The Ponderosa Lodge Farm and B&B: Activities at the Lodge

	Join us as after breakfast as we gather eggs from our pastured chickens, and give them fresh water and feed. We raise chickens for fresh eggs and for meat in a movable pen which offers them the benefits of fresh grass, fresh air, sunshine, bugs, and safety from predators and the elements. Their diet is supplemented with feed from a local mill. There are no animal by-products, hormones, or antibiotics added to the feed.

	We raise rabbits in portable field pens with wire floors. These pens are moved several times during the day and provide the rabbits with exercise, sunshine, and fresh greens. You are welcome to help us as we move their pens, give them fresh water and gather dandelion treats for the rabbits Our breeding stock, does and a buck, are raised in large hutches with plenty of room to move around. They still get the benefits of fresh greens which we pick for them in the morning and evening. They also occasionally get offered treats from the kitchen and garden. Like the rest of our animals, our rabbits’ diet is supplemented with feed from a local mill. There are no animal by-products, hormones, or antibiotics added to the feed.

	On the farm, we also raise turkeys housed in a movable pen surrounded by a portable fence. You are welcome to help us as we give the turkeys fresh feed and water and move their fence to new pasture. Turkeys are voracious foragers, getting nearly 90% of their diet through grass and bugs. Like our chickens, their diet is supplemented with feed from a local mill. There are no animal by-products, hormones, or antibiotics added to the feed.

	We raise hogs each year to make all of the breakfast sausage, bacon, and hams and pork roasts that we cook here at the lodge. Help us each morning as we get the hogs fresh water, feed and treats from the garden.

	In 2010, we will be adding boer goats to our farm animals. We will be fencing 7 acres of our fields for them to graze.

	We grow an extensive vegetable garden to feed our family and yours. You can stroll through our gardens and greenhouse to see the many varieties of vegetables and herbs we are growing. We are always happy to discuss our gardening methods and answer any questions that our guests may have. Here on the farm, we practice organic methods of pest and disease control. Our seeds come from non-GMO seed banks, and we save many of our seeds for replanting the next year.

	There are hundreds of varieties of perennials at The Ponderosa Lodge that bloom from early spring to late fall. Each year, we add to the collection. Our future plans include building a creek through the shade garden, a wildflower meadow, and a rooftop garden. You are welcome to stroll through the flower gardens at your leisure. We are always happy to discuss our gardening methods and answer any questions that our guests may have.

	The hiking trails through the fields and woods surrounding the lodge are perfect for relaxing and wildlife viewing. Strolling through the fields, one can see butterflies, deer, wild turkey, owls, bobcat, coyote, bear and over 90 species of birds including the Yellow-Throated warbler, Cedar Waxwing, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager, as well as a Bald Eagle.

	Besides the farm activities, we have a large playground for the kids, which features a slide, 2-child glider, 2-person swing, baby swing, swing and rope climb. We have a net for badminton/volleyball, a horseshoe pit, and many yard games for all ages.

	For those who want to stay inside, we offer many activities. Our game room features a ping pong table, air hockey table, and many board games and puzzles. We have an extensive library of books and magazines along with satellite TV and a large collection of DVDs in the great room and game room. You can keep in touch with those who could not join you with our free wifi and cell phone service.

	We are happy to host cooking classes for your group for a nominal fee. A sample of classes include: bread baking, cinammon rolls and sticky buns, jams and jellies, canning and preserving, or pickling

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