By Holly Martin
Every October my family and I like to pack as many fall activities into our schedules as we can. With COVID-19 that has made this year a bit of a challenge. Some of our favorite hayrides and spooky festivities have been canceled this year, but there is still plenty of fun to be had. Here are some of the local farms at the Jersey Shore to spend some time with your family.
Reed’s Organic Farm
Reed’s Organic Farm in Egg Harbor Township is actively working to become a farm sanctuary not just for animals but also the community. Reed’s Organic Farm is open 7 days a week from 10am to 4pm. Bring your friends and family along with some lunch to sit on their property and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and take a self guided tour. The farm offers a “Pick What You Want, Pay What You Want” farm stand, an animal sanctuary, and plenty of space to sit and enjoy their growing scenery. Right now, everything on the farm is donation based. Your donations go to helping the farm animals, help plan the construction for a new barn, and also go towards the planning and creation for community based events and activities. Donations can be made on site to the non-profit A Meaningful Purpose and on their website. The farm is all outdoors; they ask that a mask be worn when social distancing cannot be practiced.
R and J Farms
Egg Harbor City’s R and J Farms is open Monday through Thursday 12pm to 6pm. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the farm will be open 10:30am to 8pm. Halloween they will have the amended hours of 10:30am till 4 pm. You can enjoy their elaborate corn maze, a ride to their pumpkin patch, and jumping pad. They also offer pony rides on the weekends. Hayrides close at 6pm, and ticket sales for the corn maze close 1 hour prior to closing. There are concessions available. R and J Farms ask that you wear your mask in queue lines and where social distancing cannot be practiced. There are hand sanitizing stations throughout the farm. There is also a farm stand to purchase flowers and gourds. As well as beautiful pallet wood signs for purchase and around the farm to take pictures with family and friends. Due to COVID restrictions, for weekend visits they ask that you make a reservation on R and J Farm’s eventbrite. A link to the eventbrite can be found on their Facebook and website. Tickets can also be purchased on site from their box office.
Sahl’s Father Son Farm
Located in Galloway, Sahl’s Father Son Farm has been running their corn maze and activities since 2009. Jeremey Sahl says he has increased the hand washing and sanitizing stations throughout the farm as a COVID precaution. To make sure everyone in the family can be included, Sahl has also planted the pumpkin patch closer to the main gate, so anyone who chooses not to ride on the hayride can still have fun in the pumpkin patch. Sahl’s Father Son Farm features a newly added digger yard, pony rides, hayrides, corn maze, kiddie coral park, pig races, farm animal viewings, toy duck races, disc toss, ball zone, pedal carts, and corn cannon. Every Saturday concessions are provided by the Chef Food Rollin Food Truck. The farm asks that you please wear your mask in the queue lines and where social distancing cannot be practiced. They are open Thursday and Fridays 4pm to 7pm as well as Saturdays 10am to 7pm. Check their website for more information about ticket information.
Winding Creek Alpaca Farm
Fall on the farm with the Halloween Alpacas. This event is being hosted on October 17-18th, 24-25th, and the 31st. Guests will have their own private photo shoot with the Alpacas which will be dressed in their own Halloween costumes! After the 15 min photo shoot, guests will
Go on a self guided 1/2 mile walk around the back of the farm on the walking trail. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com $10 person. For more information call 609-760-8566. More information is also available on their website.
Misty Meadow Sheep Dairy Farm
C.R.O.P.S. “Down on the Farm” every Sunday through November 8th, 12-4pm offering hayrides, haystacks, a lot of vendors, food trucks, sunflowers & pumpkins, plus goats and sheep. For more information visit CROPS Markets on their website, Facebook or call 609-442-3066
Creamy Acres
Located in Mullica Hill, Creamy Acres farm is having it’s Fall Fest Daytime Fun every Saturday from 10am to 4pm. They also have their shopping markets open Monday through Saturday 10am-5pm. Creamy Acres require a face covering when entering the property, when in queue lines, on their wagon rides, and when social distancing cannot be practiced. Their daytime activities include wagon rides to the pumpkin patch, a kiddie corn maze, a farm park, pedal karts, and their Barnyard Walk. Concessions at the farm are cash only. Their Night of Terror is open for the 2020 season. Pre-purchased tickets are required and available on their website
Holly Martin has been working in media since 2012. She has worked as a photographer and videographer throughout her high school and college career. Holly is a producer for WOND radio as well as fill in DJ for 103.7 WMGM Rocks. She loves being a concert photographer and working as event staff. She has worked as a reporter for Temple University’s Philadelphia Neighborhoods and submitted Editorials to the Philadelphia Inquirer. She has done multiple multimedia articles for Temple as well as Shore Local Newsmagazine. Her portfolio website is hollyamartin.com
