One of Wisconsin's best eco inns

We were thrilled to be promoted this past year as one of the best “eco-elegant” inns in the state by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. It was very gratifying to have our efforts for our accomplishments recognized.

But even if we had not been recognized we would still be doing everything the same way we do. We were “green” long before Travel Green Wisconsin was ever created. Conserving resources and saving money have always been a part of both of our lives, even growing up.

Because we grew up on farms, living off the land, we are much more connected to the land than people in town or in the city. You have to be a good steward of your land and its resources if it is to remain productive and sustainable. Our farm B&B is one of the most diversified if not THE most diversified in Wisconsin. We raise pigs, sheep and Highland beef using natural, organic methods. We grow and harvest crops to feed these animals. We also direct market slaughter lambs.

Our one-acre fruit and vegetable garden produces most of our family’s food as well as the B&B in summer. We’re the only B&B in the state that offers homegrown harvest dinners throughout the growing season.

Late winter we produce maple syrup on the farm, in between delivering newborn lambs. We’ve established a home vineyard for winemaking in addition to our strawberry, blackberry, raspberry and rhubarb country wines.

This year we added an energy efficient heat pump for air conditioning. We heat our B&B using dead trees harvested from our woodlands – a 100 percent renewable resource. Our lovely nature trails teeming with wildlife provide the ultimate green experience for guests.

We also do things everyone – even people without land – can do, such as: using energy efficient lighting, turning lights off when not in use, recycling garbage, using energy efficient appliances, larger but fewer loads of laundry, mulching gardens, combining errands to cut down on auto mileage, install energy efficient doors, windows, siding and insulation. Eat healthier. Shop local. Buy used when possible – shop thrift and resale shops. Don’t use paper plates and disposable Styrofoam cups. Wash your dishes instead. Shut your computer off when not in use. To save more, unplug appliances not in use when it’s practical to do so. Compost non-meat food scraps.

Being ecologically green leads to savings of another important $green$.