Green Meadows Farm

I came with my class for a school field (I teach first/​second grade) and it was not a good experience. This is a field trip factory, not a learning experience. In fact, it’s not even a real farm.
How it started: we had to wait on the bus for 15 minutes for our guide to come find us. They told us we couldn’t let the kids off the bus until our guide came, but after 10 minutes the kids couldn’t take it anymore so we went outside. Our guide was nice enough, but the «farm» was just bad. There were long lines for everything, and the animals were just sad. Kid after kid went on 4 or 5 different ponies. I didn’t see them have any breaks, and there were like 50 kids!
Next were the pigs, which were kept in tiny boxes for the kids to pet, and our guide disappeared – thank god I have nice kids who wouldn’t dare try to hurt any of the animals. But unsupervised, anyone could’ve done anything they wanted to these poor animals.
After that was a hay ride, which was a fine experience, and there was some stuff to see (vegetables growing, some more animals), but we also went through a parking lot?
Finally, we had lunch on tiny benches, no tables. It was uncomfortable and hard for the kids to eat. Then we walked to the pumpkin «patch,» which was, YOU GUESSED IT, not a patch at all, but a parking lot with hundreds of pumpkins on it!
It was obvious to the kids that we weren’t on a farm. They’re kids, so they had fun, but this is not an educational experience by any means, and the animals did not look well taken care of. I would avoid this place, and I’ll never go back with my class or with anyone else.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. My first time here I was in 1^st grade! It was my most memorable trip ever and of course as an adult I appreciate it so much more. Im lucky to know 2 little princesses (who are my husbands little sister and niece) that I love to take to all my favorites places when I was a kid.
Fall time is the best time to go in my opinion to visit this farm. there is always so much going on. However there is so much to do either way. There is lots of parking but make sure to arrive early so you get a good spot and wont have much of a wait line. Make sure you wear COMFORTABLE shoes as this is a pretty big place with so much for the kids to see.
The kids love to feed the animals, and the animals love to be fed! They offer hay rides and pony rides. You can even milk a cow! a little insider on the hay rides is pretty much a good idea to do towards the endish of your trip, because it gives you a chance to sit down and rest for bit. its a pretty short ride that goes around the entire farm. It can be a bit crowded on the hay rides during busy days, and be prepared to have some hay on your pants when I get up lol. relax its a farm!
now the best time to go is for the FALL FESTIVAL. this year it was on October 25^th. You can dress up in your Halloween costumes and get ready for an awesome event. They have a haunted house, face painting, huge bouncy houses, and lots of animals to feed and pet. They also have a pretty funny pig race show that both kids and parents enjoy and of course pumpkin picking.
Another great perks was all the food trucks that were here. there were lots of stands with home baked goods for sale and even a few Characters throughout the farm. I saw belle and cookie monster. however the girls were to focused on getting the BEST pumpkin! Lastly they have a big corn maze! we didn’t get to do that as we were all pretty tired after this fun filled day.
the staff are all friendly and everything flows well.

This is definitely the most unfriendly place to kids I have ever seen or been to. The staff is severely under trained with dealing with the public much less small children. I actually asked the worker Barbara why is she in the business of catering to kids if all they display is unbelievable lack of patience and total zero professionalism to the core of their business which are the children. Our guide Arlene didn’t possess a patient fiber in her entire body which was evident in the numerous times she displayed a lack of professionalism, severe impatience and total disregard to the fact that dealing with kids and the general public required all that she didn’t possess. The place I believe should be shut down as I have never witnessed such blatant animal cruelty. Hundreds of kids pulling on the cow’s udders, pony rides that were incessant with zero rest for the animals as bus loads of kids were loaded on to the animals one by one without a break. The chickens were cornered by large groups of kids touching, screaming and even stomping at them. I’ve always wondered why the large mother sow and piglets laid in one spot of the very small enclosure breathing heavily looking in my opinion sedated, as there was no reaction to all the screaming and stimulation. Summary– Do not patronize animal cruelty and certainly sub quality services. Look somewhere else.

When I heard that Green Meadows Farm was coming to Aviator in Brooklyn, I was so excited. I am a pre-​k Teacher and we go annually to visit the farm in Queens.
All I can say is this experience at Aviator was a big disappointment.
Upon arriving, we were told that there would be no tour guide. We were to walk around by ourselves. The enviornment was chaotic!
The treatment of the animals by the employees was cruel. As the three pre-​k classes were watching the pigs sleep peacefully, an employee came over and started to wake them, by yanking them up by their ears and smacking them on their bottoms! I was horrified! The children were asking «What is that man doing to the pigs??»
Next, we were off to milk the cows. All I can say is oh my, those poor animals! One cow was so underweight you could see its bones. The milk continued to leak from the cow’s udder onto it’s leg and onto the ground. There was no bucket to catch the milk. The other cow was so swollen and it’s udder was touching the floor! Both cows looked so sick.
Upon leaving, the young women at the gate, was checking to make sure that nobody took more than one pumpkin. She wanted each child to hold their own pumpkin. I found that to be ridiculous and rude! I teach 2 year olds and the pumpkin was too heavy for them to carry! I don’t see why it wasn’t okay for the teacher or parent to hold the pumpkin.
My school will definitely not be returning to Green Meadows Farm at Aviator. I also think that Green Meadows Farm should be reported to PETA! What a horrible experience!

I came as a chaperone on a school trip. Good sized Petting Zoo well organized, wide variety of animals available to touch. From Pigs, Non Pecking Birds, Bunnies, Milking Cows, Lamas etc…
Pony rides & Hay rides are a plus. They have multiple hand washing & sanitizing areas, located throughout the petting zoo. The only restrooms are Porta Potties! There is parking on site… Outdoor eating area bring your own lunch, but they do sell Italian Ices …
MAKE SURE TO CALL IN ADVANCE THAT THERE IS NO SCHOOL TRIPS, THE DAY U PLAN ON GOING!!!
Thank me later … P. S A lot of Dust Everywhere

Just left, currently on the school bus and can not wait to give this place a review. Today is my daughter’s first school trip and I’m one of the chaperones. Some of the staff here are nice, but there were one or two the was very rude and would not stop yelling at the kids. I understand they do not want the animals getting hurt, but kids will be kills, no need for the unreasonable screaming.
Either way, I did like the idea of actually letting the kids go inside the gate, letting them feed and pet the animals. Plenty of animals and free grass for feeding. The hay ride wasn’t as thrilling, just drove around an empty lot covered in pavement. Gotta sit on bleachers for lunch and make sure to bring your own. Expect huge crowds!

OMG this place needs to be shut down for animal cruelty. This feels like a 3^rd World petting zoo and its sickening to me. I think the part that really upset me was the little shed they have set up and inside it has some lizards and most upsetting is a big tortoise. The Tortoise is practically the same size as the box he is in and he can barely move around. The lizards were crawling all over the clamp lights and electrical cords and a kid could easily just grab one. There was no staff member inside keeping watch. The bunnies outside looked depressed and are just in a box. It seems that they could at least try to provide some sort of a natural looking habitat for these poor animals. I was actually sick to my stomach when we were here and I wanted to pull my 2 year old out as fast as possible. The worst part is that kids that are young enough to not know that this is animal cruelty would love being free to pick up, poke, pet, and play with these unhappy animals… this is turn gets ignorant parents to bring their children back and keep giving this place money to stay open! Ugghh… it just breaks my heart!

Too many schools joining as trips, wayyyy too crowded. Not even much time to enjoy the animals. At least we got on a pony ride, got to milk the cows and feed some farm animals. Did i mention, they have water stations spreaded out for washing hands which thought it is handy.

Not what it used to be. We went on a Saturday and it was dead. Everyone we did see was going to the Queens Farm next door. We were wondering why, and we soon realized.
First of all, when we walked in, this dumb woman was supposed to lead us to where we had to pay for admission, which was all the way on the other side of the farm. I kept trying to ask her about the farm and if the kids could interact with the animals, and she kept walking 30 feet ahead of us and talked with her head facing away so I couldn’t even hear her. She didn’t even have the courtesy to slow down and answer my questions. We had to walk all the way to the payment area before my questions were answered by someone else. I was disappointed to learn that the pens were closed off, so the kids couldn’t go in and pet the animals. The most they could do was feed them through the fence.
The chicks and ducklings were crammed into a cage, which was sad enough. And the kids couldn’t interact with them either. So we decided we’d go to the Queens Farm instead. But first the kids wanted to do a pony ride, so we figured we’d do that and then cross into the Queens Farm afterwards. After the pony ride, we were walking toward the fence that divides Queens Farm from this lame farm, debating whether or not to stay because as lame as it was, the kids wanted to stay. Then this rude girl with an attitude problem said, «You can’t just walk around without paying. You have to pay.» I ignored her and spoke to another lady, who was a lot nicer. Ultimately, it started to rain and we left this sorry excuse for a farm without wasting any more money.

My daughters love this place. It’s worth the price of admission. Each one includes a pony ride so my daughters actually get two each. The shows are really good and there is a lot of animal interaction. The hay ride leaves a little to be desired. We got to see some sheep, broken pumpkins, the backs of peoples houses, a dumpster and my car. Overall it was a good experience.

This place breaks my heart. Was here for child’s birthday party yesterday, my stomach was in knots throughout the whole trip.
Our lunch was set up near an area that houses turkeys, chickens and donkeys. I noticed that the turkeys were pecking at their water supply, and it was bone dry — you could see dry dust in the reservoir. There appeared to be water in the cooler that was too supply the water, but the apparatus was just broken, so the animals weren’t getting any water. I looked at the chicken’s water supply, and the same thing — no water. I took a few bottles of poland spring and filled the dishes myself. No exaggeration, every turkey in the penn came running for water. It was the saddest thing I have ever seen. I filled the chickens’ water as well, and then a worker came by. I pointed out the water canisters and said «this is how the animals are supposed to get their fresh water right?» She said «Yes». I told her that it was broken, I have filled them myself. She smiled at me. I repeated, they are broken. She looked away. I again stated that there were broken, and said «You do know that animals need water — to live?». She walked away to talk to another group of people.
So she came over to stop me from giving the animals water, but had no concern over the fact that the animals, had no water. Disgusting.
The other animals all had water, but it’s a sad life. They are all penned up, living a life full of fear where small children chase them and throw things daily.
Our «guide» had no idea how to properly restrain a rabbit. For those of you who don’t know — rabbits have very sensitive spines. It’s very common for a rabbit who is being restrained to literally break his back while trying to break free. When you pick up a rabbit you need to make sure you hold them in a way that you are supporting their back. Their legs should never be flopping around, free to kick. They could seriously injure themselves this way. Well, no one ever told our guide this. Its a wonder the animals lived through the experience unscathed.
They have a solitary cow chained up so that kids could milk her. She had a very noticeable cut on one of her legs, and goop all in her eyes. Cows are social animals. They like to be with other cows. It’s cruel to keep a cow chained to a post all day by herself while hundreds of kids pull on her utters. Not to mention, in order for that cow to have any milk in the first place, she must have had a calf not too long ago. So, they impregnate her, and as soon as she gives birth, they rip her baby from her so that kids can milk her. How horrible is that?
Please don’t patronize this place. I urge you all to voice your concern for these animals’ well being.

This is not a «farm» — this a good ol’ exploitation of animals who are fenced or chained and sit in their own shit all day — except when massive amounts of small children are poking or kicking or using sticks as swords on them. It is sad. I can’t believe in this day and age nobody has organized a movement to shut it down by now. Probably because it’s in middle of nowhere Queens where nobody cares enough.
Seriously — like at least the chickens on the Tyson «farm» or the pigs at the Smithfield «farm» are put out of their misery to serve a greater purpose — these animals here just suffer needlessly.
Also the employees here all seem to be disgruntled old people who I guess we’re retired at some point but still needed an income so they came back for more work. Not sure if they are so disgruntled because the place is awful or if their past lives have just made them so bitter about everything. But still — unpleasant staff who no nothing really about taking care of animals.
I bet there are plenty real farms with real farmers out there in the tri-​state area. Please please please stop endorsing this crap hole of a place. :/

Duplicated/​deprecated into Queens County Farm:
?

this place is a horror. all you ever see are baby rabbits, all season long, spring, summer and fall. what do they do with the adults? the babies are small enough for the screaming kids to poke and grab and once the rabbits are old enough to fight back, they get shipped off to parts unknown and more babies are brought in. they must rotate them every month or so. then they combine chickens with rabbits with turtles in the same space. great sanitation practices going on there. is this really necessary? there is no excuse for people who enrich themselves through the misery and suffering of animals.
the irs should look into this place as well. you get a ticket stub in the parking lot for cash. no receipt, no nothing. oh, sure, it is all reported to the irs, right? a seasonal, cash only ticket stub documented business… of course it’s totally honest.

Went with my 2 yr old figuring it would be a nice daddy/​daughter day. Showed up to see there were 15 school buses in the parking lot and was told it was school field trip day and closed to general public. They can keep there terrible petting zoo, there are better places to go that look a lot healthier and cleaner than this place.

On a school trip with my daughter. We love green meadows, we go at least twice a year!

Not bad to pass through once in a blue moon, but the place get’s old very fast. Not much to see, probably better for families with young kids.

This was the worst school trip. no make that one of the worst experiences of my life! Like the last reviewer I saw animals chained, chased, and confined to tiny poop pit pens. One of my students told me the cow was crying and asked me to help her. The poor cow was chained to a trough while children squeezed her for milk. I asked the «farmer» how long the cow would have to stay like this and she shrugged and said, «I dunno.». The cow did have tears in her eyes and so did I.

I took my students here for a field trip about 5 years ago. I still have not gotten over the experience. First off, the petting zoo consists of cramming scared kids into the pen while they run and scare the poor animals. The cow that the kids got to milk was CHAINED TO A TREE! Then, there was the pony ride, which consisted of a pony walking around in circles all day. Then there were the poor bunnies, on a table, who had to be subjected to school kids trying to ‚“pet” them. I seriously reported them to the ASPCA. It was terrible.
The, «pumpkin patch» consisted of a pile of pumpkins in a parking lot. But, let’s not forget the, «friendly farmer» who just yelled at my kids to keep walking after each exhibit.
Let’s let my student sum up the experience. Here is what he wrote about our trip when we returned to school, «I went to the farm. I saw a cow chained to a fence. I got a pumpkin…»
Enough said!
I can’t even believe this place is still open and allowed to care for animals.