In the Woods Farm

The Farm House:
Agritourism Comes to Charlestown!
89 Country Drive
Charlestown RI 02813
goldenrootcsa@aol.com; growgraphics00@aol.com

Farm House Vacations!

Fritz and Pat Vohr have owned and operated In The Woods Farm since 1993. Just last year they opened The Farm House, an agritourism-based vacation opportunity for families.

Three years ago, the Vohrs bought a “wreck" of a house adjacent to their existing farm, and completely renovated it. Last year (2003) was the first season they were open for business, renting the farm house by the day or week to families who wanted a vacation that was more meaningful than just a day at the beach.

Most guests have no experience with animals or gardening so the Vohrs offer a complete small family farm experience. Children help feed and clean the pens for the variety of small animals including goats, Shetland sheep, potbelly pigs, rabbits, and of course baby lambs and goats. They collect eggs from the chicken tractor, learn how to make compost, or pick from the raspberry patch, the elderberry or other fruit trees. The Vohrs were careful to pull anything from the property that produces poisonous fruit or skin rashes. The families help tend the organic kitchen garden and can attend Pat’s wool demonstrations and knitting classes using the yarns from the sheep raised on the farm. And just down the lane is the Vohr’s larger farm featuring a family cow, Anatolian Shepard Dogs, merino sheep, chickens, angora goats, and a larger organic vegetable garden.

In 2004 the Vohr’s will also offer classes in weaving on standup triangle loom. Families can also go to nearby beaches, and the animal pen is set up so the kids can go in and play with the animals, and the garden is such that mothers can pick vegetables for dinner. Pat often finds children waiting on the porch for the 7 a.m. feeding, and the children beg their mothers to come back from the beach at 3 pm so they can help feed. More than a business, it’s, “a nice experience -- fulfilling,” according to Pat and Fritz.

Pat continues, “The concept is to let people know that farm life is wonderful, healthy and great for kids -- and that you can have a piece of farm life in a small way, you don't have to have a huge farm. It’s a life-changing experience for some who have never cared for an animal or tended a garden. It gives these folks a lot to take back home with them after their vacation is over. They learn about organic gardening, how to plant, what to plant, how to make compost. Even teenagers, who are very hard to engage, enjoyed digging in the garden.”

The house sleeps 6-8 in the bedrooms and the Vohrs provide all the linens, cleaning service once a week or between families. It’s a “Kid-friendly” house complete with stroller, carseat, bedrails, and safety gates at the stairs. Newly renovated, the house is warmly furnished complete with wood stove, washer/dryer, brand new appliances, 1.5 baths, cable tv, and a playroom with childrens table and chairs and old-fashioned toys. There is also a children’s sized playhouse on the property which will be renovated this year and a childrens garden installed in front of it. The Vohr’s are also installing a “dye garden” of plants for dying the wool.

Despite the cynicism of their neighbors who wondered who would ever come and pay to stay on a farm, the Vohr’s sold out during their first season of agritourism. For this upcoming summer (2004), they are almost completely booked. Pat says that 90% of their first guests rebooked for 2004. The Vohrs admit that their only mistake was to advertise locally at first, then they began advertising on the internet, and most of their business came from cyberrentals.com.

The Vohr’s are hoping to begin keeping The Farm House open year-round. There is no minimum stay and rates for 2004 from Memorial Day through October 15th are $1800/week or $300/night. Discounted winter rates are available.

In addition, Pat also makes traditional hand-made dolls and matching children’s clothing under the brand name of Farmhouse Dolls. They are soft, old-fashioned dolls, stuffed with the wool from the farm, and with hair made from the hair of the goats and sheep. They come with custom-made overalls or pajamas for a child, that match the outfit on the doll. Pat began selling her dolls by word of mouth and now takes orders at agricultural festivals and from guests. Longterm, the Vohr’s are hoping to make a shop in the barn where Pat can make the dolls and other farm products.

For more information, contact the Vohr’s directly at: 401-364-0050 (h) or 866-556-LAMB (5262), pvohr@direcway.com, 51 Edwards Lane, Charlestown RI 02813. Farmhousevacation.com and Farmhousedoll.com.