Historic Eidem Farm is a working Victorian-era homestead on ten acres in Brooklyn Park. The farm, property and home have all been restored to the period 1890-1910. Families can visit the farmhouse, as well as the barnyard and its animals for educational and hands-on experiences of life on the farm between 1905-1920. Volunteers keep the farm a lively place, baking in the kitchen, working in the garden, tending to the laundry and caring for the livestock.Â
Pictures of Eidem Farm – a photo tour
Visiting Eidem Farm with kids
Yes, kids can get hands-on in the barn, the farmhouse and in the field, too. One thing we particularly enjoy about Eidem Farm over some of the other historical homesteads in the area, is their motto: At Eidem Homestead, “don’t touch” becomes, “look, listen, taste, smell and touch.” For instance, when we paid a visit, I sat down and played the piano. We climbed up into the children’s bedrooms and played with old-fashioned toys and we helped with various ‘chores’ around the farm. Polling the kids, their favorites included feeding the farm animals, polishing the silver in the house, picking peas in the garden and pumping water for the potato plants. (Excuse me, but how come there’s not nearly as much enthusiasm for tackling chores at home?)
For unstructured, free play outside there is a small nature playground and secret garden hidden behind the house. Sweet little riding tractors, too. There are picnic tables in the yard for visitors who want to bring a lunch. Since Eidem Farm is in Brooklyn Park, grocery stores are easy to find on the way. Pack a picnic and spend an afternoon exploring the quaint farmstead.
Available activities will likely vary depending on the season you choose to visit. Most special events at Eidem Farm are specifically geared toward families with children.
Family-friendly programs at Eidem Farm
Programs at the farm are designed with the hope of attracting families year-round. Nearly all are free of charge (see more about that below). No matter the season you’ll want to dress for outdoors as many of the activities are outside around the farm. Some examples of Eidem Farm programs we’ve experienced or featured on our Family Fun Calendar include:
Summer programs:
- Open Gate Hours: Drop into the farm to help with chores, walk on the trails and visit the animals. These days run from mid-May to early October and are admission-free.
- Stories from the Porch: Free storytime ongoing Tuesdays.
- Movie on the Barn: Typically one date in August, also free.
Spring & fall programs:
- Spring on the Farm: Held in May, a free celebration of the new season with activities like garden planting, cooking demos, yard games and greeting some sweet Minnesota Farm Babies.
- Fall Harvest: A full autumn harvest festival in October done the old-fashioned way. A family admission fee is charged.
Winter programs:
- Snow Days on the Farm: Free winter activities like sleds and snowshoes are out for exploring, then warm up at a campfire.Â
- Christmas at Eidem Farm: Old-time holiday traditions – we even ran into St Nick!
For more information or to register for one of Eidem Farm’s programs, please visit the city of Brooklyn Park’s Eidem Farm page.
Farm improvements & updates
During the fall of 2023, Brooklyn Park completed improvements that helped to make the farm more accessible and facilitate more educational experiences for farm visitors. Family-friendly improvements included:
- A new kiosk at the entrance
- Accessible pathwaysÂ
- Interpretive signage
- Small picnic area
Useful links:
- Information on Historic Eidem Farm’s upcoming programs can be found here.
- Register online for Brooklyn Park programs & events here
Park information:
4345 101st Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443