Morning Song Farm in Rainbow, California — just in its name and location, already sounds like a place you might want to visit. Positioned between San Diego and Orange County, in the middle of Temecula/Fallbrook wine country and butting up to the Santa Margarita Reserve, the farm feels miles away from civilization when in fact it is only 40 minutes from the Pacific and an hour from the nearest airport.

Perched on the side of a hill and capturing the ocean breezes, Morning Song Farm is a 20 acre certified organic Garden of Eden, able to produce subtropical fruit such as dragon fruit, loquats, guavas and macadamias. Donna Buono, farm owner, also grows Asian pears, Pakistani lemons and mulberries, olives, avocados, figs, blood oranges, cherries and plums (makes my mouth water just to name off all these fruits!).

It All Started with a CSA

Donna bought the farm in 2001 as an investment and, with a background in marketing, jumped into the business of fruit seller. For ten years she commuted back and forth from San Clemente, selling at the local farmers markets and through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program she set up for her farm. Hard to manage and make the money deserving of the effort, Donna has since transitioned as a wholesaler with Melissa’s, a specialty fruit and vegetable retailer in Los Angeles. The only retail sales she continues are to her Morning Star Farm Stay guests who may buy her fruits, honey, and eggs directly during their stay.

In 2011 Donna had to make a choice: stay in San Clemente or move to the farm. She chose the farm and began work on the many buildings dotting the property, all with deferred maintenance from the prior owner. With seven buildings to work on, she started with the original guest house and artist studio, slowly rehabbing each and finding she had a talent with mosaic tile and interior design. These days she offers 5 farm stays: two private suites in the original farmhouse, a bungalow nestled in the old growth avocado grove, the original guest house with a view over the valley, and a Safari tent cabin. Unusual for most farm stays, all her lodgings have their own hot tubs!

Hands-On Classes

Because there is more to a farm stay than just a comfy bed and a rooster, and because Donna knew that the experiences she had created for friends to induce them out to the farm had been fun and educational for all, she offers a number of hands-on classes while you stay with her. Learn to make cheese from milk from her Nigerian Dwarf goats, hand churn ice cream for a 19^th century workout, make and can jam made from her fruits that you can take home as gifts, or make bread and eat it with your own churned butter for a taste of the homesteading life.

Every Animal Has a Job

Of course, what farm experience is complete without some farm animals for interaction. All of Donna’s animals have jobs. For the goats, it is to provide milk and giggles. For the chickens, it’s eggs. And for the alpacas, they are the chicken guardians from ground predators and raptors. But all these animals also love to be loved on, especially if there are treats. In the afternoons, you can commune with Whisperer, Carl the Criminal, Boo the Princess, Gabby the nonstop yapper, Black Magic the escape artist, and the rest of the pampered goat herd. As you walk by their yard, you are free to dish out some yummies to the chickens, and the alpacas, Silverado and Dusty, will likely hang at the fence line too, begging for a hand-out.

Morning Song Farm is located in an area that offers wine tasting, ballooning, golfing, antiquing, u-pick, hiking, and more. Depending on how long you stay, you may be able to experience all of it, but we bet you may find you are just as happy to stay on the farm and relax, surrounded by 365 days of growing season, stunning sunsets, and winds coming in from the Pacific.

See the Morning Song Farm listing on Farm Stay USA and start planning your future visit today!

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Lauren Hartmann and Ted Bancroft wear their farm on their sleeves.

MoonRidge is a working organic farm focused on biodynamic and permaculture practices (the traditional farming practices of our forefathers who just thought of it as ‘farming’) “dedicated to supporting a healthy, vibrant environment”. But it is also a place of healing for those with cancer. It is a place of peace and meditation. It is a place to draw community in for support and education.

Lauren grew up on a traditional corn and soybean farm in Nebraska.  Forever in love with the land and gardening, she bought MoonRidge in the late 1990s as a 20 acre parcel. Little by little she sought to bring it back to a more healthy condition, all the while maintaining her job as a nurse in the local area. Ted joined Lauren on the farm not long after. His background was in tree work, both residential and commercial forestry.  The farm next door came up for sale and they added 20 acres and a house.

Get Your Yacon Here

Their farm has been certified organic since 2005. It currently produces blueberries, lingonberries, blackberries, seasonal veggies, yacon products, flowers and farm fresh eggs. Okay, so we had to ask about yacons:

In addition to being a powerful prebiotic, this amazing tuber offers many additional health benefits. As a natural sweetener, it does not affect glucose levels, providing a mild flavored sweetness to salads and smoothies. Some of the additional health benefits of yacon include its ability to regulate blood sugar levels, lower “bad” cholesterol, help with weight loss, lower blood pressure, improve the health of the liver, prevent certain types of cancer, boost digestive health, and strengthen the immune system.

Lauren and Ted sell the crowns but they also make a value-added syrup for sale. Their 1200 blueberry plants are u-pick from June through August. The MoonRidge farm store includes honey, teas, frozen berries and meats (goat, rabbit and chicken).

New to their operations in the past year, Lauren and Ted added 1300 lavender plants they dug up and transplanted from a neighboring farm that was going out of business. Soon they expect to add lavender oils, teas, and fresh cuttings.  Whether the farm continues with its high grade hemp production for CBD will be a test of time and market.

A Getaway That’s Not Too Far Away

But, the farm is not all crops and flowers. There are also goats, rabbits and chickens as well as the Buckner Creek with salmon and cutthroat trout. Hawks and wild bees, owls, and old growth dot the property. There are woods and meadows cut with trails, a grassy meadow and a labyrinth. One can interact with farm life as much as is rewarding and comfortable or retire to the comfortable 1901 renovated farm house with its open living/dining area with gas fireplace and views of the grounds. Overnights on the farm belie the fact this countryside retreat is only 35 minutes from the city of Portland.

A stay at MoonRidge offers peace and quiet. It also offers an introduction to a chosen path of food production that is not only good for the body and the soil, but good for the soul.

Check out the MoonRidge Farms listing here on Farm Stay USA, and then visit their booking page to start planning your stay!

(All photos provided courtesy of MoonRidge Farms)

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“Life follows the rhythm of the seasons.”

THIS BLOG WAS PUBLISHED IN 2015. KINNIKINNICK FARM NO LONGER OFFERS LODGING BUT THEY DO OFFER DAY VISITS. THERE IS A LINK TO THIS ON THEIR PROFILE.

This is not your ordinary campground. Located on a certified organic farm in the rolling hills of northern Illinois, Kinnikinnick Farm’s Feather Down farm tents (part of the Feather Down Farms franchise) offer guests a charming and authentic farm stay experience.

From spring through fall, guests can stay in the spacious wood-floored tents and enjoy beds made with European style linens; wood stoves, along with kindling and wood to cook and keep warm; and fresh, local foods. With no electricity inside the tents, evening light is provided via oil lamps and candles. Hot showers and flush toilets are located in a nearby bathhouse.

The farm was originally founded in 1849, and has been in continuous production since. David and Susan Cleverdon purchased the farm in 1987 and began their organic garden in 1993. Now, they sell their certified organic produce directly to farmers market customers and Chicago-area chefs, as well as partnering with a program that helps feed Chicago’s homeless.

Food and Chores

Guests are welcome to help out with some of the farm chores, like collecting eggs, feeding animals, and harvesting crops, or they may choose to simply explore the countryside and relax.

At Kinnikinnick Farm, guests can purchase meal components like meats, eggs, and produce, then grill outside or cook over their woodstove. The farm also offers “arrival meals” for the first night, and during particular times of year, the outdoor wood-fired oven is available for build-your-own pizza nights.

To learn more about Kinnikinnick Farm visit their listing here on Farm Stay U.S., then head over to their website to book next year’s vacation!

(All photos courtesy Kinnikinnick Farm and Coral VonZumwalt)

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