.
While Clements was reluctant to spoil any Halloween surprises, she did reveal that Kidspace’s 2022 Halloween bash includes a new black cat mascot, “Space,” who will help lead the costumed kids through the Halloween fun. She also noted that Kidspace held a “very successful” costume parade last year, and that they hope to build on that momentum this year.
The Muddy Boot Farm exhibit at Kidspace Children’s Museum is included with daily admission. For more information on Kidspace events, visit www.kidspacemuseum.org.
