Education at Good Pickin' Farm:
- Apple Shed Academy is an arts-integrated, multi-age micro-school with indoor and outdoor classrooms, meeting all state academic requirements for children in grades kindergarten through sixth grade. Our cross-disciplinary, project-based approach encourages children to learn from one another as well as from their teachers. Alongside academics, daily activities include animal care, art, music, nature and goat hikes, yoga, and more. This is the perfect learning environment for the curious, active child who wants more than a traditional school can offer. Apple Shed Academy runs Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., following the Westford Public Schools calendar.
- After School Adventures & Enrichment offers a blend of fun, learning, and connection after the school day ends. Children have time for homework, animal snuggles, and enrichment opportunities such as tutoring, dance classes, horseback riding, and more. Families can sign up for 1–5 days per week. Transportation is provided from Westford Public Schools via our beloved cow bus, Mootilda. Program runs Monday–Friday until 6:00 p.m.
- Farm to Forest is our all-outdoors homeschool drop-off program for ages 5–13, available Monday through Friday. Mornings are spent on the farm completing daily animal chores, caring for the animals, and enjoying plenty of cuddle time. Afternoons are devoted to forest exploration, nature study, and hands-on projects—building wilderness skills, studying local ecology, and engaging in other experiential adventures. Our curriculum blends single-day activities with multi-week projects, giving children the chance to explore widely and also dive deeply into their interests. On Tuesdays, older participants (ages 11–15) can join our Trailblazers group for more advanced projects and leadership opportunities.
- Acres of Fun (age 2.9 - 5) is an EEC licensed nature-based preschool program, for ages 2.9 - 5 years. Choose between morning or full day programs for 2, 3, 4 or 5 days per week. At Acres of Fun we believe that children are born naturalists with an innate curiosity and eagerness to learn about themselves and the world around them. They explore the world with all of their senses, experiment in the environment, and communicate their discoveries to the people who love and care for them. Children learn best when they are interested and engaged, while accompanied by warm, stable and caring educators and caretakers. We believe children have the right to an education that fosters respect for nature and each other.
Child & Caregiver Programs:
- Mornings on the Farm is a child & caregiver class for age 18 months to 5 years that runs Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays at 10 am. Drop in for $15 per class or sign up for the whole session for $12 per class! Each day will include visits with our barnyard animals! Children plus a caregiver join a GPF Farmer each morning for activities that can include crafts, stories and of course animal snuggles!
- Ponies, Parents & Me is a child & caregiver class that runs on Fridays at 10 am. Join Farmer Jen and one of our ponies, for a morning all about ponies! We’ll read a story and do a pony related activity or craft while we groom, pet and get to know the pony!
Good Pickin' Farm
5 Gould Rd
Westford MA 01886
425-306-7203
Website: https://www.goodpickinfarm.com/
Email: hello@goodpickinfarm.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodpickinfarm
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodpickinfarm
Please mention Macaroni Kid!
Business Review
“As the mom of a toddler we go to A LOT of farms, and many of them are great, but this one is by far the best. They have so many animals, and a variety of simple but really cool preschool activities (goat hikes, holding baby chicks and goats, petting therapy alpacas, planting basil in the green house, etc.). The staff are so kid friendly. This farm is easy to get to, in a beautiful location.” - review from Facebook
“We had my son's birthday party at Good Pickin' Farm, and it was wonderful. We had a hay ride, which even the kid who was initially scared at the idea came to enjoy, and then the kids got to pet and feed the chickens and ducks and look for eggs, pet and hold bunnies, and visit with goats and sheep and alpacas and a pony. We brought cupcakes and snacks and had them under a picnic shelter, and the kids also played in a great sand pit.
Everyone was super nice, the setting was beautiful, the kids loved the animals. It was, as one of the parents said, a "refreshingly normal" birthday party after a year of not really being able to do things like that. Our son was with his pod, so we weren't so concerned about distancing, but it is all outdoors and could be done safely even in a more mixed group.” — Birthday Party Review on Google
“[Partner] and I wanted to express our gratitude for the wonderful programming you provide all year, particularly the Summer Camp at Good Pickin Farm. We can't thank you enough for the welcoming, inclusive environment and appropriate staff to camp ratios that enable [child] and [child] to thrive.
We love the adventures they take in nature (and how well they seem to do when they fall and get scrapes), the non-competitive atmosphere, the flexibility and freedom for them to explore the grounds, and the innate therapeutic benefits (among others) of visiting and caretaking of the animals.
Historically, we've struggled to find programs that truly fit them and their needs, given their disability. Good Pickin Farm has been the exception--your camp enriches their experience of the world while providing holistic opportunities for them to see themselves as leaders. I never imagined the latter would be possible for them in a fully inclusive setting. This week, [child] proudly declared he was nicknamed the duck catching king, and helps younger kids catch ducks while [child] was excited to share her growing knowledge of native plants and animal husbandry. She was also excited to share the joy she felt when offering a preschooler in the program a chance to hold the bunny she had.
Thank you for finding the right mix of structure and supervision AND letting kids explore freely while experiencing farm life front and center.” — Summer Farm Camp Review via email
