things to do onsite

There’s pretty much no reason to leave the property if you’re on a short break, whatever the season!  We do run specific classes which can be arranged in advance, but there's also lots to do on an ad hoc basis.

• Miles of well maintained trails through the property, passing through oak forest, grasslands and wetlands.
• Birdwatching paradise! We have numerous species including lots of hummingbirds in season.
• Cycling – we have two loaners and are surrounded by pretty rural roads. 
• Fishing – our pond is very well stocked and even total novices will catch on every cast. You are welcome to keep and cook your catch! 
• Kayaks – we have two kayaks & a large canoe - lifejackets are available, and while our pond isn’t huge, it’s remarkably relaxing to paddle around, especially with a nice cold beer. There’s also a great river route down the ‘Nippersink’ river nearby and we’re happy to move the boats there for you. 
• 2 firepits, one with a great grill to cook on.

If you have specific requirements please reach out here.

The Blue Farm is a 25 minute drive from Lake Geneva with all of its tourist attractions and restaurants.

We’re 20 minutes from Woodstock, which was the location for the movie Groundhog Day, with a great farmers market, art gallery and a very good diner which was featured in the movie. 

Our nearest town, Harvard, is on the Metra getting you to downtown Chicago in about 80 minutes on the faster trains.

In season we’re surrounded by great farm-stands offering corn, eggs, vegetables etc  which are fun to visit

We love sharing what we’ve learned with others, and having some fun on the way!

Costs depend on what you want to learn and the size of your group, and we’re always keen to throw in lunch, including pizza from our oak-fired oven.

We offer classes in:

• Canning & preserving
• Bread-making 
• Pizza making in our wood fired oven
• Duck raising 
• Foraging (mushrooms and edible plants dependent on the season) 
• Chainsaw use / tree management 
• Smoking / BBQ 
• Any other homesteading skill you want to pick up – we’re happy to learn with you! 

Please use the contact form to submit your enquiry.

For scheduled open classes please see the 'scheduled classes' tab