Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a creative soul, or simply seeking relaxation, a farm stay has something for everyone. Remember that each farm is unique, offering different experiences. Inquire with the farmer on what is offered before you visit!

Immerse Yourself In Farm Life

• Snuggle up with adorable baby animals like goats, lambs, and piglets!
• Collect eggs and treat yourself to a fresh farm breakfast
• Join the farmer in their daily chores, from feeding the animals to milking cows, sheep, or goats
• Spend some quality time with horses, brushing and braiding their manes and forming a special bond
• Get your hands dirty and help the farmer with harvesting produce fresh from the garden
• Pick fresh berries and try to get more in the bowl than in your mouth
• Test your plant knowledge by identifying the various greens growing in the greenhouse
• Team up with the shepherd or cowboy and learn about herding with dogs
• Hop on a tractor ride if they offer one, and enjoy the scenic views of the farm
• Explore the farm store for unique items you won’t find on Amazon

Nurture Your Creativity

• Create beautiful bookmarks or picture frame decorations by pressing flowers or leaves you find on the farm
• Make a lovely bouquet of wildflowers and get creative with a hair wreath too!
• Bring a musical instrument along and play in different spots around the farm – by the campfire, in the barn with the animals, or on the front porch
• Cook up a delicious meal using ingredients sourced directly from the farm
• Don’t forget your camera! Capture the diverse flora and fauna you encounter during your farm adventure
• Unleash your artistic side and sketch your favorite scenes from your stay – try landscapes, still life, or even a portrait of your favorite travel partner
• Let your imagination run wild and build a charming fairy house using rocks, sticks, moss, and leaves. Hide it in plain sight for the next guests to discover
• Get artsy and paint a rock with a special message, then hide it just like the fairy house
• Document your farm experiences either in a personal journal or share them with your host in their guestbook
• Make the most of any classes or workshops offered on the farm – it’s a great way to learn a new skill to bring home with you

Relax and Recharge

• Get lost in a new book during your stay and leave one for the next guest to discover and enjoy
• Treat yourself to a glass of wine and unwind while watching the sunset
• Embrace the early morning mood, brew some coffee or tea, and catch the magical sunrise from your porch
• Take some time to meditate and fully immerse yourself in the farm’s natural surroundings, engaging all your senses
• Put pen to paper and write a letter to a friend or family member
• Take a leisurely afternoon nap on a cozy hammock, or if you’re feeling tired, just take a nap anywhere you please!
• Indulge in the joy of an outdoor shower or bath – if your farm has a pool, even better!
• Experience the cozy charm of a campfire and enjoy a wonderful evening fireside
• Try out traditional yoga or, for a fun twist, attempt some downward dog poses with a friendly goat as your partner!
• Experience Earthing by getting involved in planting or simply strolling barefoot around the farm. Just be mindful of where you step!

Embrace Outdoor Adventure

• Take a refreshing dip and go for a swim in a nearby pond, river, or lake
• Saddle up and go for a horseback ride
• Enjoy a leisurely walk, scouting for the perfect spot to have a picnic
• Set out on a scenic bike ride, exploring the charming country roads nearby
• Feel the wind in your hair and go for an invigorating run amidst the beauty of the countryside
• Grab a kayak or canoe and have a great time paddling on a nearby pond, river, or lake
• Bring along a pair of binoculars to observe the diversity of wildlife. You can use the free Merlin app to identify birds by their song and iNaturalist, National Geographic’s app, to identify plants and wildlife
• End your day with a stargazing session. The free Sky Guide app will help you find and learn about your favorite constellations!
• Explore the farm’s trails on foot and take in your surroundings
• If fishing is your thing, have some catch-and-release fun – or catch and cook your own meal!

Unleash Your Playful Side

• Play a game of horseshoes, bocce ball, cornhole, croquet, badminton, or any other outdoor games you love!
• Fly a kite high up in the farm’s open sky
• Perfect your stone-skipping skills by creating ripples across the nearby pond or river
• Play a fun round of “I Spy” and see what exciting things you can spot around the farm
• Listen for the night sounds on the farm and try to identify them
• Not just counting sheep before sleep, but counting the real sheep on the farm – they’re adorable!
• Catch fireflies, marvel at their glowing magic, and then set them free to light up the night
• Create an exciting scavenger hunt and let the adventure lead you all around the farm
• Relive your childhood days and enjoy a game of tag or a thrilling game of hide and seek
• Splash around in the mud on a rainy day – sometimes, the simplest joys are the best! (We think we’ve run out of ideas. lol)

The post 50 Ways To Experience Farm Life This Summer appeared first on Farmstay.

Grocery chains and shopping online may be convenient and at times necessary, but supporting local farms has many benefits to explore that are not only delicious but invaluable to the local community and environment.  They play a crucial role in the sustainability of our food systems by contributing to local economies, food quality, environmental stewardship, and community well-being.

Small farms are the backbones of local economies as they circulate money within the community by producing and supplying local goods in their stores.  This boosts agricultural activity as it creates a demand for nearby farms to support each other.  They also foster economic resilience by creating employment opportunities for local residents.  

Frequenting small farm stores not only gives access to high-quality, nutritious food but also fosters a sense of community between consumers and farmers.  By cutting out the middleman, consumers have the opportunity to gain insight into cultivation practices, animal welfare, and overall quality, which allows them to participate in maintaining the integrity of their local food systems for the whole community. 

Mass-produced fruit and vegetable varieties in supermarkets are often very limited as they are commonly shipped from afar, so flavor is often sacrificed for shelf life and hardiness in transport.  Meat varieties are also sometimes relegated to breeds that grow quickly, produce the most offspring and/or yield the largest carcasses. Small farms often grow more heirloom varieties of fruits and vegetables and heritage or hybrid breeds that have distinct flavor profiles that you won’t find in your every-day supermarket.   Utilizing local farms as a resource for seeds and starters can also help ensure your home garden is more likely to be a success as well.     

Many small farms take pride in environmental stewardship by encouraging biodiversity with polyculture, crop rotations, integrated pest management and soil conservation techniques to keep their land productive.  By choosing to shop locally, you are helping to mitigate climate change by reducing the carbon footprint — minimizing the need for long-distance transportation of goods, preserving natural resources and promoting sustainable land use.

Small farms can also serve as community hubs that bring people together through fostering social connections at workshops, educational events and markets.  Taking a class taught by experts who produce these items is a great way to bring the farm home with you and learn some homesteading skills to practice  at home.  Furthermore, they often support local charities, schools and community initiatives creating a sense of shared responsibility and well-being.

If you don’t have enough room in the car to bring home half a hog or some frozen chickens or you are visiting from out of state, shopping online is sometimes your only alternative.  Many small farms have adapted to the times and created e-commerce stores so you can still shop small at home.   

Farm stores are not all about food though — they often also feature handmade items from local artists and craftsman.  Many stock pelts, yarn and other fiber arts from their sheep, leather goods from cattle as well as furniture, folk art, and other wares to bring home with you.

While staying on a farm can be a fun and memorable experience, it is important to remember the vitality of a farm rests in your support of their farm stores.  Spending your dollars locally is so much more than buying food or trinkets; you are supporting your friends and neighbors.  From raw milk and artisan cheeses to homemade baked goods, wine and local art – these specialty items are unique only to small farms and are often more affordable than generic or large-scale suppliers. Let us recognize and celebrate the vital role they play through creativity, hard work and collaboration to create a sustainable and resilient food system and community.  

To see all of the Farmstay farms with farm stores, click here.

The post The Farm Store: The Vitality of a Small Farm appeared first on Farmstay.

Have you ever thought about how relaxed you feel when you sink your toes into the sand at the beach or when you’re lying on the grass at the park?  It turns out there could be a scientific explanation for this. 

Earthing, also known as grounding, is the practice of involving direct skin contact with the earth’s surface or using conductive materials to connect one’s body to the earth’s electrical field.  While earthing has been practiced for centuries in many cultures, modern science has only recently begun to study its potential health benefits.  In particular, earthing has shown promise in improving mental health. 

Inflammation is well known to play a role in overall cognitive function and a range of mental health disorders including: depression, anxiety and Alzheimer’s disease.  A growing body of peer-reviewed research suggests that earthing can have a positive impact on mood, stress, and anxiety levels by reducing inflammation.  It turns out the Earth’s surface contains an abundance of negatively charged electrons which are believed to neutralize free radicals– subsequently reducing inflammation in the body.  When these electrons are absorbed into the body, they may have a calming and healing effect on the mind as well.   

One study published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health found that earthing can reduce stress levels and improve mood.  Using random assignment, participants were placed into either an earthing or control group.  The earthing group spent 30 minutes sitting or walking barefoot on grass or sand, while the control group did not.  After a 30-minute session, the earthing group showed a significant reduction in cortisol levels – a hormone associated with stress – and an improvement in their overall mood compared to the control group.  

Other studies have incorporated earthing devices to wear passively while sitting or even sleeping.  In another study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, participants with chronic pain experienced a reduction in pain and improved sleep quality after 4 weeks utilizing an earthing mat connected to the Earth’s surface.  

Earthing is certainly not a cure-all, but it can serve as an easy, free, non-invasive therapeutic tool used in conjunction with other treatments to help prevent and treat dysfunction in the body that originates at bioelectrical levels of our physiology.  Although more research is needed to fully grasp how earthing works and its impact on mental health, the evidence so far suggests that this is a practice worth exploring.  

Venturing out into the rural countryside – away from noise pollution and urban environments – often enables us to relax and connect with nature.  Farms offer the ideal atmosphere and often large areas of pasture or forest to practice earthing.  Additionally, soil (not dirt) is richer in organic matter from animal waste and cover cropping.  This organic matter further enhances the benefits of earthing due to its increased conductivity of the Earth’s energy.   

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and staying on a farm could be a helpful step (pun intended) in the right direction towards a more natural approach to improving your emotional and psychological well-being.  From earthing to forest bathing to goat yoga – there is something for everyone to engage in on any farm to help heal our bodies and minds.  Though while you’re barefoot earthing on a farm, remember to watch out for the poop.

Reference and additional studies on earthing included below: 

• Chevalier, G., et al. (2012). Earthing: Health implications of reconnecting the human body to the Earth’s surface electrons. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2012, 291541. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/291541
• Murray, D. (2021, October 18). What Is Grounding or Earthing? Can It Help Improve Your Health? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/grounding#the-science
• Ghaly, M., & Teplitz, D. (2020). The biologic effects of grounding the human body during sleep as measured by cortisol levels and subjective reporting of sleep, pain, and stress. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, 17(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2019-0053
• National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Homeostasis. In NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/homeostasis
• Ober, C., Sinatra, S. T., & Zucker, M. (2010). Earthing: The most important health discovery ever? Basic Health Publications, Inc.
• Oschman, J. L. (2007). Can electrons act as antioxidants? A review and commentary. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 13(9), 955-967. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2007.7048
• Oschman, J. L., et al. (2015). The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Journal of Inflammation Research, 8, 83-96. https://doi.org/
• Sharma, H., & Zhang, X. (2019). Effectiveness of Earthing (Grounding) in Promoting Health: A Literature Review. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, 16(3), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2018-0030
• Sokal, K., & Sokal, P. (2015). Earthing the human body influences physiologic processes. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 21(5), 301-308. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2014.0023

The post Discover Earthing On A Farm For Mental Health Awareness Month appeared first on Farmstay.

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   

The post Springtime = Baby Animals! appeared first on Farmstay.

Have you ever considered staying in a rural location, or on an actual farm while on a trip?  Have you hesitated to because you were not sure what to expect?  In this post Ask Me Anything: 10 Questions About Farm Stays, I hope I answer most of your questions and help you make an informed decision if a farm stay would be a good fit for you

1.  WHAT IS A FARM STAY?

A farm stay can be a variety of things.  It can be as simple as staying in a cabin or home on a working farm with the intent of getting away from the concrete jungles, hustle, bustle, and noise of many people’s everyday life.   Some guests don’t want to leave the farm at all.  They want to read books, visit, reconnect, unplug and unwind, or just sit outside and listen to the bird songs and enjoy the colorful sunsets.

Other guests want to immerse themselves in the activities going on while they are visiting the farm.  Last year I had a family from Houston stay with two young girls, ages 10 and 12.  Mom wanted the girls to totally get away from electronics and see what it was like to live and work on a farm.  This was their main Christmas gift, and their stay was over the holiday.

Mom and dad stayed at the house, and the girls were out learning new skills and working during the mornings.  They wanted to stay a full week, but everything was booked except for a 4 day window.  Needless to say, a lot of activities were crammed into those few days.  The girls had a ball!  In fact, they had such a good time and it made such a difference in their attitudes, the parents made an offer to purchase a home nearby.

Other guests want to explore the Texas Hill Country and use the home as a base.  Others want a place for family members to gather between wedding activities.  They want a place to return to, to be able relax and unwind.  They don’t want “a bed in a box” or hotel room.  These guests enjoy the patios, sunsets, and night farm sounds.

2.  WHAT CAN I EXPECT WHEN STAYING ON A FARM?

Well, there are many sites, sounds, and smells you may experience.  For sure, there will be gates, fences, probably animals in pastures, and large equipment.  Many farms will have unpaved roads.

Gates are very important on a farm.  Remember to leave them as you find them each time you go through it.  If it is open, leave it open; if it is closed, leave it closed.

Depending on the season, you may smell fruit tree blossoms, freshly mown hay.  You may even smell manure if you are working in a barn.

The sounds on a farm will vary with the kind of farm you visit.  On our farm, you may hear goats bleating and cows mowing, many songbirds, and owls at night.  If it is a full moon, you may hear a coyote or two.  But, most of all, it will be the peace and quiet you notice.  No sirens and traffic, doors slamming as guests check into a hotel room.  And, no kids running up and down the halls, or heavy footfalls overhead!

3.  CAN I WORK OR WILL I BE REQUIRED TO DO CHORES ON THE FARM?

Some dude ranches may require you do chores, but you would know and agree to that before the visit.  Most farm stays do not require it, but will allow guests to help with some things.  Children especially like to help gather eggs, feed the chickens, and feed the goats.

When you stay on a farm, your host will want you to relax and enjoy your stay. Be sure and ask when deciding where to stay.  You want to know in advance what activities you and your children can participate in.

Many guests at our farm never do any chores.  They sure do enjoy the hammock, fire pit and fire places, hiking about the farm, and playing in and on the river.  The river offers so many activities – wading, tubing, fishing, or skipping rocks.

Children have really enjoyed helping feed the goats in the evening when they come up to the pens.  One 12 year old met us at the barns every evening after we showed him the ropes the first night.  He had the feeders lined up and filled with food ready to go into the pen.

The mother of a 10 year old girl commented her daughter’s bed should have been at the barn.  As soon as she awoke each morning, she said “I have to go to the barn!”  We have many babies twice a year and the kiddos really enjoy holding and petting them.

Dan or David will let the kids “drive” a tractor of their choice.  If they are baling hay, many have ridden in the jump seat on the big tractor to make a bale.  Some granddads even wanted to do it!

Many guests have never seen the equipment doing the actual work and have been fascinated, just standing and watching the process.

4.  WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?

Be sure and take close-toed shoes when going on any farm stay.  If you plan on hiking about, you will want clothes that don’t easily snag and clothing that can get dirty.  Most vacation homes on farms have washers and dryers, but it is a good idea to check.

5.  ARE MEALS INCLUDED?

This really varies.  If you are staying in the farm home with the host family, you may be provided breakfast or all meals.  You may be given use of the kitchen.  Be sure and talk with your host prior to booking so you know exactly what is provided.  Many farms are miles from the nearest store, so you for sure will want to bring all the supplies you will need.  You can’t just “run to the store” like at home!

If you are staying in a rental home on the farm, most will have kitchens so you can bring your own food and cook.  If the farm has chickens, they may give you eggs or you may purchase them.  When children gather eggs, I let them each take an egg for their next breakfast (our chickens lay in crazy places!).  They love it!

If the farm has a garden, many times you can purchase produce from the farm to use in your food prep.  Others may let you gather what you need for a meal.

The raised beds sown in the picture are being replaced this year with differently designed, larger beds, using cement blocks 3 high, rather than 2″ x 12″ boards.  They will never decay or need to be replaced.  When the garden is in production, guests are welcome to gather some produce for their dinner.  Children especially like doing this!  Check out this post showing the beds being built, along with the plans.

At Scurlock Farms I don’t provide meals, but I do bake a batch of from-scratch muffins the evening of a guest’s arrival, using real butter and eggs from my free-range chickens.  They are great for dessert or for breakfast.  I also provide a fresh fruit bowl of seasonal fruits, coffee and a variety of hot teas.

6.  WHAT IS THERE TO DO?

This will be different for each farm.  If you plan on visiting and staying at a vineyard, there probably will not be farm animals,  chickens or gathering eggs, or helping feed the animals.

If you and your family are looking for a more traditional farm or ranch stay, you will probably be able to help gather the eggs, feed the chickens, help with putting hay out or sweet feed for the different animals, or harvest crops.  Most hosts are happy for the assistance.  They will probably have a schedule for doing different chores at certain times of the day.

Visit with the host of a farm you are interested in visiting and ask what you or your children will be able to help with.

Guests visiting Scurlock Farms are free to visit and play with the baby goats, feed the horses apples and carrots, gather pecans in the fall, fish, look for fossils or arrowheads, and ride in the tractor when the guys are baling hay.  The following photos show guests enjoying different activities at Scurlock Farms.

7.  HOW FAR FROM THE GROCERY STORE OR RESTAURANTS?

This is a great question to ask ahead of time and even before making a reservation.  You certainly don’t want to arrive and need to run to the store for supplies, only to learn it is many miles away!  Grocery stores are only a 15 minute drive from Scurlock Farms.  Hopefully the farms you are interested in staying with will have a welcome book.  Some are willing to share it only after reservations are made, others may share it with you even if you don’t make a reservation.  I am happy to share the  Scurlock Farms Welcome Book with anyone anytime, whether they visit or not.  I really like the idea of “help, don’t sell”.  Even if someone chooses to stay somewhere else, hopefully they will remember and visit Scurlock Farms in the future

8.  ARE THERE KID-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES ON THE FARM?

What a disappointment it would be to book a stay on a farm and learn that everything was off-limits to children!  Ask questions before you book.  Obviously there may be areas that would be off-limits on some working farms, but other areas should be open for exploring.

We have no off-limit areas at Scurlock Farms.  Our animals are friendly and love the attention guests give them.  Guests are shown the different areas of the farm – hiking, river, animals, etc. when they first arrive, so they know the lay of the land.

We allow guests to help gather eggs, feed the chickens, feed and brush the horses, feed and hold the baby goats, put out feed, and “drive” a tractor with Dan or David.  When the gardens are in, guests are welcome to help themselves to fresh produce to use in their meals.  Guests are welcome to pick up pecans when they open up in the fall.  If you are lucky enough to visit during the harvest, it is fun to watch the different equipment do its job!

THIS SHORT VIDEO SHOWS HOW THE PECANS ARE SHAKEN FROM THE TREES.

9.  WHY A FARM STAY?

Many people are visiting family from out of state and need to stay somewhere.  Rather than choosing two or three adjoining hotel rooms, they choose a home on a farm.

This summer a guest from out of state was here to visit family in a nearby town told me the farm stay made more sense.  He said it was lower than all the hotel rooms would have been.  The guest liked being able to prepare meals in the fully-stocked kitchen and use the grill on the patio.  His family loved being able to relax and enjoy all the activities on the farm (especially his grandchildren).  Family members even joined them for a visit to the farm.  Accommodations and entertainment for less than the cost of a hotel!  What could be better?

A family from Dallas just left yesterday.  They had a 7 year old son and 10 year old daughter.  The dad commented their children had never been in the country to experience nature, animals, etc.  He said they had a wonderful experience .  Both children were involved in sports and both missed a game over the weekend, but the parents felt the experience was much needed.

I have had several guests stay that are considering purchasing land and moving to live on a farm.  They stayed as they really wanted to try it out first.  I had two mothers that brought their daughters for a farm stay.  One daughter wanted to marry a farmer, the other dreamed of living on a farm when she grew up.  The mothers both wanted their daughters to experience living on a farm  first hand.

Many vacations now are “experience” based, and farm stays are really increasing in popularity.

10.  WHAT DO WE DO IF IT RAINS?

I get this question a lot, especially in the rainy season.  I tell guests there are a lot of activity type things to do in each of the homes on the farm – books, games, cards, videos and a wide assortment of movies.  InnerSpace Caverns is a great place to visit in Georgetown when it is raining – it is underground and is a constant 72 year round!

I also refer them to the Scurlock Farms Welcome Book which has a large section on things to do in the area.   One young couple had a little bit of everything for weather during their visit – a little hail, rain and a cold Norther blew in.  Their comments were they had a great time, enjoying the fireplace and playing games and watching movies that were in the home.

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We hope you enjoyed this blog post from Scurlock Farms! Check out their listing on Farm Stay USA and consider them for your next farm stay vacation!

All photos, videos, and text in this post were provided by Scurlock Farms.

The post Ask Me Anything: 10 Questions About Farm Stays by Sheron Scurlock of Scurlock Farms appeared first on Farmstay.

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My Stay at A Vermont Farm Bed & Breakfast: Liberty Hill Farm & Inn in Rochester, VT

Originally posted on SVADORE in November, 2022.
Excerpt reposted with permission.

Beth and Bob from Liberty Hill Farm & Inn provide a public service that big agricultural farms cannot provide. An experience for the public that creates memories and forms gratitude around the table. That’s why a stay at Liberty Hill Farm is not just a stay at a Vermont arm bed & breakfast – it’s a life-changing experience.

As we near Thanksgiving, I thought it would be fitting for me to write this article that touches on the matter of food, gratitude, and connecting with people. Food is what brings community to the table. There is no greater way to nourish the body and the soul than through the communal and universal act of eating and sharing a meal with others. That’s what the Vermont Farm Bed & Breakfast Liberty Hill Farm & Inn, owned by Beth and Bob Kennett, brings to people. It endeavors to nurture relationships among people from different walks of life who are looking to further educate themselves on the farming industry.

I’ve always been fascinated by farming. It may sound strange, but there is something about returning to the simplicity and traditional way of life that charmed me. I had stayed at farm stays in Norway, Italy and other places around the world, but none of them actually took it to the level of education of farming on a day-to-day basis in that area. It wasn’t until I watched Clarkson’s Farm, featuring one of my favorite reality stars Jeremy Clarkson from The Grand Tour and previously Top Gear, that I realized the time, money, and effort that went into maintaining this traditional practice that feeds us all. That’s when a sense of gratitude first sparked within me for this unthought of industry.

Here is a stat that will give you pause: If 12% of farmers are producing 90% of the food, you can bet the other 88%, like Beth and Bob, are not profitable. That’s why it’s important for you to stay on the farm. Small farms like Liberty Hill Farm & Inn support an American heritage, the small family farm, without raising taxes or food prices. They also provide an experience for the public that creates memories. This is not a hotel–it’s a farm. Beth and Bob are just letting guests visit their lives for a little while. These farm stays offer home cooked meals, community and real farm life experiences.

If you’re looking to escape your iPhones, Androids, TVs to a more organic world, than a Vermont Farm bed & breakfast stay is for you. It brings you back to a much simpler time and connects you with people you otherwise may not have met. My experience at Liberty Hill Farm & Inn will be recounted in the form of short chapters. Each chapter revolves around Beth’s homemade (and renowned) meals we shared with her and other guests at Liberty Hill Farm & Inn, each with a lesson and moment of reflection.

Chapter 1: A Dane, A Frenchman, A Latina, An Italian, and An American Go To Dinner

Meal: Almond maple chicken, wild rice, carrot souffle (a big hit and super soft and creamy), swiss chard (the last of the harvest), broccoli and brussel sprouts, and warm, soft and buttery cheddar biscuits topped with a layer of Cabot butter.

Liberty Hill Farm & Inn’s historic farm is located in the heart of Rochester in the White River Valley of Vermont. It’s October when I visit and the color of the trees are slowly dimming as winter approaches, but the farm is still very much alive. Cows graze the fields with the Green Mountains in the background. This 240-acre farm has an undeniable charm. The property’s buildings, including a main house and various farm houses, all have a Vermont country feel of days gone by. We pull up to the front of the main house and get out just in time for dinner.

We sat down at the table seated for 8 at 6PM sharp. Ok…we were a couple of minutes late, but gosh did we feel bad about it! The owners and our hosts, Beth and Bob Kennett, led us in grace and the experience and conversation commenced. We weren’t the only guests at Liberty Hill Farm. Tonight there were 2 other couples staying at the property. One couple was from LA – he was Danish and she was Latina. She worked with special ed kids, he owned his own environmental sustainability tech company. How did they end up here? They took a van trip across the US last summer and fell in love with the beauty of Vermont. They decided to come back and ended up at this Vermont Farm bed & breakfast.

The other couple was older and lived in New Hampshire, but were originally from Maine. They were reoccurring guests who had visited the farm on multiple occasions and were close friends of the owners and our hosts Beth and Bob Kennett. He was the man who invented Hannaford’s Guiding Stars for Health program. What I learned most from them though was about Vermont’s huge French influence. I had never put the pieces together, but it all made sense now. The French town names, the amazing food, the even more amazing French food I’ve experienced in the State. But why?

The conversation came about as we were talking about genealogy and where each of us came from. The man from New Hampshire, originally Maine, went onto explain that his last name was originally French, but his ancestors had changed it to sound American because the French were being persecuted (specifically the Acadians or Canadian French) back in the early 1900s. Beth’s family had a similar experience. Her family who lived in Nova Scotia was also French, but was kicked out and had to change their name so they wouldn’t be banished. It was a common occurrence for French people to change their last names while in America to evade being kicked out.

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To finish reading the rest of the story, please visit: My Stay at A Vermont Farm Bed & Breakfast: Liberty Hill Farm & Inn in Rochester, VT (it’s totally worth the click!)

Thank you, Sveva, for letting us share!

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Q: What is the history of your farm?

A: Our farm came to be twenty three years ago on a nine-acre plot of bare ground. My husband Gene and I built our home and barn, and raised five children and many chickens, cows, sheep, pigs, dogs, and cats along the way. Now we have the privilege of showing our grandchildren the joys of farm life, opening their eyes to how food is not just something the store pops on the shelf. Food is something that you can grow and nurture to maturity, be it a crop of carrots or a flock of egg-laying chickens!

Our thanks to Julie and Gene for sharing their farm’s vision with us. Visit the Blooming Joy Farm listing on Farm Stay USA to read more and book your next Montana vacation!

(All photos courtesy of Blooming Joy 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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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.

For many, school is virtual this fall and place settings have been replaced by computers on the kitchen table. The home space is feeling tight and crowded, and all you really need is an Internet hookup for both work and your kids’ scheduled Zoom classes.

Consider staying on a working farm or ranch for a couple days, a week, or more. Most of the Farm Stay USA community has Internet and WiFi because we might be farmers, but we like to be connected to the larger world too.

Did you know you can actually search on farms and ranches that have Internet and Wifi right on our site? Click the Find a Farm tab from the ‘hamburger” (the three lines at the top left of the site). Now go to Filters and drop down. Choose Amenities and scroll until you find the check boxes for Internet and for Wifi. Voilà, these are the farms with remote access.

Here are just a few ideas to get you started…

Buffalo Creek Vacations on Trinity Bison Ranch NC

Located in Clyde, North Carolina, Trinity Bison Ranch is a quick drive from Asheville (25 miles). This is the Smoky Mountains at its best.The ranch is open year round; the cabins and cabooses are pet friendly; and all the lodging has wi-fi. The ranch has enough accommodation for multiple families so bring your classmates. If you were wondering… yes, the buffalo DO roam on this private 72 acre little piece of heaven.

Scurlock Farms in the Texas Hill Country

Scurlock Farms is the perfect spot to bring your kids and your dog for some remote learning. The beautiful San Gabriel River forms the north border of the farm with a little over 1 mile of river frontage. There are plenty of fossils to see in the wide white limestone banks, and Williamson County has two thirds of all the birds found in Texas.The farm raises cattle, horses, goats and chickens. Visit in November and pick up your own Choctaw pecans from the 20 acre pecan orchard.

Cedar Mountain Farm in Atholl, Idaho

Cedar Mountain Farm offers you and your family a comfy log cabin Bed and Breakfast nestled at the base of Cedar Mountain, 20 miles north of Coeur d’Alene and 25 miles south of Sandpoint, Idaho. Experience down home hospitality on a 440 acre working family farm. Kids and pets welcome. It feels just like going home to Grandma’s! Of course, grandma may be looking over your shoulder to see if you are doing your homework.

Need Suggestions? We’re happy to help.

Make this fall school experience be just that – an experiential stay on a working farm or ranch, with learning and memories to last a lifetime!

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