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.

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!

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.

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In the natural world, many animals have their offspring in springtime — bears, foxes, birds, deer and the like — when food becomes more plentiful with all of the new growth beginning to develop and bloom in their environment.  Although there are exceptions, farmers tend to plan for breeders and their offspring to take advantage of the new growth in pastures and the warm sunshine that welcomes them.  Thus, springtime is the best time to visit farms and ranches if you are looking to meet some sweet faces discovering their new world.  

Here are a few of our members who welcome new little ones to their flocks and herds every year.  Book a springtime stay and get up close and personal with some adorable baby animals! 

Links to every farm listed on photos at the bottom!

Blooming Joy Farm           Goat House Farm          ABC Acres         Bama Bison         Dogwood Hills Guest Farm         The Blue Horn Farm         Hull-O Farms         Melody Acres         Best Clucking Place Farms

Owl Moon Farm           Agarita Creek Ranch           Rockn Rowdy Ranch        Felicity Farms        Vermont Grand View Farm        Oats and Ivy Farm        Blisswood B&B Ranch        Apple Acres Farm   

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Q: What is the history of your farm?

A: We started farming twenty-seven years ago, following in the footsteps of the family who farmed the land a century ago. In the 1840s, Scottish immigrants settled in the Catskills because the rolling hills reminded them of their homeland Scotland. Dutch immigrants joined the Scots and established homesteads and farms in the Kortright valley. In 1842, the McAuslan (Haynes) family settled in the valley and named the farm Appledorn which is the English version of the Dutch appeldoorn or Thornapple (which grow thickly on the hillsides). Our farm was one of the most successful cow dairies in the valley.

Q: What brought you to offer a farm stay?

A:  We moved from Brooklyn 27 years ago. We established the farm stay to supplement farm income and to ensure that our family had exposure and interaction with people of different race, religion, and ideas.

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

A: We raise cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, rabbits on pasture. Our pasture raised meat, eggs, and value added products such as soup, pot pies, pates, sauces are offered on-farm and at farmers markets. We raise horses for pleasure, and we have six working guardian dogs on the premises.

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

A: Our farm is nestled in a valley in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. The farm is on a quiet country road with two other farms. We’re located 20 minutes from Delhi and Oneonta, home of New York State University Colleges.

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

A: We offer farm programs such as Tours, Chores, and Farmer for a Day (opens a PDF). We also offer field and farm workshops (opens a PDF). Farm stay guests may opt to participate in a guided tour of the farm and lend a hand with farm chores. Tour and Chores is 1 to 1½ hour program. Farm chores, depending on the season, may include collecting eggs, bottle feeding kid goats, feeding and watering chickens, rabbits and pigs, moving the sheep or dairy goats with the border collies or milking a goat. Tour and Chores is $60 per family (up to 4 persons).

Guests are also welcome to wander the farm, talk to the animals, splash in the stream, enjoy campfires, and soak in the beauty and quiet. Guests can bike and walk country roads, hike, swim and fish in State Parks and environmental centers.

Cooperstown, home to the Baseball Hall of Fame is 40 minutes away. Picturesque towns are within a half hour drive and are ideal for dining, shopping, cider and beer tasting.

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

A: We have two lodgings – the Farmhouse Suite which occupies the lower half of the Greek Revival farmhouse. Decorated with antiques, it includes an attached library and living room. It has a private entrance and back yard with a fire pit, grill, patio table.

The Farmhand Cabin, located a ¼ mile from the farmhouse is situated in a private spot along the creek. Guests enjoy waking up to the sheep and horses grazing outside the cabin. The cabin has simple cooking facilities including a firepit and picnic table.

We provide farm check-in charcuterie boards, farm + table dinners, picnic baskets and breakfast bags.  The farmhouse suite has wifi.

Our thanks to Tom and Denise for this glimpse of their farm life. Visit the Stone & Thistle Farm listing on Farm Stay USA for more!

(All photos courtesy of Stone & Thistle Farm)

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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!

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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 2^nd, 3^rd, or 4^th 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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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Located in the heart of adventurous cajun country, Bonne Terre (which means Good Earth) is a sanctuary of rest and relaxation.

Bonne Terre is a certified wildlife habitat and a tranquil haven for artists, naturalists, and those just looking to get away from it all. However, it is also just minutes from historic downtown Breaux Bridge and Lafayette; so opportunities for culture, live music and local cuisine are plentiful. For bird watchers, outdoor enthusiasts and eco-tourists: the Atchafalaya Wilderness and Lake Martin are also close at hand. There is something for everyone at Bonne Terre!

Lend a Hand or Just Relax

Bonne Terre is a working farm with animals, a vegetable garden and a small orchard. When you visit at Bonne Terre, participating in farm chores is optional. You can help collect eggs, feed the animals and harvest food from the garden or orchard, if in season. Or you can do nothing but breathe, create, relax and feed your soul.

While at Bonne Terre, you can stay in one of two separate residences: the Cedar studio, or the beautiful hundred year-old Main House.  Each is nestled in a natural Louisiana landscape to provide a quiet, low impact setting for your vacation stay.  With outdoor seating areas and porches for connecting with nature and plenty of welcoming space inside too, both the main house and studio are cozy getaways. 

10-Acres of Sanctuary

The owner, Jennifer Gray, takes pride in the stewardship of her 10-acres of sanctuary by encouraging guests to minimize their impact on the environment through recycling and composting. Their gardens are organically grown, and the studio and house are equipped with eco-friendly and energy saving technologies.

Visit the Bonne Terre Farm listing here on Farm Stay USA and start planning your next getaway!

All photos courtesy of Bonne Terre Farm

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Thomas and Ruth Pepler moved to their farm in 2009 from their hobby farm in New Jersey. In tow was their daughter, Gracie, with her 4-H meat goats and chickens. The property they bought had a little house in the woods on a steep slope surrounded by ‘hollers’ (we had to ask, “What exactly is a holler?” A holler is a steep valley with slopes that go straight up. It may have water in the bottom like a creek but not necessarily. It makes farming difficult.) Thomas had been recruited and hired for a job in a neighboring community. Ruth, a registered nurse, would stay home to home school Gracie. As it turned out, the farm was the perfect classroom.

Having arrived at the farm with a few animals, Thomas pointed out to Gracie that her animals needed a purpose on the farm and meat goats weren’t necessarily paying the bills. She sold the meat goats and purchased dairy goats. At 12 she applied for and received a youth loan from the FSA (Farm Service Agency) to buy a milk cow. She was the youngest to ever win such a loan. Because the farm was so hilly and not suited for pasture, Gracie researched and started to grow hydroponic barley for sprouts, aka fodder feed, for her dairy cow. She paid off her loan, bought a better show cow to take to the county fair, and purchased a 48’ trailer so she could sprout enough fodder feed for her growing herd, 300 pounds per day!

As with most farmers, the concern was how to make the farm profitable on many levels. Ruth, in her schooling for Gracie, discovered her propensity for learning new things and sharing what she had learned with others. Having bought the adjoining lot for their own family home, the little farm house seemed to offer a perfect opportunity as a farm stay. As a former suburbanite, she knew just what might inspire families to trek out into the countryside for a hands-on experience at farm life.

The focus would be local, healthy food because both Ruth and Gracie had a keen and growing interest in food and food preparation, starting with their own health. Gracie appeared to be allergic to cow’s milk from the store, and Ruth had a predisposition to celiac disease in her family. So they drank raw milk (and learned to make cheese and yogurt) and perfected recipes for gluten-free meals. While their land was too hardscrabble to grow much more than herbs and strawberries, they bought veggies and meat from area farms within 25 miles of their home.

With a certified kitchen, they started offering farm-to-table meals both as private sittings and for their guests. Gracie studied with a bakery chef and worked side-by-side with her mother to prepare the meals. Now college-aged, Gracie actually helps in all aspects of what the farm has to offer in the agritourism arena – from tours to overnight stays to cooking to student internships and classes. It’s all part of small farm sustainability – that entrepreneurial spirit that inspired Ruth and Gracie to create a destination location out of a small house in a holler with poor soil and a stunning view.

While Dogwood Hills, located in the Ozarks Mountains of Arkansas, may serve as a jumping off point for many outdoor activities available in the area, guests will find the warmth and hospitality of this farm just as wonderful and possibly more memorable!

Check out Dogwood Hills Guest Farm here on Farm Stay USA and plan your Arkansas farm stay vacation!

Photos provided by Dogwood Hills Guest Farm and Dana Treat Photography

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Rêves de Moutons translates roughly to “the dreams of the sheep” or “sheep dreams”, which sounds a lot like sweet dreams, which becomes reality when you find you can stay on a sheep farm in the heart of Paso Robles wine country!

Meet Evan and Kristy Bishop – a lovely young couple who opened their Inn, farm, and fromagerie in 2014, following their own dream to create a place where they might ultimately retire, but while still young could enjoy a region of their choice and be productive participants in the landscape and community.

Evan and Kristy raise sheep and goats for milk, cheese, meat, and wool. They are working to become a certified dairy (hopefully by spring), and then will be able to sell their cheese to their lucky guests.

Evan spent summers at the family dairy in Maine and is a photographer by trade; Kristy was in the health industry until the couple settled down to make their way on the farm.

Best of all, rather than keep their beautiful farm to themselves, they decided to open an inn for guests! Here you can stay in luxury retro style campers with plush queen sized beds and fully equipped kitchens, as well as an intimate community courtyard for hosting a group retreat or meeting the other guests. If you prefer, there are two rooms in the farm house shared with the Bishops.

Daily farm tours and meet and greets with the flock of sheep and goats allows guest to get the farm experience without having to muck out the pens! Or, if guests want the full hands-on experience, that can happen too. Evan is happy for the help with the feeding and the milking, and Kristy will hand you an extra muck rake if you are willing.

Pricing starts at $149 per night in the glamping trailers, identified as Bliss, Harmony, and Joy. Or rent all three for a family reunion or holiday with friends for $349. The two rooms in the farm house are available on Airbnb (search for Rêves de Moutons) for $129 per night, and these include breakfast.

The lodging is bordered by a vineyard on one side and the farm’s livestock on the other. Use the farm as a base camp for all there is to do and see in the area. It’s a quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle of life and you might just find that you don’t go anywhere but fall into the gentle rhythm of the countryside with a glass of wine and a good book!

For more information, check out the Rêves de Moutons listing here at Farm Stay USA, or visit them on their website, Facebook, or Instagram (a must follow, for more of these gorgeous photos)!

All photos courtesy Rêves de Moutons.

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Guests and visitors to the farm can also opt to sign up for a cheese making class, where they learn to make chèvre, mozzarella, or cheddar cheese. They also give the option of milking the cows and goats in the morning before class!

Overnight guests have the option to be “farmer for a day”, which includes hands-on egg-collecting, feed and water the ponies and horses, feed and milk the goats, and observe cow milking. Draft horses help with much of the everyday farm work during certain seasons.

The farm itself dates back to about 1850 and run by two families until Kathleen Fields purchased it in 1997. Vacationers can choose to stay in the farm house, where there are two rooms with queen beds, plus a room with twin beds, or stay in a mobile home/RV that is situated in the six acres of woods on the property.

Camps are offered during the summer, including Farm Camp, Horse Lovers Camp, and Kindercamp. More information can be found on the farm’s website.

Start planning your trip to Flint Hill Farm today!

Enjoy a closer peek at Flint Hill Farm through this video:

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