Riverdale Farm, Community farm in Cabbagetown, Toronto, Canada

Riverdale Farm is a working farm in the Cabbagetown neighborhood that spreads across several hectares with wooded areas, ponds, gardens, and farm buildings. The grounds mix crop fields with natural spaces where animals live and people garden.

The Riverdale Zoo occupied this site from 1888 to 1974, starting with deer donated by Toronto alderman Daniel Lamb. In 1974 the animals moved to a larger facility in Scarborough that became the Toronto Zoo. Riverdale Farm opened here in 1978 on the west bank of the Don River, and its main barn was built in 1858 in Markham, then moved and rebuilt on site in 1977.

The farm keeps old farming methods alive and shows visitors daily how agriculture worked in the past. You see farmers at work and understand how people once fed themselves from the land.

The grounds have two entrances at Winchester and Riverdale Park West, both easy to reach with basic facilities available. Visitors find washrooms and rest areas, which makes the visit comfortable for families.

The Francey Barn displays unusual architecture with multiple levels designed specifically for efficient farming. This building style was a practical solution for the demands of farm work in the 19th century.