The Lands at Hillside Farms is a nonprofit, 412-acre, educational dairy farm in Dallas. It is a farm, living classroom, greenhouse and store that sells their famous ice cream, grass-based beef, GMO-free chicken, pastured pork and eggs, organically grown vegetables and over 100 products from local farms. Their Mercantile sells hand-milled soaps and cosmetics and locally made accessories. The Potting Shed is a treasure trove of furniture and unique accents.

They’re more than just shopping, petting animals and eating ice cream, however. Each year, Hillside welcomes thousands of students of all ages and backgrounds. Students work side-by-side with educators and farm animals to learn about science, agriculture, ecology, history, nutrition, animal husbandry, land conservation, sustainable living and community service. Hillside offers several curriculum-based farm programs, all which meet Pennsylvania Academic Standards for grades K through 12.

The spirit of volunteerism is alive and well at the farm. The Lands at Hillside Farms frequently acknowledges their group of hardworking volunteers who measure their day by progress, not hours. Volunteers can get their hands dirty in a variety of areas such as gardening, animal care, building maintenance, office work and event planning. If you’re interested in volunteering, you can learn more on their volunteer page on their website.