How to Plan a Visit to Parkside Farm and FAQs

Would you like to visit Parkside Farm? Here’s all you need to know and more! For questions, please call: 616-201-0220 or email: info@nicolezaagman.com

Class, field trip and farm tour appointments are offered March - November, weather permitting. Book appointments online or request winter date appointments by contacting Parkside Farm.

To stay overnight at the farm: book an overnight farm stay reservation year round directly with the farm and save.

Plan a visit to Parkside Farm:

Step 1: Book an appointment. Please do not show up to the farm without one expecting to tour the farm, cut flowers or see the animals. Parkside Farm is run and managed full time by Nicole Zaagman and an appointment is needed for entry into the farm. You can easily book your class, field trip or farm tour online or by calling: 616-201-0220.

Step 2: Come prepared. Please wear appropriate clothing per weather conditions and closed toed shoes. In the cooler spring and late fall months, Nicole recommends dressing in layers. In the summertime, short sleeves and long pants are ideal. Closed toed shoes can be tennis shoes or boots depending on preference. Parkside Farm offers a hot water hand washing station and hand sanitizer for sanitation and currently one single and one handicap accessible portable (porta john) restroom for tour and class participants.

Step 3: Enjoy your visit! Whether you come in spring, summer or fall, you’re sure to have a ball! One you arrive, your family or group will be directed where to park by the Farm Market. Once you unload, the fun begins! Depending on what type of appointment you have booked, Nicole will guide you through the next stage or step of your class, field trip or farm tour. Families and groups are encouraged to ask questions and take pictures meeting the animals. Nicole loves answering questions from all ages and encourages all who visit to connect and support their local farms.

Parkside Farm FAQs

• Do you have public hours? Currently, classes and tours at Parkside Farm are by appointment only - scheduled March 1 - November 15. Sometimes winter dates can be accommodated by request, weather permitting. Families and groups can book a class, field trip or farm tour Thursday - Saturday, 11am to 6pm and Sunday, 2pm to 6pm. If you have a group larger than 10 or you need an alternative week day or time, please call: 616-201-0220 to schedule. Parkside Farm does offer monthly family-friendly classes and open farm tour nights April - November, purchase tickets here.

  
  

• What are the Farm Market Hours?

  The Farm Market is open to the public daily, 10am - 9pm April to July and 11am - 8pm Wednesday - Sunday, August to November. You do not need an appointment to shop the market. You are welcome to call ahead to make a shopping appointment and have Nicole help with loading purchases or selecting farm products and placing custom floral arrangements for purchase.
  

• Can I come to your farm for free? Though Nicole would love to be able to offer free visits, that simply doesn’t pay the bills and time it takes to run the farm, costs of insurance and animal care expenses. Parkside Farm is Nicole’s full time occupation and the cost for appointments is how she provides for her family, the farm and animals. Nicole offers a free Fall Harvest Festival, open to the public in the fall. All farm experiences require an online RSVP, appointment booking or ticket purchase. Check out Parkside Farm’s upcoming event schedule. Looking for a free petting zoo? Check out Deep Roots in Alto, MI.

  
  

  

  
  

• Can I come see the animals? If you’d like to come see the animals and pygmy goats, please book an appointment for a class, field trip or farm tour. Our farm experiences are private which sets us a part from other agritourism operations. When you book an appointment your family or group are the only patrons on the farm at that time. If you’re looking for an educational, hands on private experience without hundreds of other patrons, we are the perfect farm for you.
  

• How do I book an appointment or private bouquet class? Families and groups can book a class, field trip or farm tour Thursday - Saturday, 11am to 6pm and Sunday, 2pm to 6pm. If you would like to schedule a custom farm experience by phone or have a group larger than 10 or need an alternative week day or time, please call: 616-201-0220.

• How can I book a mobile Jump for JOY Program with the pygmy goats?

  You can book a mobile JOY Party or JOY Visit for your children's birthday party, corporate event, community festival, senior center, school and more at this link. Click the BOOK NOW button and fill out the form with your specific event details.

• How do I book a photography session at the farm? Very similarly to scheduling a class, field trip or farm tour appointment, you can book a photography session at the farm online or by calling: 616-201-0220.

• How can I shop the Farm Market? To shop the Farm Market, you can shop in person without an appointment or you can shop online year round and select when you’d like to pick up your order. Parkside Farm offers custom floral arrangements by request. The Farm Market is open to the public daily, 10am - 9pm April to July and 11am - 8pm Wednesday - Sunday, August to November. You do not need an appointment to shop the market. All classes, field trips and farm tours include a curated shopping experience at the conclusion with Nicole prior to departure.
  

• Where can I find the farm’s open to the public event schedule? You can find the farm’s upcoming event schedule here.

• Is Parkside Farm handicap accessible? Nicole welcomes individuals of all abilities to the farm. Currently, the farm is not fully handicap accessible. Parkside Farm has one single and one handicap portable restroom (porta johns) available to tour and class participants. Those with mobility challenges are invited to experience a condensed version of the farm in a level outdoor space at the farm. Animals will be brought to participants to engage with, learn about and enjoy. If booking a standard class, field trip or farm tour, these experiences include walking and covering a variety of different terrains and elevations.

• Can we stay overnight at the farm?

  Yes! Parkside Farm offers a unique farm stay rental in a 100 year old farm house perfect for family vacations or mid term family and corporate housing. The home has 3 bedrooms upstairs with additional sleeping arrangements on the main floor to sleep up to 10 guests. Please note, the farmhouse is not handicap accessible and includes a wooden stair case to get upstairs. You can book an overnight farm stay reservation year round directly with the farm and save.