UsedVancouver.com is all about keeping things local. We are a locally owned Canadian company that gives back to the community and sees value in the connections made with local families, people, and businesses. Over the summer, we’ll be connecting readers via our Facebook page with hidden treasures in the community.

The first place is just East of Fort Langley called Aldor Acres. Local families may have visited on school field trips, visiting the Pumpkin Patch or Christmas Tree farm in the Fall/Winter months. But if you follow the Aldor Acres fan page, this family farm opens it doors on sporadic days throughout the Spring and Summer. These random days are eagerly anticipated by my family because it’s one of the few farms that sees the value in educating children about farm life and animals by allowing them to touch, hold and visit with the animals. And they always keep a well stocked barn filled with baby or smaller animals so younger children feel comfortable getting to snuggle with a bunny, piglet, kitten or chick.

Have you, an adult, ever cuddled a piglet? Or fed a baby lamb a bottle of milk? These are the experiences you’ll find at this amazing family farm. Here is a snapshot from our latest visit:

Why is it important that children hold animals? It’s no surprise that visiting a farm where you’re only allowed to look at animals isn’t going to hold a child’s attention for very long. When they get to have the engagement with the animals, the education, connections and questions all seem to flow. In a time where our connection to food and where it comes from has never been more estranged, giving children a connection back into family farming is very important. Teaching your children where food comes from, that it’s  an art form to grow food with clean seeds and little pesticides is important. Having a child make that connection that farm to plate is how food should be sold, rather than buying it from a store shelf and children thinking that shelf is where food comes from.

I think parents are sometimes concerned when children figure out the chicken on the dinner table is the same one pecking around the farm’s barn but you are actually giving them a gift by encouraging them to ask questions and understand that farming principles for produce, meat and grains is incredible and helps the local food movement. Farmers have the power to nourish our health and bodies with the food they grow – can you think of anything more important?

Until the Pumpkin Patch opens in the Fall, you need to check out the Aldor Acres Facebook fan page so that when they do a surprise opening, you can have a magical summer visit. Oldest granddaughter to owners Albert and Dorthy is Farmer Melissa and she’s got quite the following on Facebook and in person. All the children that are regular visitors to the farm know her by name, are greeted with a hug and her passion for farming shines around the farm.

Aldor Acres is also available for private bookings, birthday parties, and summer camps. Check out their website for full details and make sure to pickup some fresh farm eggs and jam from the Farmacy Store. This family farm is a great day trip and has brought our family many happy memories sitting up in the corner of the barn atop bales of hay holding the well loved barn animals. Keep posted on farm openings and enjoy the magic.

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