For urban families planning their next vacation, a trip to the farm might not seem as thrilling as a visit to Disneyland or as relaxing as a week at the beach. Sure a farm stay may be easier on the budget, but will the kids enjoy it – or end up bored? And, if the kids aren’t having fun, does that mean parents will regret the choice?

Actually, a farm stay could be the family getaway you didn’t know you all needed.

Picture this: you arrive at the farm, only to find yourself herding sheep with your car. The farmer greets you with a smile and a request – step out with the kids and stretch your arms wide to guide the sheep back through the hole in the fence. Within moments, you’re in the middle of the action, and the kids are already hooked.

Suddenly, the tablets and phones the kids were glued to during the drive are forgotten in the backseat. There’s more to do here, like collecting eggs from the chicken coop – eggs that can be cooked for breakfast (says the kid who never eats eggs). Chores become part of the farm experience: feeding hay to the livestock, filling the water tanks, helping to dig potatoes, sweeping the barn, and more. It’s as if chore time is somehow different from washing the dishes and picking up dirty clothes off the floor at home. “Time for chores!” and the kids are already pulling on their boots.

No, no one is bored.

It’s almost like traveling to a foreign land when many farm stays are only hours from home. Children delight in the unexpected. The sights and smells are new. Fresh cut hay. Cows being milked by machines. Gardens with row after row of vegetables. Tractors rumbling by. Waving fields of grain or corn so tall it seems to touch the sky. Friendly goats that chew on anything. Nights that seem so quiet, yet alive with unfamiliar sounds and movement. Skies filled with stars. By bedtime, the kids are exhausted, their adventures replayed over dinner and drawn into pictures, to be brought home or tacked to the refrigerator with all the others.

These days we tell a story of two worlds: the natural world and the digital world. They are so very different in their impact. Maybe this is when we need to take a breath literally and offer our kids something more real and grounded as a balance. Connection to the food they eat, connection to the people who grow it, an immersive experience that enriches their understanding of the world around them and the ground they stand on. It could do us grown-ups some good too.

Time to plan a farm stay for your next vacation. While not all farms allow kids, most do, so check Yes on the filter that says Kids Allowed as you search the Farmstay site for this and all the activities you are looking for.

And, lest you think kids get all the fun, adults (with or without children) may find the experience brilliantly refreshing, so much so it becomes a regular weekend in the country. Let’s go herd sheep!

Authors Note: From the photos is looks like we all need to go to Pennsylvania but there are wonderful farms all over the U.S. It was just serendipity that these two photos really seemed to fit the story line.

The post Try this Family Adventure – Stay on a Farm appeared first on Farmstay.

The Evolution of a Farm Stay

Though it’s been a Vacation Rental destination in Texas since 2010, the 172 acre farm on the San Gabriel River wasn’t always a Farm Stay. It began in 1968 as a family farm of 112 scenic acres of bluffs, live oaks, river front and breathtaking views.  Sheron’s parents built their dream home there, and an artist’s studio for Sheron’s mother- the renowned painter, and favorite of President Lyndon B. Johnson, C.P. Montague.

Sheron has said that if her mother could dream it, her father could build it.  Only Sheron and her husband accepted the offer from her parents of a share of the farm, and the trajectory of the future of Scurlock Farms was set in motion.  

Over many years, Dan and Sheron bought more of the farm, built their own dream home and raised their own children.  When Sheron’s mother passed, they decided to share the remarkable spaces, the beautiful views and enormous history of the original house and artist’s studio with family, friends, and members of their community. After 20 years of sharing these spaces, they decided to make it official, and turn them into permanent vacation rentals.  They now have had visitors from all 50 states and 23 different countries!!  Though a silver award winning “Best of Georgetown” vacation destination, they still commit to the good works they began with and often use the property to host fund raisers for The Caring Place and other charities, host Girl Scout campouts and have coordinated a meal program to provide food to shut-ins, the sick, and the homeless.

Welcoming Homes

There are two welcoming homes at Scurlock farms fully furnished and ready for your visit.  The Palette Pad is C.P. Montague’s artist’s studio. It was built by hand by Sheron’s father, and, as you might imagine, is full of huge windows and is surrounded by incredible views. The original home, now named the Rocky Overlook, was planned and built by Sheron’s parents with their own hands.

Experiential Family Fun

Scurlock Farms offers a wide variety of Farm Stay experiences.  You can enjoy a peaceful romantic getaway, a weekend of fishing and tubing on the San Gabriel River, a fossil and rock hunting or bird-watching adventure, or an authentic farm stay complete with farm animals and tractor rides.  It is 30 minutes from Austin and only 10 minutes from Georgetown and can act as a central location to adventures off the farm.  For those that want an immersive farm experience, you can tour the property with the owners on a Polaris, stroll through the 20-acre pecan orchard, or help with the farm chores if you like. 

Kids are welcome at Scurlock farms and the adventure opportunities are nearly endless.  Looking for arrowheads and fossils, gathering eggs, playing with the farm cats and baby goats, hiking the 172 acres of beautiful Texas countryside, or riding in a tractor, learning to make jelly, or helping rake the hay.  No matter the adventure path you take, at the end of the day, skipping rocks on the river, and roasting some marshmallows on the patio fire pit can’t be beat.  

Last summer, the Scurlocks grew 600# of tomatoes and hundreds of pounds of squash, zucchini, peppers, cucumbers and more.  They realized they couldn’t consume all of it before starting the spring gardens, so in October they opened a farm stand at the farm entry gate. They told us that it has been a great success, with many repeat guests each week enjoying freshly canned salsas, jellies, jams, veggies, pickles, homemade breads, baked goods, and free-range chicken eggs. Many have commented they have not had homemade jellies since they were at home and they’re reminded of their grandmothers. The Scurlocks say it’s been a wonderful way to meet neighbors they didn’t yet know!

Visit the Scurlock Farms listing on Farm Stay USA and start planning your Texas farm stay experience!

The post A Labor of Love at Scurlock Farms in Georgetown, TX appeared first on Farmstay.

This is what they told us…

1) When did you take up farming and what was your vision?

Todd grew up in a rural town on the North Shore of MA.  As a young child, he spent countless days at his neighbor’s farm sometimes helping with harvests and planting, and getting to interact with the goats, pigs, and geese.  These were fond memories for Todd, so when he was contemplating a career change, he began volunteering on a farm while taking a culinary program in Austin, TX.  He continued to work on farms after he moved back to New England.  He attended the University of Vermont Farmer Training Program for a summer, apprenticed at a large farm in Hamilton, MA, and managed an urban farm in Lowell for a season, before he and Suzy decided to purchase their own farm.

Suzy grew up in the suburbs of NYC, but always dreamed of living on a farm.  She spent her childhood days in New York riding and caring for her horse.  While attending university, Suzy studied animal science but changed paths, after college, and took a job at the zoo in Boston caring for exotic animals.  After working at the zoo, she became an agriculture volunteer in the Peace Corps where she taught the women in her village how to grow a small vegetable garden.  During her experience in the Peace Corps her daily meals included eating fresh cheese, homegrown beans, farm fresh eggs and other local foods.

We were both excited about the idea of having our own farm, growing our own food, and raising our children to appreciate where their food comes from.  We were also excited about the idea of sharing this experience with people who may be curious about life on a farm, but unable to spend more than a couple of days on a farm.

2) How did you come up with the name Fat Sheep Farm?

I wish I had a really good story as to how we came up with the name, but it’s really not that exciting. We wanted something fun and easy to remember. We also knew that we were not going to be a “traditional” farm (which you can easily determine that we are not at all traditional, when you arrive on the farm), so we did not want a “traditional” farm name.

One day my best friend and Todd were brainstorming names and one of them…we still don’t know the truth as to who said it first, but one of them threw out the name Fat Sheep Farm. We did some searching to see if there were any other Fat Sheep Farms in the world, and to our surprise, there was only one very small family farm out in Washington state that has the name (and unfortunately owns the domain name, as well). It didn’t take long before we committed to the name “Fat Sheep Farm”.

3) What are guests allowed to do on your farm?

While staying at Fat Sheep Farm, guests are invited to participate in morning animal chores all year round.  During the summer months, this includes feeding the goats and bringing them to pasture, milking the sheep and bringing them out to pasture, feeding the chickens and collecting the eggs.  During morning chores, guests can have all of their burning questions about farming answered.

All summer long, the sheep are often grazing right in front of the guest cabins.  You can sit in the Adirondack chair on your porch and watch the sheep graze.  Guests are also welcome to walk around the vegetable fields.  The animals return to the barn around 4pm each evening.  Guests enjoy walking through the barn and visiting with the animals in the evenings, as well.

In the spring when the lambs are born, guests can enjoy the opportunity to help socialize the lambs (aka lots of lamb hugs).  We also have a one mile trail through our woods and a half mile walk through our fields.  At night, guests are welcome to come sit around our fire pit and enjoy the sunset and s’mores.

4) I hear you offer workshops?

Once there is a Covid vaccine and travel becomes more normalized, the farm will once again offer cheese making and bread making workshops.

In the Basic Sourdough Bread Making workshop, guests learn the basics of how to work with sourdough and make, shape and bake their own dough for the perfect loaf.  Guests are even given dough to take back to their cabin to bake the following morning and starter to take home.

The Cheese Making workshop focuses on making cheese at home.  Guests are guided through the process of making fresh cheeses, such as Halloumi, Feta and Ricotta, or learn to make an aged cheese, such as Gouda. They are also instructed on how to create their own space for aging cheese at home.

5) With multiple guests on the farm at one time, since you have five cabins, what is that experience like for them?

All of our guests, big or small, are able to enjoy the farm experience at Fat Sheep Farm in their own time and their own way.  Guests usually have different motivations for staying with us. Some guests want to participate in chores once, while some want to join for chores everyday during their stay.  Other guests want to relax on their porch, take in the views, and take day trips to the surrounding area attractions.

We are always happy to help our guests plan their trips before their arrival and make further suggestions of things to do and places to eat while they are at the farm.  We encourage guests to contact us way ahead of time if they are interested in attending a workshop on the farm, so that we can plan accordingly.

6) Why do you offer farm stays?

Why do we offer farm stays…there are so many reasons! Many people have become so disconnected from the land and where the food comes from.  Our farm gives people the opportunity, whether it’s for one night, or annual week long visits, to disconnect from their screens, ask farming questions, snuggle a sheep, taste their first farm fresh egg, prepare a meal using produce from our farm, or learn a new skill like bread making or cheese making.

Whether guests are interested in the farm experience or just want a quiet place to rest their heads, everyone can appreciate the serenity of our farm and the magical views of the Vermont hills that everyone can enjoy from their cabin porch.

Find out more about Fat Sheep Farm at Farm Stay USA. We are happy to know them and to know their story. We hope you are too!

* * *

COVID-19 INFORMATION

• Please be aware of Vermont cross state travel information. Contact Fat Sheep Farm for more information or if you have questions.

• Demand Is High For Independent Units Now — Cancellations Are Posted to Facebook and Instagram — Check our Availability

• Fat Sheep Farm maintains our high standard for cleanliness, including sanitizing and disinfecting surfaces with EPA certified cleaners

• Fat Sheep Farm has Blueair Blue Pure 121 Air Purifiers in every cabin

• We offer a remote check-in and check-out process in order to limit person to person contact

• Enjoy the beauty of Vermont and our farm while easily following all social distancing guidelines

The post Fat Sheep Farm in Hartland, VT Offers Farm Life Up Close and Personal appeared first on Farmstay.

1. Could you tell us a bit about East Hill Farm?

JM: The Inn at East Hill Farm offers a vacation atmosphere coupled with a unique farm-oriented educational experience. Year round activities for the whole family include indoor and outdoor swimming, hiking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing, cow milking, egg collecting, hay and sleigh rides, horseback riding and a children’s recreation program. Three home-cooked family style meals are served daily.

2. Your farm has so many different programs … you host farm vacations, senior programs, sleigh rides, dances, and more. How do you do it all? And how does it all fit together?

JM: East Hill Farm does offer many experiences. At the heart of it all we are a family vacation resort with a working farm. For many years we have offered families a relaxing vacation on the farm. Guests are encouraged to interact with the animals and farmers as much as they like. The cows and goats need to be milked each day and eggs need to be collected. We have horseback riding lessons and trail rides as well as wagon rides and sleigh rides.

Over the years we have expanded our offerings in order to remain viable and to stay open all year long. We have developed ways to draw visitors through a variety of programs. Whether someone is coming for an all-inclusive resort vacation, a senior bus tour, a dance weekend, farm school or a business conference, everyone is encouraged to experience part of farm life.

3. You just started a new program called the Farm School Program. Could you tell us about it? What inspired you to start the program?

JM: East Hill Farm School gives middle school students, grades 5-8, with a meaningful, hands-on farm experience. Students will join the East Hill Farm farmers and naturalists for a 3-day program where students will play an integral role in running our farm.

On our 150 acres, we raise heritage breed cows, goats, sheep and pigs along with horses, chickens and other farm animals. Through our school program, students will help us run the farm, from milking the cows to fixing fences to helping manage the fields and surrounding woodlands. By caring for the animals and gaining a stronger appreciation for environmental stewardship, the farm will begin to feel like a home away from home. Schools can customize the program by choosing from a variety of workshops that best align with their curriculum or students’ interests.

4. What has been the response to the Farm School Program so far?

JM: We have had positive feedback from the schools that have visited us. The students enjoy working on the farm and learning about farm life. The students have participated in projects that have improved the farm, such as helping to create new signs for various barns and helping with seeding the fields.

5. Are there other programs like this at other farms that you know of?

JM: The Farm School in Athol, MA has a similar program. They have been providing farm-based education for children and adults for years. We continue to network with and learn from other farmers and programs and have recently joined the Farm-Based Education Association. www.farmbasededucation.org

6. Which of your programs would you recommend most to other farms looking to diversify?

JM: I think anything farmers can do to expand on educational opportunities is wonderful. There is a trend toward reconnecting with our food supply and eating locally-grown produce and meats. Building connections with local schools and organizations to provide food products and settings for place based education are also important. It is wonderful for students to participate in farm based education right at their local farms!

The post Interview: The Inn at East Hill Farm – Year-round Farm Fun Plus A New Farm School Program Just for Kids appeared first on Farmstay.