Experience farm life, help with a growing garden and celebrate one of the community’s favorite four-hoofed legends this spring at Primrose Farm in St. Charles.
Just a short drive from the bustle of Randall Road, Primrose Farm offers visitors a chance to experience a taste of farm life, whether visiting the resident livestock and roaming chickens or joining the St. Charles Park District staff in daily chores and activities to maintain the working farm. This spring, Primrose Farm welcomed animal babies including five calves and three lambs.
With free admission daily to the working farm, visitors often drop in and get to know its resident animals and their personalities. For years one of the first animal visitors saw was Doc, the beloved Belgian draft horse who enjoyed grazing in the field. Doc was born into an Amish community and after several years joined living history farms, first in Glenview, then in Schaumburg before settling into his final home at Primrose Farm. Doc passed peacefully last summer at the ripe age of 31, well beyond the average 15-to-20-year life span of draft horses.
To honor Doc and celebrate his long life, the St. Charles Park District will host a festive entitled Doc’s Day, from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 20 at Primrose Farm. The event will feature crafts and games and even some treats. The event is free, with advance registration requested to help staff prepare for activity supplies. Registration is available at stcparks.org/events.
For those seeking a taste of farm life, the park district’s Family Wake Up and Work will host two sessions, Saturdays, April 13 and May 4. Register the entire family, ages 5+, to rise and shine, enjoy a hearty farm breakfast and help staff with morning chores including feeding animals, collecting eggs and milking cows. Each family member must register. See the seasonal program page on primrosefarm.org to sign up in advance.
An avid gardener, Kennedy has been working hard to improve the kitchen garden at Primrose Farm, but she’s looking for a few more volunteers to help her bring the kitchen garden back to bloom.
“I want it to be like a sensory garden where visitors can walk in and engage their senses through touch, smell, and sight.,” Kennedy said.
This spring she’s planted rhubarb and asparagus and is planning to add tomato, pepper and a few more plants when the calendar predicts the end of the potential overnight frosts. She’s seeking a few native plants, as well as a mix of perennial and annual plants. She’s planning to plant pumpkin seeds too.
For those who share a love of gardening or are looking for volunteer opportunities, contact Kennedy via email at pkennedy@stcparks.org to help with the garden this season. Primrose Farm is located at 5N762 Crane Road.