Every time we step on the grounds of Allaire Community Farm in Wall Township, New Jersey, a calm feeling comes over us, and we know we are somewhere special. The adorable, well-kept red barns, super-friendly animals, and interactive, kid-friendly environment make us feel at home. But the farm is more than a place to visit—Allaire Community Farm has meaning and purpose, with a unique blend of equine therapy, animal therapy, and vocational training. The non-profit farm is open to visitors from April through November, and during the holiday season, there is a joyous Old Fashioned Christmas with indoor and outdoor petting zoos, Santa, model trains, wagon rides, and lots of twinkling lights. Read on for all you need to know about Allaire Community Farm, and for more animal fun, check out our guide to petting zoos in NJ. (featured photo credit: NJ MOM)
Allaire Community Farm: “We Nurture Through Nature”
Explore the farm
When the weather is warm, the barn turns into a farmers’ market with all sorts of goodies, from fresh honey to Allaire Community Farm shirts. There’s a small fee to get in, and you can buy special food to feed most of the animals on the farm. My kids were super excited about the tractors and outdoor play equipment that they could climb on and swing around. They were also pumped to find a big mechanical cow they could actually “milk,” which gave a pretty good idea of what real milking is like. Then we checked out the first barn, which was packed with goats, chickens, ducks, and a bunch of other animals. The ducks were super lively, and it was a blast watching the goats as they climbed around and said hi. After that, we went to the other barn with stalls of adorable ponies, then wandered outside to visit a cow, a pig, and a bunch of different animals. They were playful and friendly, happily munching on the feed we bought back in the barn.
Jack and Jill were our family’s favorite animals to feed on the farm, and we were excited to learn that we could also sponsor them. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
Sponsor an animal
When you interact with the animals, it doesn’t take long before you start developing a bond with several of them. My kids quickly attached to Jack and Jill; they were so gentle and were a joy to spend time with during our visit. We were happy to learn that we could directly support an animal of our choice on the website, like Mable the Pig, Dudley the Pygmy Goat, or Jack & Jill the Sheep. All funds raised through the sponsorship program support the animals’ care, including food and medical costs. There is a monthly subscription for $25 and an annual subscription for $200.
Get on the saddle
When my kids saw the horses, the assistants told us about the equine care and horseback riding programs. Through the equine programs, your kiddo can gain independence and problem-solving skills by learning how to ride a horse, identify the parts of a horse, and groom and care for a horse. Kids start as young as 3, and are placed in a class for their skill level. There are also certified horseback riding classes for special needs populations, a Veterans Carriage Riding Program, and they partner with Special Olympics of New Jersey as a certified Special Olympics Equestrian Training Site.
The goats were so entertaining—how can you resist volunteering here? Photo Credit: NJ MOM
How Allaire Community Farm gives back to all
The farm, founded by JoAnn and Sean Burney, was a dream of Sean’s that turned into so much more than he ever imagined. Then, when the Burneys started to see visitors with special needs respond positively to the farm environment, the founders knew they were onto something. Now, the farm aims to utilize its rescue animals and working farm environment to “nurture through nature” while focusing on teens facing mental health issues, veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, special needs adults and children, and families battling cancer.
You can’t help but feel the positivity and love at Allaire Community Farm—the environment supports everyone from the animals to the visitors to the volunteers and more. Their unique Harvesting Occupational and Personal Excellence (HOPE) program aims to provide a meaningful, individualized, and goal-driven approach to support individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The participants are interns who complete meaningful work, such as animal care jobs and gardening, to help run the farm and learn basic job skills. While walking through the farm, it was inspiring to see how hard the founders, JoAnn and Sean Burney, worked to keep the animals happy and healthy and how they strived to help others in need of support.
Celebrate the holidays at Allaire Community Farm
Even though we go a lot in the spring and summer, we always make a point to visit Allaire Community Farm during the holiday season. It’s always a highlight when we hop on the Yuletide Wagon Ride through the fields with not one but two tunnels of lights, all in the glow of the tractor in front of us. Visiting Santa in the museum is always another favorite part of our visit—my kids are excited to share their lists with him in his cozy living room. But our favorite is the walking tour with an illuminated path to the indoor and outdoor petting zoo, where you can feed the animals. On the tour, the kids follow the pathways, touch trees, and get close-ups of the twinkling light displays with thousands of lights. The entire farm is an enchanting Christmas Village, creating a truly magical holiday atmosphere. Make sure you visit the market in the 100-year-old barn to pick up old-fashioned hot chocolate, hot cider, baked goods, hot dogs, soda, and holiday gifts. If you want to take a break, there are Christmas movies in the pavilion, and stop by the Model Train House to watch the trains whiz by in a charming landscape.
What to know before you go
Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children over 1 year old. Want a fun birthday party idea? Birthday parties are big at Allaire—kids can visit the petting zoo, feed the animals, gather eggs in the hen house, and even milk a mechanical cow. The two-hour party includes a wagon ride around the 25-acre property. There are also fun add-ons like the train ride or party favors. Or if you visit during the holidays, the Old-Fashioned Christmas event typically runs from late November to late December.
To learn more about Allaire Community Farm, visit their website and follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Allaire Community Farm
1923 Bailey’s Corner Road
Wall Township, NJ 07719
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