Image from www.owlheadcreek-bnb.ca/
When we first moved to the farm, we had grand visions of growing organic vegetables all summer, bringing bushels of apples to market in the fall, and spending the winter cozy by the fire, effortlessly home schooling our children and watching the snow fall on our 40 acres of paradise . Well, it wasn’t that easy, and we found ourselves toiling from dawn till dusk seven days a week, all summer long. When winter hit there were animals to feed, snow drifts to deal with, ice and frozen pipes in our 100 year old farmhouse. The money ran out before the snow melted. School curriculum was reduced to chopping wood and carrying water. Time by the fire was usually spent in total exhaustion.
The idea of opening a Bed & Breakfast sprang from necessity. We were living the dream, as they say, but it wasn’t paying the bills. We realized that our biggest resource was our idyllic location and our rural, close-knit, family oriented lifestyle . With a Bed and Breakfast, people could experience life on the farm for about the same price as the motel in town. And it was a hit!
Guests came from towns like Portland or Boise for the weekend, sometimes longer, to enjoy the peace and quiet of our beautiful valley. Most, but not all, were already familiar with the Bed & Breakfast concept. Some were hikers, hunters, or river rafters. Others were writers or bird watchers. Often they were interested in farm life. Kids loved the chickens, horses and swimming pond. It wasn’t uncommon for adults to wind up carrying a shovel and pliers around after asking questions about fencing and irrigating! Without exception, our guests were wonderful people and we truly enjoyed spending time with them.
For our family, operating a Bed and Breakfast had unexpected rewards. All of us became very comfortable welcoming total strangers into our home. The kids became adept at introducing themselves, shaking hands and looking people in the eye. Even our Dalmatian, Tucker, enjoyed socializing with guests – usually just after mealtime. Overall, turning our farm into a Bed and Breakfast helped remind us of how lucky we were to live in a beautiful place, close to nature, close to each other, and far away from the crowds.