Say what?! A vacation on a farm?!
The farm stay is a growing trend these days, both stateside and globally,
and is a great opportunity to unplug, unwind, and disembark (at least
temporarily) from the crazy train that is so often our daily lives. “Discon-
nect in order to reconnect,” is the motto at Rancho Dos Amantes in Paso
Robles, California. A farm stay gives us a chance to relate to and immerse
ourselves in our natural environment, to learn about or be reminded of
where our food comes from, and to get to know the kind, wise, and hard-
working people who grow or raise that food. It is an occasion perhaps,
to wander aimlessly down a dirt path, listen to the songs of the crickets,
cicadas, peepers, local birds or other native creatures in the area, experi-
ence a truly dark and star-filled night sky, and to be reminded that most
of our worries and woes really aren’t so consequential after all.
The basics...
Farm stays can be found near major urban
areas and popular tourist destinations as well
as in locations that are off the beaten path.
Costs for a stay are typically on par with hotel
and B&B accommodations in the same area.
While the term “farm” may bring to mind the
image of a big old red barn and cows graz-
ing on a hillside, know that a farm stay can
also occur on a ranch, vineyard, or orchard.
A farm stay can be a fun and educational solo
exploit, a chance to do something different
with a few friends, a cozy getaway for two,
a family adventure, or a place to hold a small
family gathering, work-related retreat, or even
an intimate wedding..
The optimal time to visit a farm depends on
both the geographic location and the particu-
lar function(s) of the farm you’re visiting. Usually, warm weather months
are the best and most enjoyable times to observe and participate in farm
activities, but not always. For example, on our farm in Lebanon, Maine,
our primary pursuit is maple syrup production, so folks who want to
help us collect and boil sap need to visit in late Winter/early Spring
(though blueberry picking on our farm in the mid- to- late Summer is
a good alternative for those unwilling to brave Maine during the colder
months!). Closer to LA, Spring and Fall may be more temperate times to
get away, and if you choose to stay at a vineyard, be aware that harvest
and crush occur in the fall.
In terms of food, arrangements vary widely from farm to farm. One
(or more) home-cooked meals may be provided per day, or possibly just
a continental breakfast option, and some farms make kitchen facilities
available to guests. If this is the case, you might need to bring groceries
with you depending on the location of the nearest grocery store, though
many food items such as seasonal fruits and vegetables, meats, cheeses,
honey, eggs, maple syrup, fresh milk, kefir, yogurt, or ice cream may be
sourced directly from the farm itself, and make great picnic items!
Can I drive the tractor?
You probably won’t be driving a tractor (or a team of horses) for liability
reasons, and while you almost certainly won’t be required to perform
any sort of physical labor, farm stays are frequently designed to be infor-
mative and interactive experiences; you will likely be allowed and even
encouraged to help with such activities as feeding chickens, collecting
eggs, picking fresh produce, pressing apples for cider, grooming horses,
or even trying your hand at milking cows or goats. You could have an
opportunity to learn about cheesemaking, beekeeping, raising alpacas,
shearing sheep and spinning wool, making goat’s milk soap, preserving
food, or a myriad of other farm-related topics.
Alternatively, farms are located in close proximity to other desirable
destinations such as the mountains, the ocean, local, state, or national
parks, or other areas of interest, and as is the case when staying at a
hotel or B&B, it is certainly your prerogative to make a farm stay just a
place to rest your head, while you spend daylight hours exploring other
nearby attractions.What about catching up on a bit of R&R!?
If all the talk of farming endeavors wears you out just reading about it,
never fear, your farm stay experience doesn’t have to be all work and no
play. In fact, a farm can be a picturesque and peaceful setting in which
to relax and unwind. Our farm is equipped with Adirondack chairs in a
gazebo surrounded by wildflowers, a front porch with rocking chairs,
and a hammock strung between oak trees –
all good places to revel in the joy of inactiv-
ity. Farms might have private swimming holes,
ponds for canoeing or kayaking, and trails for
wandering through the woods or fields, and
some offer regular yoga classes or the option
to hold retreats.
Yoga and meditation classes take place
on the patio overlooking vineyards at Dun-
ning Vineyards in Paso Robles (don’t worry,
friendly resident canine Ralphie won’t judge
your downward facing dog). Following week-
ly yoga classes at Rancho Dos Amantes, visi-
tors are invited to harvest fruits and vegetables
from the guest garden and can prepare them
any way they like in the available commercial
kitchen. Former city dwellers turned farmers
Kristy and Evan Bishop found their slice of
heaven in Reves de Moutons, also located in
Paso Robles. “Lose the television,” advises Kristy, “when you have live
sheep and goat “tv” and a glass of wine, you don’t need it!”
On a warm September day last year during a farm stay at Morrill Farm
in Sumner, Maine, my husband Frank and I took a meandering stroll
(accompanied by the delightful family dog) down a long dirt path that
led us by fields of grazing dairy cows, over a footbridge, and to a lazy
stream where we kicked off our shoes and waded into the cool, shallow
waters. You might find a leisurely tour available via good old-fashioned
horse-drawn carriage, hay wagon, or sleigh ride on farms such as the one
owned and operated by our friend and neighbor Kathy Ossinger of Spirit
Wind Farm. And on a cool night at at the end of full day, there might
even be a fire pit, fireplace, or wood stove to cozy up to!Ready, set, country!
If you are starting to think you could use a bit of country in your life, it’s
time to do a little research about farm stays in your desired area. Then
pack some sturdy, closed-toed shoes or boots and some comfortable,
casual (very casual) clothes you won’t mind getting a bit dirty and that
are appropriate for the activities on your chosen farm (think function,
not fashion), and hit the road! Get out there, embrace the wide-open
spaces and appreciate the beauty that surrounds you. Breathe the fresh
air (I promise, more often than not the smells on a farm are good ones,
like fresh cut hay – my favorite!), meet some interesting people, learn
something new, and have fun. After all, isn’t that what life is all about?Jennifer Schultz is a Midwestern girl living in New England. She is happiest when
living, working, and playing close to nature, and can frequently be found with her
hands in the dirt at Maple Moon Farm: maplemoonfarm.com.
Peruse farmstayus.com to find farm stays in every state in the U.S.