What's here to see and do
Outdoor tourism in this area includes the Shawnee National
Forest and other parks, the National Bicycle Route, hunting,
fishing, and horseback riding. Other tourist destinations including
the wine, barn and art trails, Southern Illinois University, many
local festivals and the historical sites found throughout Southern
Illinois.
Our projects
As of the winter of 2008, our 97 acres included many current
and future projects. Almost 30 of our wooded acres are dedicated to
conservation programs. We have planted almost 500 native trees and
removed overgrown and invasive scrub to create 5 small lakes and
ponds. The largest two are stocked with native fish by the Illinois
Department of Natural Resources; starting from back in the Fall of
2007 and Spring of 2008.
Our geothermal supported office, conference room
and Wellness Center are completed and are open for business.
The "Tree House" has been the subject of much
praise and even the highlight of one reporter's wonderful feature
article. Our three small cabins are are also a hit and this
fall's landscaping will set the scene for some great get-togethers!
The Garden Cottage is coming along very quickly and we hope to have
guests staying in it soon!
Our greenhouses are going up and we have
plans for early organic veggies. The 11-stall horse barn
(with meeting room) is being finished and we have 3 new corrals
and a riding ring big enough for one dressage circle.
Our pumpkin patches did very well and our
5 horses were happy for all the attention! The response
from local schools and teachers was awesome! We are very
excited about all the groups coming out to share our farm and
all of the interesting ways that they are customizing the
experiences they want. We think we might be famous!
Early 2009 will be spent building our Bed &
Breakfast. The Bed & Breakfast will be a large 5 bedroom (bath
en suite) Victorian home with many rooms available for small parties
and meetings. Just like the rest of our cabins, it will be highly
insulated and employ some "green" technologies such as geothermal,
solar, wood/biomass burners and possibly wind power. Our goal is
also to reduce consumption by employing low-E windows, energy-star
appliances, low-flow faucets, etc.
Our hope is that staying in our buildings will be
not only be fun and comfortable, but educational as well. Come
see green!
