![First generation farmers hope barn tours bring joy amid lockdown](https://i.cbc.ca/1.6305551.1641427040!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpeg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/animal-fun.jpeg)
First generation farmers hope barn tours bring joy amid lockdown
CBC
A family that runs a hobby farm in Cottam is opening their barn doors to families trying to find a safe way to have fun amid the latest restrictions.
Nicole Winkel and her husband bought the farm in April, fulfilling a dream to become first generation farmers.
"I felt like I jumped off the high dive and couldn't see the water," said Winkel when thinking back to the day her family decided to put an offer in on the farm.
But the purchase paid off, she said, with her three kids enjoying the open space and freedom the new lifestyle offers.
"It's been wonderful. It's been a very good change for our family and for our kids."
When the switch to remote learning was announced on Monday for students across Ontario along with new restrictions, Winkel decided to offer free barn tours to families that needed something to break the stress of another lockdown.
Two weeks worth of slots were fully booked within hours.
Winkel is offering tours free of charge with hopes people donate so she can continue feeding a few of the animals that have been taken in.
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