City folks just don’t understand what it takes to run a farm. Where does our food come from anyway? We are all detached from our food sources. Very rarely do city kids get a chance to visit a farm where they can actually feed animals, shovel manure, pick produce, clean stalls, and breath clean fresh air. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of time to kick back and relax and/or run wild at Leaping Lamb’s “Farm Stay.”
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What’s to Love: The Pumpkin Patch Farm (a certified sustainable farm) on Sauvie Island is THE place to be during the fall season! For our family, it’s technically not autumn until our first trip out to see the best corn maze in the Portland area. As aerial views confirm, this Corn Maize is not just a bunch of meandering pathways through the corn rows but rather, a thing of artistic beauty! Plus, there are plenty of other activities to keep the whole family entertained.
Please visit
Kruger’s website for important information about the summer concert series. There is a chance that Kruger’s will not be able to obtain the necessary permits to hold the concerts. For those of you who attend, you know what a tragedy this would be! Public comment is vital at this time. Again, please see their website for more details.
What’s to Love: Kruger’s is by far my favorite farm in the Portland area, and in the summer it’s one of my favorite spots with the family. There are three things that make it hard to beat: 1) Don Kruger is such a friendly guy; 2) The berries are incredible and NOT sprayed, and the farm does not use chemical fertilizers or fungicides; and 3) In the summertime, this is THE best music venue in Portland.
Every Thursday starting in July the farm opens up the lawn to families and wild-dancing kids. The concerts have always been the highlight of the week for me and my family. It’s like being on vacation. Bring your Crazy Creek chair and/or blankets, a big picnic, and kick back and enjoy some great tunes! You’ll be set for the evening. Let the kids run wild in the berry patch or play frisbee in a big open field.
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What’s to Love: Rasmussen’s farm store has many varieties of pears and apples, many of which, you may never see in a local grocery store. The store also contains many specialty food items, plants and gifts. We picked-up some Huckleberry Jam, which according to my wife, was incredible. The staff was very kind and helpful.
The farm has a hay-bale maze for young children. My 4 year old enjoyed walking through it with a new friend, but quickly wanted to move on to bigger and better things. Rasmussen has a large pumpkin field where you can gather assorted pumpkins for jack-o-lanterns. My son enjoyed playing on the old tractor near the pumpkin patch. There are some amazing views of Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams.
However, the main attraction appears to be their corn maze and their “Pumpkin Funland,” which, as stated on their website (see below) is a “…unique world of characters crafted by the Rasmussen staff with creativity and humor from pumpkins, vegetables, squash, gourds and other items from the farm and greenhouse. It truly is something to see…quirky…I don’t think I could explain it in words. You have to see it to believe it. 
My son enjoyed checking it out, and my wife and I would describe it as “classic.”
