2023

We completed our 8th full season of being open to the public at the end of October 2022.  EIGHT YEARS!!!  How is this even possible???   We have survived a global pandemic, drought, flooding and even a polar vortex.   To say this has been a crazy ride is an understatement.

On to 2023!! Opening day will be Friday May 5.

At this point (February 16) I am not sure if you will need snowshoes, arm floaties, or a fire extinguisher but we will be here, ready to greet you, no matter what mother nature hits us with.

Be well and see you in a few short weeks!

~Lois

__________________________________________________________________

Here are a few things you will want to know as you plan your visit.

1) At this moment we are NOT accepting credit cards.  However; we do have an ATM!!! (How cool is that?!?!?)

2) NO PETS! – that being said, service animals specifically trained to assist persons with disabilities are totally welcome.  This policy isn’t because we don’t love animals – this policy has to do with the well being of our animals.  Canines (dogs) are natural predators to livestock.  You may know your dog isn’t a threat to our animals, but trust me – our sheep/alpaca/ etc believe they are about to DIE!!  Then to add fuel to the fire, when our sheep/alpaca/etc  think they are about to DIE!!! our livestock guardian dogs jump into action…. its their job to eradicate ALL  predators and interlopers from the farm…. and chaos ensues……(insert exasperated eyeroll here).  So to avoid all that commotion, we ask that you please leave your pets home.

3) NO SMOKING in unauthorized areas – fire scares us…for obvious reasons!

4)  Children are required to have an adult, but adults are NOT required to have children!

________________________________________________________________

A bit about how all of this happened……

The farm has been in our family for 123 years!  My name is Lois and I am the Great Granddaughter of Albert and Augusta Peterson, the original homesteaders.  My little sister Laura lives next door on a piece of the original property as well.

For years, my dream has been to find a way to make a living, sharing the farm, and my goofy animals. But we all know how life works, and somehow I always ended up somewhere else, doing something else.

June 17, 2013, I experienced what insurance people (and the therapist) referred to as “a life-altering catastrophic event.” A fire destroyed life as I knew it.

It took a some time to get myself pulled together and create a plan.  And plan and plan and plan we did!  We officially opened to the public August 28, 2014.  So here we are …. one amazing little farm community, “post disaster”, taking on “The Next  Great Adventure”.

Now, if you want to keep up with our daily shenanigans, our Facebook page is the place to go.  If you want the “meat and potatoes” of the place stay here.  If there is something you can’t find in either location, give me a call or text ~ 218-780-8611!

Mission Statement

Our mission is to help society reconnect with each other, animals and the land itself.

Vision Statement

Our greater vision is for every person to have something of nature to connect with – be it animal, plant or even the stars.  I want to save our country and our world.  I want every person to do better.  Consume less, discard less, purchase more wisely, grow something.

****************************************************

I have come to realize that we are always going to be somewhat under construction.   Turns out, I really like to build stuff – I’m not any good at it yet, but I like it! 🙂

 Now, let’s unplug and GO OUTSIDE!!

Below this magic line are all the blog posts we’ve written, in chronological order. They are also filed above, under the appropriate tab. Thanks!

******************************************************************************************