Farmstay https://farmstayus.com We connect travelers with farm stays across the U.S. Mon, 19 May 2025 21:07:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://farmstayus.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/favicon-16x16-1-150x150.png Farmstay https://farmstayus.com 32 32 15 Years of Farm Stay USA: Celebrating Our Roots and Honoring the Founders Who Helped Cultivate a Movement (3) https://farmstayus.com/15-years-of-farm-stay-usa-celebrating-our-roots-pt-3/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=15-years-of-farm-stay-usa-celebrating-our-roots-pt-3 Mon, 19 May 2025 21:07:27 +0000 https://farmstayus.com/?p=19330 Part 3 – The Enthusiasts Welcome to Part 3 of our special anniversary series celebrating the passionate pioneers behind Farm Stay USA! As we mark 15 years of connecting travelers with authentic, working farms and ranches across the country, we’re turning the spotlight on the spirited founding members who believed in the dream from day […]

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Part 3 – The Enthusiasts

Welcome to Part 3 of our special anniversary series celebrating the passionate pioneers behind Farm Stay USA! As we mark 15 years of connecting travelers with authentic, working farms and ranches across the country, we’re turning the spotlight on the spirited founding members who believed in the dream from day one and helped turn it into a thriving national network.

When Farm Stay USA first launched in 2010, farm stays were virtually unheard of in the U.S., a far cry from their popularity in Europe. Many Americans didn’t realize it was even possible to spend the night on a farm; let alone why they might want to. But a small group of forward-thinking farmers and ranchers saw the potential in opening their gates and sharing their lives with curious, countryside-seeking travelers.

From the very beginning, we walked alongside these early adopters, offering support, tools, and a community that celebrated the value of rural hospitality. Together, we nurtured a vision of agritourism rooted in connection, education, and genuine experience.

Fifteen years later, these farms have flourished. They’ve grown into confident, innovative businesses, continually adapting like all successful small farms do. Their voices are stronger, their offerings richer, and their place in the agricultural landscape well-earned.

We are incredibly proud to have been part of their journey and even more excited for what’s to come next.

B & B Orchards, Hubbard, Oregon | Farm Stay USA
Farmhouse at B & B Orchards

B and B Orchards, located outside of Salem, Oregon was inherited by the next generation in 2011. The hazelnut orchard had been leased out and the family was not in a position to move to the farmhouse or take over operations right away. 3rd generation, Bari, and her 4th generation son, Anthony, became aware of Farm Stay USA’s website that would allow them to share the farm with others. With a few upgrades and just the right number of modern touches, the farmhouse retained all the warmth and coziness of grandma’s house.  These days, taking visitors around the farm and through the hazelnut orchard is a favorite: explaining how hazelnuts flower, set nut clusters, and are harvested. Equally popular, especially with kids, is visiting the farm animals: feeding the chickens, goats, cows and barn cats, and collecting fresh eggs. One family even spent an afternoon helping to plant flowers in the garden beds, their children wide-eyed and excited to dig in the soil, choose each plant’s spot and asking questions. As for advice to others, Anthony and his mother began modestly and learned as they went along. They searched out best practices, fostered strong relations with their neighbors stayed informed about local zoning regulations and even found grants and cost-share opportunities to offset some of their setup expenses.

little girl kissing a goat
Child and goat – Dogwood Hills

Dogwood Hills is owned by Ruth and Thomas Pepler. The farm is located in Harriet, Arkansas and now offers a hands-on experience starting with morning chores, milking, harvesting fodder, gathering eggs, feeding the animals, and checking in on the babies as they arrive. It didn’t start this way. The first iteration before knowing about farm stays started with hosting pastors and their families in 2009. Their guests would walk down during chores and ask to help. It was the beginning of an idea. Ruth found Farm Stay USA and joined. She asked other farms about their setups and began from there with the assistance of her then teenage daughter. Her advice: start simply and as you get that operation under your belt, you can add another. Do things well and think through the business plan.  Her farm has grown with cooking classes, a cooking show, a barbecue contest and more. Her favorite chore with guests is milking the cows, starting with the hydroponic barley fodder they hand feed, then on to the milk stand and the entire process of brushing down the cow, cleaning and milking. Afterwards everyone heads upstairs for a full farm breakfast made with the farm fresh milk. As for favorite guest interaction, Ruth tells of the guest that was very animal shy, scared to death of everything from the moths to the dogs and when she finally put a squirt of milk in the can, she just screamed and then squealed with delight. For Ruth and her daughter, Farm Stay USA proved more than a platform to advertise their property. It opened up international travel for them through USAid to help other farm communities set up agritourism operations and it gave the farm its own community in which to engage and share and learn best practices.

shepherds wagon at sunset
Shepherd’s wagon – Serenity Sheep Farmstay

Serenity Sheep Farm Stay brilliantly converted two shepherd’s wagons to welcome guests on her farm, located halfway between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park in Belgrade, Montana. LaVonne opened in 2009 after discovering (from us) that there was a thing called a “farm stay” and it could be something she added to her farm to generate additional income. Originally one of her favorite chores with guests was to show them how to milk her goats. These days the goats are gone and instead she runs a wool mill where guests can learn the process of taking a sheep fleece and turning it into roving. LaVonne’s advice to farms thinking of starting up with a farm stay – make friends with your local county health and planning departments in order to understand what permits you might need and what you are actually allowed and not allowed to do on your property. Her other bit of advice when it comes to hosting guests – you never know who they might be. She admits she is a “hugger” and she includes this in her welcome note just in case this is something that might make a guest uncomfortable. One guest asked if she really did hug her guests because he had read all her material. When she queried him as to why he was checking, he responded “I like to know what I am headed into.” It turns out he was an FBI Investigative agent! Farm Stay USA gave LaVonne a basis for her operation that has now welcomed guests from 29 countries and all over the U.S. As one of her friends said, “Leave it to LaVonne to bring the world to her.”

vineyard with a silo in the background on a cloudy day
Vineyard with silo farm store – Stillwaters Farm

Stillwaters Farm is a family owned and operated 153+ acre farm and vineyard in Henderson, Tennessee with a menagerie of animals (including a peacock!) and gardens. Valeria began hosting guests in 2007. At first it was just a way to accommodate friends and family who wanted to visit the Pitonis since they had uprooted their lives in a move from Florida to Tennessee. This quickly turned into a career decision with Valeria focused on educating guests about the important role agriculture plays in everyone’s lives. With the opening of her farm to guests, there were lessons learned. Be yourself in your presentation as all farm hosts are as varied as what they grow. Use direct booking to save your guests the additional fees – this also is more efficient (for everyone) and makes interactions more personal without a middleman. Her favorite experiences with guests these days revolve around the grape harvest from the vineyard recently installed in 2023. They are able to truly engage their senses in the feel, the smell and of course the taste of a ripe wine grape. As for memorable experiences, Valeria tells of a young man who brought his mom to the farm specifically to learn how to build a compost bin. They spend a Saturday together building a small one where the boy learned how to use power tools, think through the process and enjoy a job well done. Only a year later, he passed away, but his mom still visits from time to time because this was one of his favorite places in the world, a bond they will have for life. Farm Stay USA, for Stillwaters Farm, gave them the credibility they were looking for as part of a network of farmers who work hard, share their knowledge and believe in their collective future.

Vermont Grand View Farm, Washington, VT | FarmStay USA
Herding sheep from pasture – Grand View Farm

Vermont Grand View Farm is located in Washington, Vermont just south of Montpellier and closer to the Canadian border than to New York City. The farm is run by Kim Goodling and her family. They first started hosting guests in about 2005 after purchasing their farm and realizing it was the perfect setup for what they were then calling a “bed and breakfast”. The farm is recognized as having Vermont’s first flock of Gotland sheep, an endangered wool breed from Denmark that is slowly being revived in the U.S.  Not just about the sheep, Kim has connected her guests with Vermont’s rich agricultural life, teaching about maple sugaring, shepherding, fiber arts, and sustainable farming. They can help with chores or just settle back to snuggle with the sheep. Farm Stay USA has helped Kim spread the word about her farm and what she offers. Guests have arrived to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and weddings. They have come to grieve the loss of loved ones and to get lost on the dirt county roads. They’ve come to get engaged and then write wedding vows. They’ve been opera composers, internationally know singing groups, Pixar graphic artists, German knitting experts, journalists, photographers, people from Siberia, Australia, Italy, India, Canada, Japan, Germany and France. The most memorable was the very first family who had a little girl. She went to help collect eggs. When she felt how warm the freshly laid egg felt, she went running to her grandmother sitting on the porch and held it out to her saying “Look, the hen laid an egg, and she even cooked it!” Teaching moments come in all shapes and forms and for all age levels and farmers like a good laugh now and then to see the farm as an outsider.

As we celebrate the enthusiasm and evolution of our founding members, we’re reminded that the farm stay movement in the U.S. has always been fueled by heart, hustle, and a deep love for the land. These early partners dared to try something new and helped shape a community that continues to grow.

But the story doesn’t end here.

In the coming weeks, we’ll share Part 4 – The Rest of Us, featuring a final group of farms that also launched in the early 2000s. those who, like Leaping Lamb Farm (my own!), were neither brand new nor deeply seasoned when they joined the Farm Stay USA family. The last part in this series offers a personal glimpse into how this movement not only supported other farms, but also helped save my own and how a vision for a nationwide farm stay platform took root. Stay tuned!

If you haven’t read Part 1 – The Trailblazers or Part 2 – The Ranchers be sure to check them out!

(Header photo courtesy of Dogwood Hills)

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15 Years of Farm Stay USA: Celebrating Our Roots and Honoring the Founders Who Helped Cultivate a Movement https://farmstayus.com/15-years-of-farm-stay-usa-celebrating-our-roots-pt-1/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=15-years-of-farm-stay-usa-celebrating-our-roots-pt-1 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 23:26:17 +0000 https://farmstayus.com/?p=19323 Part I- The Trailblazers Fifteen years ago, Farm Stay USA launched with a big idea and a small website: to introduce Americans to the joy of staying overnight on a real working farm or ranch. But here’s the twist, when we showed up, we discovered something wonderful: many farm stays were already out there! They […]

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Part I- The Trailblazers

Fifteen years ago, Farm Stay USA launched with a big idea and a small website: to introduce Americans to the joy of staying overnight on a real working farm or ranch. But here’s the twist, when we showed up, we discovered something wonderful: many farm stays were already out there! They just weren’t called that yet. Some went by “farm vacations,” others by “working ranches” or “bed and breakfasts.”

Farm Stay USA gave these pioneers a home, a shared identity, and a place to be found by curious travelers. For others just getting started, we offered a framework, a sense of community, and a cheering section as they opened their gates to guests for the first time.

As part of our 15th anniversary celebration, we’re shining the spotlight on our 21 founding members. That’s a lot of inspiration to pack into one blog, so we’ve split their stories into four digestible parts.

We used a light-touch Q&A format to gather reflections, asking when and why they began hosting, what moments still stand out, what advice they’d give a new farmer-hoster, and how Farm Stay USA made a difference for them. In true farmer fashion, some followed instructions, some plowed their own path. And just like the farms themselves, no two answers are the same.

We’re starting this series with the mentors, those generous trailblazers who were welcoming guests long before “farm stay” was a buzzword. They laid the groundwork for everything that followed.

East Hill Farm, Troy, New Hampshire | Farm Stay USA
Winter Barnyard, East Hill Farm

East Hill Farm in Troy NH started hosting guests in the mid 1940s. At the time it was a small dairy farm and the owner decided to add some lodging for extra income. He expanded the business over the years, adding animals and amenities until the farm became a year-round family resort. In the 1970s, the next generation took over the farm, adding educational aspects including raising rare breed animals, cow and goat milking for guests, horseback riding, and butter and cheese making workshops. Currently Jennifer Adams and her siblings, part of the 4th generation, run the farm. Generations run in guests as well with some families having come to the farm for over 50 years! As for favorite experience, Jen runs a Farm School program where the kids spend 3 days and 2 nights working with the animals and the farmers. She loves to watch them move through the steps from being tentative to confident and curious, knowing she is sending them home with a better understanding of what it takes to be a farmer. When it comes to Farmstay, the site gave the farm a place to list nationally and the opportunity within its community to be a mentor to others.

Liberty Hill Farm Inn, Rochester, VT | Farm Stay USA
Feeding the babies – Liberty Hill Farm

Liberty Hill Farm, run by Beth and Bob Kennett, is located in Rochester VT and has been a pioneer in the agritourism movement since opening its doors to guests in 1984. Their multi-decades-long commitment to sustainability was recognized in 2008 when the farm was designated as Vermont’s first certified Green Agritourism Enterprise. Guests from around the world have stayed at this 120-head dairy that is part of the Cabot Creamery Co-op. Beth cooks breakfast and dinner for guests, shared around the farm house table. At this point she counts repeat guests in generations and in friendships. With tours on top of stays, guests can watch the milking process and even try their hand at manual milking. Feeding the calves, playing in the hayloft, walking in the fields, and in fall visits for the leaf change are all part of the experience. Beth’s suggestions for farms considering agritourism: look at what you like to do and make sure hospitality can fit into your farming schedule. Break up the responsibilities so the load does not become too much and, if you are cooking, stick with your favorite recipes. For the Kennetts, Farm Stay USA was a place to be recognized as the quintessential New England farm and the barn was the masthead of the site for many years.

a horse with a jacket on in front of a red barn
Horse in paddock – Grace Note Farm

Grace Note Farm in Pascoag RI, also known as the Benjamin Smith homestead farm c. 1730, is nestled in the northwest corner of Rhode Island adjacent to the George Washington Management area. It is a horse farm and riders can enjoy over six hours of riding on wide, mostly sandy trails that connect to Connecticut and Massachusetts. The inn opened in 2001 after Virginia built stalls for guest horses. Two factors helped with this decision: Virginia’s son announced the farm should pay for itself and two guests from a horse club who just happened to pull into the driveway suggested she become a B&B. Since opening, Virginia has found that both grownups and kids love to wash the horses and, in terms of the children, they love the freedom to roam, to collect eggs with her in the morning, and to ride beside her in her 4×4. She would advise new farm stay operators to make sure they have a private space of their own to retreat to; that guests are strangers until  they have completed their first visit; and that the Internet is best for marketing. As far as Farmstay, she felt it gave her national exposure and credibility as a working farm with lodging, not just a vacation rental. Now in her 80s, Virginia is about to close the barn door on guests but the experience has been worth the effort for the people she has met and the lives she has touched.

Hull-O Farms, Durham, New York | Farm Stay USA
Reaching for the sheep – Hull-O Farms

Hull-O Farms in Durham NY has been in the Hull family since its 1779 post-Revolutionary War founding. The farm has been recognized and designated by New York State as a National Bicentennial Farm. Sherry and her husband, Frank, started hosting guests in June 1994. Back then they were milking 80 cows and struggling financially. They decided, encouraged by a friend, to offer a farm “vacation” option in a cottage that stood on the farm grounds. Another friend who worked for a cable station on Long Island ran a free ad for them about this new vacation opportunity. Within 30 minutes of the ad running, the phone started ringing. Sherry has never looked back. While Sherry handles the hospitality end, farmer Frank oversees guests interaction on the farm. Top of these is collecting eggs, hand-milking the cows, playing with the barn cats, and enjoying s’mores and music around the campfire. Their advice to new farm stay hosts: welcoming visitors can be a lot of work but also incredibly rewarding. You must genuinely love people and be okay with sharing your personal space, so be flexible and do your due diligence about all the ins and outs of a farm stay. As for a particularly memorable experience, three years after the farm stay opened, a very excited 10-year-old boy ran into Sherry’s kitchen and said with great enthusiasm “Ms Sherry, this may just be the best day of my life.” In the end, Farm Stay USA helped to raise awareness about the novelty of a farm vacation by adding more farms into the travel niche,  even acting as a resource for other options Sherry could point to when they were full.

Labour of Love Landscaping and Nursery, Glover, VT | Farm Stay USA
Lower garden in July – Labour of Love Landscaping and Nursery

Labour of Love Landscaping and Nurserv, owned by Kate  Glover started hosting guests in 1985. Her nursery in Glover VT is known as a “local destination”, offering more than the typical small nursery with the addition of display gardens, tours, lodging in a restored 1800’s Greek Revival home, and a gift and craft shop that includes 30 varieties of homemade jams and jellies (from local fruits) and handwoven apparel and home items. Almost on the Canadian border, the farm routinely hosts international visitors. Not your traditional ‘farm’, Kate, the owner, grower and designer, takes the idea of growing plants and puts them in a retail setting so they can go home with you, while offering ideas for your own landscaping. Landscaping and growing is all there in farming, just by a different name. When it comes to advice for new farms starting out, Kate focuses on making her place look like somewhere she would like to visit and of all her “chores” she enjoys answering questions from visitors. One of her favorite visits was from a 6-year-old who told his parents to let him stay at the nursery because he liked it better than home! Just as many come across the border as international travelers, so Farm Stay USA sends Kate visitors from far and wide to share her little piece of heaven.

These early hosts were the quiet pioneers, the ones offering fresh eggs with their morning coffee and handing over pitchforks to eager guests long before “farm stay” had a name. Their creativity, grit, and love of sharing farm life set the stage for everything that’s followed. Without them, there would be no Farm Stay USA. We’re endlessly grateful they opened their barn doors and hearts, giving this movement its roots.

We hope you’ll stick with us in the weeks ahead as we continue this celebratory journey.

Next up: a few of our amazing ranches who’ve been with us from the start, where the stars are big, the hats are wide, and the hospitality is just as heartfelt.

(Header photo courtesy of East Hill Farm NH)

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The Joys of Livestock Cuddling: A Unique Farm Stay Experience https://farmstayus.com/the-joys-of-livestock-cuddling-a-unique-farm-stay-experience/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-joys-of-livestock-cuddling-a-unique-farm-stay-experience Wed, 09 Oct 2024 22:01:43 +0000 https://farmstayus.com/?p=18431 Goat Yoga hit the big time a few years ago. Started on a whim by Lainey Morse in 2016 when a yoga teacher suggested offering a class in the field with Lainey’s goats,  her Original Goat Yoga craze took off not only across the country but around the world. It was one of those silly […]

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Goat Yoga hit the big time a few years ago. Started on a whim by Lainey Morse in 2016 when a yoga teacher suggested offering a class in the field with Lainey’s goats,  her Original Goat Yoga craze took off not only across the country but around the world. It was one of those silly ideas that livestock owners have known like… forever. Some of our animals can be down-right affectionate.

Not into yoga, but looking for a farm with friendly animals and farmers that allow some hands-on interaction? Farmstay has search filters beyond just location. Try the Activities filter and check off  Petting Paddock. You will find a number of farms or ranches around the U.S.. Or you can check off by the type of animal, recognizing that goats and donkeys are often used as ambassadors when they aren’t on brush duty, some milk cows are friendly enough, and baby animals (usually born in spring) are always cuddly.

Grace Note Farm Pascoag RI | Farm Stay USA
Grace Note Farm RI

Why do we even bring up livestock cuddling? It doesn’t sound very ‘farm-y’ but can be a side benefit of staying on a working farm. Call it “farm therapy”.  A chance to relax and slow down, to laugh and connect in a nonverbal way, to be in nature and recharge with something warm and furry under hand.

The caveat: it’s a unique farm (and farmer) that offers cuddling of their livestock, so don’t expect this on every farm you go to. If this is the experience you are looking for, call ahead to make sure you read the information correctly. There are plenty of farm and ranch livestock that aren’t treated like pets and will just as soon stomp on you as give you a kiss!

man with red Scottish Highland cow looking over his shoulder
Rockn Rowdy Ranch TX

Just a sampling of farm stays allowing close-up-and-personal livestock interactions:

Bar SZ Ranch, Pacines CA. We figure when the description includes, “…walking a pig, snuggling a rabbit” along with photos of kids interacting with their horses, there’s got to be some cuddling going on . The ranch is all about interaction and learning new things with their own house full of kids.

Rockn Rowdy Ranch, Leona TX. The photos say it all but so does this list of animals, “…horses, ponies, zebra, donkeys, Scottish highlander cattle, longhorn, buffalo, llamas, goats, kangaroos , deer and so many more.” See some of these animals from horseback and you can take ‘learning to ride’ off your bucket list.

Mary’s Land Farm, Ellicott City MD. Priding themselves on “beyond-organic standards and regenerative practice”, this farm has chickens, cattle, goats, pigs, sheep and ponies. Since they show a photo of a lamb being held, it looks as if there is some excellent baby animal cuddling in season.

Heritage Farm, Flora IN. Specializing in alpacas, one of the softer woolly animals we know, this is the place to meet and learn all about them. The farm has other animals too, including a recent addition of KuneKune pigs. Cuddle up!

We pulled these few farms off the search results for Petting Paddock. There are about 25 more choices. Of course you can always just search on Goats or Sheep and be pretty much assured there will be babies in the spring to hang out with. Dairies will have cows. Some farms will have donkeys. The list goes on. Oh, and if you search on Yoga, it’s likely there might be a goat or two on your matt.

Cover photo: Parkside Farm, Byron Center MI

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Learn About Responsible Land Stewardship with Abby Abbott-Rider of Thistle Byre Farm https://farmstayus.com/learn-about-responsible-land-stewardship-with-abby-abbott-rider-of-thistle-byre-farm/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=learn-about-responsible-land-stewardship-with-abby-abbott-rider-of-thistle-byre-farm https://farmstayus.com/learn-about-responsible-land-stewardship-with-abby-abbott-rider-of-thistle-byre-farm/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2023 19:10:05 +0000 https://farmstayus.com/?p=14332 Thistle Byre farm is a family farm located in Burnettsville, Indiana with over 80 acres of pastures, gardens, and woodlands. It is owned and operated by Abby Abbott-Rider and her husband Jeff Rider. Abby is passionate about sustainable agriculture, healthy, NON-GMO food and sharing her quiet, tranquil property with anyone who wants to learn about […]

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Thistle Byre farm is a family farm located in Burnettsville, Indiana with over 80 acres of pastures, gardens, and woodlands. It is owned and operated by Abby Abbott-Rider and her husband Jeff Rider. Abby is passionate about sustainable agriculture, healthy, NON-GMO food and sharing her quiet, tranquil property with anyone who wants to learn about sustainable, healthy living.

Below written by Abby Abbott-Rider of Thistle Byre Farm

I grew up on a farm in Central New York and have been passionate about agriculture from a young age. My play-pen was often put on a wagon and taken to the field so I was not far from my parents as they worked together on my family’s dairy, potato, apple and grain farm. My parents have always loved welcoming visitors from around the world on their farm. Growing up meeting and listening to these travelers and their stories drew me to pursue international travel – especially to farms around the world. Several of the European farms I stayed at were the highlight of my travels and they sparked in me the desire to give others the same opportunity in the US – just as my folks did. It was because of traveling that I was also led to pursue coursework in international agriculture at Purdue University, before settling down to graduate with a more production-oriented degree in agriculture.

Thistle Byre is a family farm where my husband’s cousins were raised. They remember fields of strawberries and watermelon on part of their farm that was about 1 mile from the main farm up a private, beautiful, gravel road. We are located in the heart of rural, northern Carroll County’s rolling, wooded hillsides. The main farm is located on a dirt road but is not far from the amenities of a lake town – Monticello, Indiana – where water sports abound and shopping is available. We are also very close to Purdue University and the Lafayette area; the home of great sports and culturally-diverse offerings year round.

In addition to being a farmer, I am an adult, nurse-practitioner. Although I am a prescriber of medicine, I know the most powerful prescription is clean food. As a woman who has battled autoimmune disease, I know the power of clean food on a cellular level. It is my hope our visitors can learn to appreciate clean food, raised with care and concern for our environment. I believe as hosts we learn so much from our visitors and it is the rich stories shared by my guests that make this fun for me, and in turn, I want to teach visitors about how clean food is grown and raised.

At Thistle Byre, we’re passionate about modeling responsible land-stewardship, growing and raising our food using ecologically beneficial methods, and we strive to teach others about how to grow their own food in a sustainable way for a healthy and nurturing home. Therefore, we humanely raise NON-GMO-fed, hormone and antibiotic-free meats and NON-GMO, vegetables, fruits and herbs. Our sheep and cow herds are 100% grass-fed and pastured. The sheep are Katahdin/St. Croix cross, hair sheep and the cows are also a cross of Galloway/Devon with a bit of Black Angus. These are hearty crosses that can withstand the harsh, winter weather we often have. Our Red Wattle/Berkshire cross pigs are fed NON-GMO corn and a 16% protein NON-GMO hog ration. We are a farrow-to-finish operation and also sell our extra feeder pigs to individuals that want to raise their own pork. Our chickens are a mixture of breeds that are given NON-GMO feed and have exposure to grass in the summer. Turkeys, ducks, and goats can be found here as well. The farm has a large market garden and we like to put our energy into the herbs and veggies our family enjoys canning and freezing.

-Abby Abbott-Rider

 

The Thistle Byre Farm stay is a remote, peaceful place in the countryside located in a private wooded area – a mile down a country lane to the main farm – and boasts clear night skies away from city lights. During your stay, the hosts invite you to learn about sustainable farming by taking free guided tours of the farm to meet the livestock and peruse the gardens. The farm offers fresh flowers and a dozen farm-fresh eggs and has many additional offerings for a fee: a farm-to-fork, 3-course dinner by a campfire once a month (June-Sept), tours, gardening and canning classes, and a CSA basket for guests who book 1 week. The fully-furnished, spacious farmhouse is newly remodeled with 3 bedrooms, a full kitchen, a reading nook filled with books and games and an outdoor fire-pit (for s’mores!) stocked with complimentary wood.

Thanks to Abby for sharing about her lovely farm and farm practices. If you’re an Indiana native and want a quiet, local getaway or if you’ve always wanted to visit Indiana’s countryside, check out Thistle Byre’s profile to learn more.

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Radically Traditional Farming at White Oak Pastures in Bluffton, GA https://farmstayus.com/radically-traditional-farming-at-white-oak-pastures-in-bluffton-ga/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=radically-traditional-farming-at-white-oak-pastures-in-bluffton-ga https://farmstayus.com/radically-traditional-farming-at-white-oak-pastures-in-bluffton-ga/#respond Thu, 18 Mar 2021 20:25:03 +0000 https://farmstayus.com/?p=9658 For five generations, the Harris family has been raising cattle on their farm in Bluffton, Georgia. Read our Q&A with the farmers at White Oak Pastures and learn the history behind their radically traditional farming! Q: What is the history of your farm? A: Captain James Edward Harris (Cavalry – CSA) founded our family farm […]

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For five generations, the Harris family has been raising cattle on their farm in Bluffton, Georgia. Read our Q&A with the farmers at White Oak Pastures and learn the history behind their radically traditional farming!

Q: What is the history of your farm?

A: Captain James Edward Harris (Cavalry – CSA) founded our family farm soon after the Civil War. He and the sharecroppers who worked this land butchered a cow, several hogs, and a few chickens every Saturday. This was the staple food of the 100 or so people who lived on this farm during the late 1800’s.

White Oak Pastures, Bluffton, Georgia | Farm Stay USA

In the early part of the 20th century, James’ son, Will Carter Harris, ran the place. During this time they butchered a cow, several hogs, and a few chickens every morning before sunup six days a week. The meat was loaded on a mule-drawn wagon and hauled three miles up a dirt road to the town of Bluffton. There it was delivered to four general stores, a hotel, and a boarding house. Later a commissary was built on our farm, which grew the business even further.

White Oak Pastures, Bluffton, Georgia | Farm Stay USA

White Oak Pastures, Bluffton, Georgia | Farm Stay USA

After World War II, Will Bell Harris ran the farm. It was during his watch that the traditional system of producing and distributing beef, lamb, and poultry eroded. Science introduced a bevy of new chemical tools to the farm, and the slaughtering process became more and more centralized and distant from our pastures. During the latter half of the 20th century, our farm only produced calves for the industrial beef production system that furnishes most of the food we eat in this country.

Our farm and family have now come full circle. Today, we raise 10 species of livestock. We process the animals on the farm, and market the beef, lamb, poultry, rabbits, eggs, vegetables, leather products, tallow goods, and pet chews directly to consumers who appreciate our artisan, small-batch products.

White Oak Pastures, Bluffton, Georgia | Farm Stay USA

The transition started in 1995 when Will Harris III made the conscious decision to return to a production system that is better for the environment, for our animals, and for the people who eat these meats. He reinstituted the multi-species rotational grazing practices of his forefathers, and he built abattoirs on the farm to slaughter our animals. We are fiercely proud of our zero-waste radically traditional farming practices. We have been blessed with good hard work to do and the strength to do it.

White Oak Pastures, Bluffton, Georgia | Farm Stay USA

White Oak Pastures, Bluffton, Georgia | Farm Stay USA

Q: What brought you to offer a farm stay?

A: Consumers were interested in what we were doing. Inviting guests to our farm happened organically!

White Oak Pastures, Bluffton, Georgia | Farm Stay USA

White Oak Pastures, Bluffton, Georgia | Farm Stay USA

Q: What do you raise and produce on your farm?

A: Beef, Pork, Rabbit, Lamb, Goat, Geese, Guineas, Ducks, Turkeys and Chickens. We also raise pastured eggs and organic vegetables.

White Oak Pastures, Bluffton, Georgia | Farm Stay USA

White Oak Pastures, Bluffton, Georgia | Farm Stay USA

Q: What is the setting of your farm like? Tell us a little about the area you live in?

A: White Oak Pastures is located in rural SW Georgia. Bluffton has less than 100 people in our town. We manage about 4,000 acres.
White Oak Pastures, Bluffton, Georgia | Farm Stay USA

Q: What can guests do during their farm stay, either on or off the property?

A: Guests like to tour the farm, fish and ride horses. We also offer educational workshops monthly.  We have a couple of state parks in our area that guests like to visit.

White Oak Pastures, Bluffton, Georgia | Farm Stay USA

White Oak Pastures, Bluffton, Georgia | Farm Stay USA

Q: Tell us about your lodgings. Where do guests stay and what amenities do you offer?

A: We have 7 units that guests can lodge in. These range from small cabins nestled in the woods to a quaint house in historic Bluffton. Our Pond House sits on a 15-acre pond on a peninsula, complete with a boat dock and scenic views. You can enjoy the soft sounds of water and a South Georgia country evening from a screened-in porch, or watch the sunrise over nearby pastures across the water. With the Pond House’s countryside charm, along with modern amenities including AC/heat, this house is perfect for a getaway staycation.

Start planning your getaway to White Oak Pastures! Check out their listing here at Farm Stay USA to see all lodging options.

(Photos provided by White Oak Pastures)

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Toddy Pond Farm, Monroe, Maine https://farmstayus.com/toddy-pond-farm-monroe-maine/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=toddy-pond-farm-monroe-maine https://farmstayus.com/toddy-pond-farm-monroe-maine/#respond Wed, 15 Apr 2020 17:19:13 +0000 https://farmstayus.com/?p=6041 “Everything we eat has a story. Know what you eat.” – from the Toddy Pond farm website   The story of Toddy Pond Farm in Monroe, Maine is not one of 2nd, 3rd, or 4th generation farmers continuing in the family tradition. This is the story of ‘new’ farmers, Greg and Heide Purinton-Brown, who decided […]

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“Everything we eat has a story. Know what you eat.”
– from the Toddy Pond farm website

 

The story of Toddy Pond Farm in Monroe, Maine is not one of 2nd, 3rd, or 4th generation farmers continuing in the family tradition. This is the story of ‘new’ farmers, Greg and Heide Purinton-Brown, who decided food and how it is grown was important to them and something they wanted to pursue. So, in 2014 Greg quit his 9 to 5 desk job and Heide, who had been homeschooling their two sons, switched gears to farming.

Toddy Pond Farm, Monroe, Maine | Farm Stay USA

Flourishing Pastures

Originally planning to be caretakers of an existing farm in Monroe ME just to get their feet wet, they ended up buying it! Toddy Pond Farm, on the banks of Toddy Pond, is a 520-acre property with 30 acres of pasture used now for their cows, sheep, pigs, chickens, and bees. In just a few years, they were able to improve and provide permanent pasture for their livestock with rotational grazing. They don’t irrigate or fertilize their pastures because this would require the use of large amounts of fossil fuel. They don’t till the soil which would release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. They plant clover for their bees. The pastures are flourishing with grasses up to the bellies of the cows.

Toddy Pond Farm Monroe ME | Farm Stay USA

Humane Dairy Farming

What is even more impressive about their operation is that the Purinton-Browns decided to enter the dairy business, one of the most challenging areas of farming! If you’re going to go down this risky path these days, you need to have a niche. Coming from a background as a vegetarian and an OB nurse before she became a farmer, Heide had a keen passion to make sure her livestock was treated humanely, and the way nature intended. So, unlike most dairies, the farm keeps calves with their mothers for their strong emotional bond, and the cows are only milked once a day.

Toddy Pond Farm Monroe ME | Farm Stay USA

Milking once a day had additional benefits these farmers wanted in their finished products. The full-fat Jersey milk, higher in protein and fat than from cows milked twice a day, made for a wonderful tasting yogurt, now the farm’s signature product. Offered in plain and vanilla flavors, the Toddy Pond label can be found not only at their farmers market stand and at their on-farm store, but also in local groceries. Of course, there are other products to find at their on-farm store: packaged meats, from ground lamb to pork sausage, kefir, eggs, honey, and ice cream in season.

Toddy Pond Farm, Monroe, Maine | Farm Stay USA

Toddy Pond Farm, Monroe, Maine | Farm Stay USA

An Idyllic Getaway

Does all of this make you want to stay at Toddy Pond Farm to get a better feel of farm life…and how taste is grown and finished? Or maybe just kick back at your own private farm retreat in the middle of 500 acres with cows and sheep grazing off the porch, grab a kayak for the pond or hike the many trails through the woods?

Toddy Pond Farm, Monroe, Maine | Farm Stay USA

Toddy Pond Farm, Monroe, Maine | Farm Stay USA

Toddy Pond offers the quintessential week-long farm stay in the summer, when the farm is in top production, and three-day stays for the shoulder seasons. Guests stay in a gorgeous, fully restored 4-bedroom cottage that sleeps 7, has a large kitchen, living room, 2 bathrooms, and screened in porch.  It’s the perfect place for an unplugged vacation.

Toddy Pond Farm, Monroe, Maine | Farm Stay USA

Toddy Pond Farm, Monroe, Maine | Farm Stay USA

Check out the Toddy Pond Farm listing here on Farm Stay USA… then book a stay and make your own story!

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Travel back to Grandma’s day at Willow Creek Ranch in California https://farmstayus.com/travel-back-to-grandmas-day-at-willow-creek-ranch-in-california/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=travel-back-to-grandmas-day-at-willow-creek-ranch-in-california https://farmstayus.com/travel-back-to-grandmas-day-at-willow-creek-ranch-in-california/#respond Tue, 06 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000 http://farmstay.gitlab.testbox.pro/travel-back-to-grandmas-day-at-willow-creek-ranch-in-california/ Want a fun and rustic getaway that’s like visiting grandma on her farm? Check out Willow Creek Ranch Farm Stay in Mountain Ranch, California! Located halfway between Modesto and Sacramento near the Stanislaus National Forest, Willow Creek Ranch offers a nostalgic trip back in time to grandma’s working farm. Guests can get their hands dirty […]

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Want a fun and rustic getaway that’s like visiting grandma on her farm? Check out Willow Creek Ranch Farm Stay in Mountain Ranch, California!

Willow Creek Ranch Farm Stay, Mountain Ranch, California | Farm Stay USA

Located halfway between Modesto and Sacramento near the Stanislaus National Forest, Willow Creek Ranch offers a nostalgic trip back in time to grandma’s working farm. Guests can get their hands dirty and pitch in with various chores, like gathering eggs, working in the garden, or pitching hay to cows, or they can opt to just sit back and relax with a book, or go for a swim in the small above-ground pool.

Willow Creek Ranch Farm Stay, Mountain Ranch, California | Farm Stay USA

Hosts Cathie and John Orr truly love to share their lifestyle with guests and teach a few things along the way. The farm raises milk cows, so when there’s fresh milk available, there are also opportunities to milk a cow and feed a calf, make butter, and learn how to make your own mozzarella cheese. When there’s produce in the garden, you can learn how to preserve food either by canning or freezing. Every seaon brings unique activities!

Willow Creek Ranch Farm Stay, Mountain Ranch, California | Farm Stay USA

The two bedroom cabin accommodates up to eight guests, and John and Cathie also allow camping on their property if you want to bring your own tent. The cabin also features a kitchenette with the necessary dishes and kitchen utensils, so you can choose to cook on your own, or add breakfast and/or dinner to your farm stay experience and enjoy Cathie’s home cooking.

The farm has also recently added a 20×20 foot tent to accommodate large parties!

Willow Creek Ranch Farm Stay, Mountain Ranch, California | Farm Stay USA

You can see more of Willow Creek Ranch on America’s Heartland! Click here to watch episode 1109, streaming on the America’s Heartland website.

To learn more about Willow Creek Ranch Farm Stay, visit their listing here on Farm Stay USA, then head over to their website to book next year’s vacation!

Willow Creek Ranch Farm Stay, Mountain Ranch, California | Farm Stay USA
Welcome signs painted by guests of Willow Creek Ranch Farm Stay

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Stillwaters Farm: Escape the hustle and bustle at this farm stay in the heart of West Tennessee https://farmstayus.com/stillwaters-farm-escape-the-hustle-and-bustle-at-this-farm-stay-in-the-heart-of-west-tennessee/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=stillwaters-farm-escape-the-hustle-and-bustle-at-this-farm-stay-in-the-heart-of-west-tennessee https://farmstayus.com/stillwaters-farm-escape-the-hustle-and-bustle-at-this-farm-stay-in-the-heart-of-west-tennessee/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000 http://farmstay.gitlab.testbox.pro/stillwaters-farm-escape-the-hustle-and-bustle-at-this-farm-stay-in-the-heart-of-west-tennessee/ Stillwaters Farm, located in Henderson, Tennessee, is 131 acres replete with green pastures, shady wooded areas, small ponds, and grassy hay fields. We spoke with Valeria Pitoni about what makes Stillwaters such a special spot. Valeria shared with us that although the farm has a “way out” feeling, due to being nestled among approximately 1,000 […]

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Stillwaters Farm, located in Henderson, Tennessee, is 131 acres replete with green pastures, shady wooded areas, small ponds, and grassy hay fields. We spoke with Valeria Pitoni about what makes Stillwaters such a special spot.

Stillwaters Farm, Henderson TN | Farm Stay USA

Valeria shared with us that although the farm has a “way out” feeling, due to being nestled among approximately 1,000 acres of cropland, wooded areas, and other family farms, it’s actually quite close — only 2 miles — from the city limits of Henderson. The farm, farm stay, and their animal inhabitants live on the front 25+ acres of the property, while the rest is considered hay fields and natural habitat.

Stillwaters Farm, Henderson, Tennessee | Farm Stay USA

This “back 100+” acreage is an excellent place for a hike or golf cart ride, and, after being assessed by a semi-local ornithologist, Valeria says they can boast a good population of birds whose species are rated as in-decline. (Bring your binoculars!) Other wildlife in the area are deer and wild turkeys in abundance, an occasional coyote, and once in a great while visitors to the farm may see a red fox, an armadillo, or even otter or bobcats.

Stillwaters Farm, Henderson TN | Farm Stay USA

Stillwaters Farm, Henderson TN | Farm Stay USA

When asked what guests typically do when they visit the farm, Valeria said, “while many of our guests arrive with a list as long as their arm, most emerge from the Cottage after a couple of days with hair sticking every which-way, coffee mug in hand, stating — emphatically — that they can’t remember when they’ve rested so well!”

Stillwaters Farm Silo Shop | Farm Stay USA

Aside from all that wonderful rest, guests receive “critter tours” to get to know the inhabitants and landscape of the farm, any questions they have are answered, and from that point on, they decide what they’d like to do. Guests are welcome to join in whatever farm activity is happening, whether it be hay season, bringing in the crop, animal feeding and/or grooming, trimming time for horses, gardening, animal babysitting, nature hiking and photography excursions, flower collecting, and much more.

Stillwaters Farm, Henderson TN | Farm Stay USA

Stillwaters Farm, Henderson TN | Farm Stay USA

The farm occasionally hosts artist’s workshops, where they prepare and paint gourds that are raised on the farm. Off farm activities can include visits to Civil War monuments, such as Shiloh National Battlefield Park, a pearl farm attraction, Casey Jones Village and Museum, a minor league baseball park, and several state parks within an hour’s drive. Guests may also enjoy horseback riding, canoeing, visiting the nearby Amish community of Lawrenceburg, or attending events at the West Tennessee State Fairgrounds. The town of Henderson boasts a new day spa, only 4 miles from the farm, where guests can find services like massage, facials, manicures, and pedicures.

Stillwaters Farm, Henderson, Tennessee | Farm Stay USA

Local food enthusiasts can make their way to the West Tennessee Farmer’s Market in Jackson, where dozens of vendors sell a wide variety of produce, grass-fed meats, arts, crafts, and products from Stillwaters Farm. The farm itself also has “The Silo”, their very own on-farm store featuring their handcrafted artisan soaps, soy candles, art, photography, and more.

Guests staying at Stillwaters Farm enjoy a free-standing 2 bedroom, 1 bath, 1,000 square foot cottage at the leading edge of the farm. It’s climate-controlled with central heat and air, and it offers an outdoor lounge area with views of the diverse gardens and pastoral vistas. A private drive leads to the private parking for Cottage guests.

Stillwaters Farm, Henderson TN | Farm Stay USA

Inside, Valeria tells us, “the Cottage is furnished in period antiques, albeit touchable antiques, along with a 1917 cast iron claw foot tub for soaking.” The bedrooms are spacious and the beds have premium mattresses for guests’ comfort. There is a television and DVD/VCR player, along with a small library of videos, and a stereo hidden away in the living room, but there is no satellite, cable, or Wi-Fi service. A small, but eclectic, library is maintained for guests to use.

Stillwaters Farm, Henderson TN | Farm Stay USA

Stillwaters Farm, Henderson TN | Farm Stay USA

Guests self-prepare their meals, and the kitchen is outfitted with all major appliances, cookware, tableware, and flatware necessary. The Cottage is stocked with coffee, soaps, and essentials like cooking oil, salt and pepper, and spices for guests to use, and guests are encouraged to partake of the fresh, in-season produce from the farm’s garden.

Stillwaters Farm, Henderson, Tennessee | Farm Stay USA

To learn more, we invite you to visit the Stillwaters Farm listing here on Farm Stay U.S., as well as their website and Facebook page.

(All photos courtesy Stillwaters Farm)

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