The Curious Farmhouse lets kids plant their own veggies — and eat them, too
About a dozen tots strapped up in their floor length aprons, eager to get messy in the garden, on a brisk winter Texas morning.
The Curious Farmhouse in Godley, Texas invites kids under 10 years old to learn about gardening, nutrition and life skills through tasting and planting fruits and vegetables with their own hands.
Founder Lizned Larrota grew up mainly in Chile, but also Ecuador before moving to the United States, learning about the rewarding process of gardening from her father, Luis Rojas (Papa Noni). Her mother, Luzmiryam Rojas (Mama Noni), is a certified organic health coach and taught Larrota the benefits of fruits and veggies.
The combination of Papa and Mama Noni’s expertise stirred passion in Larrota. She wants to continue that passion in her own kid’s lives and in the lives of kids in the Dallas-Fort Worth community.
What is the Curious Farmhouse?
Larrota wanted The Curious Farmhouse to be a place where youngsters learn where their food comes from, and learn they are capable of cultivating their own food.
“I want them to have the pride and self-confidence that they can make something meaningful with their hands, no matter how little they are,” Larrota said.
Through hands-on learning, the children taste every fruit and veggie, learn about its nutritional value and then go and plant the seeds themselves. When the crops are ready for harvest, the children can choose to keep their produce or sell the items at a local farmer’s market.
It doesn’t take much for parents to get their kids interested in the program. After all, the sessions are full of everything a developing brain needs — kids play with fun gardening tools, dig in dirt without getting in trouble and run rampant around an open farm.
A busy morning at the Curious Farmhouse
On the morning the Star-Telegram visited the farm, the littles toddled into a small barn made of windows to start their gardening session. Each participant held a neon scarf to follow along with an educational jingle.
“A little seed, for me to sow, a little earth to help it grow, a little sun, a little shower, a little wait and then a flower,” Larrota sang to her class in both English and Spanish.
The class learned that ajo (garlic) keeps your heart and immune system strong and that espinaca (spinach) helps your muscles grow like a superhero.
After the young’uns tried bread dipped in garlic oil and garlic butter, they were asking for more. Then it came to trying the spinach dressed with lemon, which went over a little differently.
When Papa Noni asked the class if they could help him plant some garlic, the room exploded with eager squeals.
The children had every tool fit for their small hands — aprons, shovels, rakes and watering cans. In the greenhouse, the little fingers each planted their own garlic clove in soil and topped it with essential nutrients to help it grow. Their hands (and sleeves) were covered in dirt as they shoveled dirt every which way.
Now, they practice patience, as it can take up to nine months for a garlic head to grow. And once their crops sprout, the kids can choose to keep them to cook with at home or to sell them at Curious Farmhouse’s child-led farmers market.
Curious Farmhouse community: ‘Pure joy’
Larrota said Curious Farmhouse has changed her life.
After she had her baby girl, she was in a funk. She found purpose in her full-time job as a registered nurse by helping her patients. But she felt a strong urge to impact the little lives around her in a greater way. That’s how the idea for Curious Farmhouse first sprouted back in April 2025.
So Papa Noni built the learning barn and greenhouse from scratch at their house in Godley, and Curious Farmhouse blossomed into a community for Larrota’s family. Larrota and her parents hope to expand their sessions and facilities and become a community farm school in the future.
And that community continues to grow. Alexia Soto brought all four of her children to multiple sessions.
“We’ve planted kale, bok choy and radishes,” she said. “The drive from Dallas is worth it because my kids love coming to learn and play with the other children.”
Other parents who have brought their kids have told Larrota their children are now more open to trying new activities and tasting new foods.
Some are even excited to eat their veggies.
The Curious Farmhouse is located at 269 State Hwy 171, Godley, TX 76044. Families can check the Curious Farm’s Instagram page to sign up for sessions and see which farmers markets the petite farmers can participate in.
This story was originally published February 2, 2026 at 3:00 PM.