Happenings at the Inn, Calendar of Events, and Workshop Schedule
Whether it's historical attractions, natural heritage, local events, unique ethnic settlements, or festivals that bring you to southwestern Wisconsin, Inn Serendipity Bed & Breakfast is the perfect base for exploring the diverse "driftless" region and all that it has to offer. Or come and relax, perhaps reading a book cover to cover.
During the year, Inn Serendipity B & B hosts special event weekends, as well as fun-filled educational open houses designed to help others who are interested in energy conservation, permaculture design, sustainable living, and organic agriculture. Please try to register for workshops at least two weeks in advance. The bold and red items below denote special workshops, discount specials at the Inn, or some of our public speaking engagements. Additional speaking engagements as a part of our national book tour for ECOpreneuring and Rural Renaissance travel schedule.
Calendar of Events: January - December, 2008
January
1/1 Happy New Year!
1/5-6 Get away for some quiet reading nestled next to the woodstove.
Then go for delicious Swiss-inspired meals at the Turner Hall Ratskeller in Monroe or head to Fiesta Cancun for some tasty Mexican cuisine.
1/22 Pour through seed catalog and order organic and heirloom seeds from Fedco.
February
Brrrr...We're on the road speaking, perhaps near you?
March
3/1 Start of Perennial Two-Day Special
Stay two consecutive nights (weekend or weekday) before 4/30 and "dig and divide" up to five assorted perennial flowers to take back home with you to beautify your own gardens. It's our way of extending our gardens to yours. Based on availability of selected flowers; please give us a call (608-329-7056) for more information.
3/7-8 Spring Fever Fun Fest For Kids (and young at heart)
Shake off cabin fever with some serendipitous fun. Make playdough with Liam, cookie decorating with an impressive collection of sprinkles, enjoy the first campfire of spring -- complete with s'mores (weather permitting).
3/15 Sustainable Living in the 21st Century
Experience a "hands-on" approach to sustainable living by spending an afternoon at Inn Serendipity, a transitional organic farm and B&B. This 1/2-day workshop includes resources to get started and a hands-on tour of the farm, gardens, a straw bale greenhouse under construction and various renewable energy systems. Topics Include: buying farm property; sustainable gardening; using renewable energy; developing a diversified business from a rural setting; raising a family on the farm.
Time: 1pm - 4pm
Location: Inn Serendipity Bed & Breakfast, Browntown, WI (see map and directions in links below)
Cost: $30 per person. DISCOUNT of $10 per person for B&B guests staying one or more nights. Registration fees cover printed materials, a copy of John Ivanko's The Least Imperfect Path (a $12 value), and hands-on instruction.
Instructors: Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko, co-owners of Inn Serendipity and co-authors of ECOpreneuring: Putting Purpose and the Planet before Profitsand Rural Renaissance: Renewing the Quest for the Good Life.
3/21 Start pruning and dividing perennials. Plant potatoes and onions.
April
4/14 Inn Serendipity National Holiday: Lisa's Birthday.
4/21 Earth Day--think green. Plant a tree. Start a compost pile.
Eat something organically grown, perhaps from the Willy Street Co-op in Madison or Whole Foods Market.
4/21 Opening of the Madison Farmers' Market season.
Held every Saturday morning around the Capital Square. One of the best farmers' markets in the U.S.A.
4/26 Maintain 600 mostly native trees along stream bank at Inn Serendipity Woods cabin property as riparian buffer.
May
5/1 Start harvesting asparagus.
5/4 Local Drive-In Movie Theater opens for the season! Weather permitting, of course.
5/10 The Labyrinth starts "greening" for the season and white clover is replaced by a perennial ground cover.
5/16 Last frost date: Plant tomato, pepper, broccoli and cabbage transplants.
5/24 ECOpreneuring: Launching your own Small (green) Business
Say good-bye to corporate cubicles and job descriptions void of meaning. Learn how self-employment entrepreneurs are creating and managing business endeavors while meeting the social and environmental priorities they have set for themselves. Join Lisa and John as they facilitate this 1/2-day interactive workshop, focusing on finding right livelihood, understanding the basics of business start-up, strategies for income diversification, simplifying expenses, stimulating creativity and innovation, and balancing various life roles.
Time: 1pm - 4pm
Location: Inn Serendipity Bed & Breakfast, Browntown, WI (see map and directions in links below)
Cost: $30 per person. DISCOUNT of $10 per person for B&B guests staying one or more nights.
Meals and Lodging: Registration fees cover printed materials, a copy of John Ivanko's The Least Imperfect Path (a $12 value), and hands-on instruction.
Instructors: Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko, co-owners of Inn Serendipity and co-authors of ECOpreneuring: Putting Purpose and the Planet before Profitsand Rural Renaissance: Renewing the Quest for the Good Life.
5/23-26 Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
Picnic, bike, hike and BBQ your weekend away with us (2-night B & B minimum stay). Campfires and our inaugural s'more-fest of the season, weather permitting.
June
6/20-22 Midwest Renewable Energy Fair, Custer, WI (near Stevens Point).
The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) is a non-profit network for sharing ideas, resources and information with individuals, businesses and communities to promote a sustainable future through renewable energy and energy efficiency. The fair, held in Custer, is the world's largest renewable energy educational event with hundreds of workshops and demonstrations on solar and wind energy, alternatively fueled vehicles, sustainable living and more. Don't forget to attend a workshop facilitated by Lisa and John! For more information, contact the MREA (Phone: 715-592-6595, E-mail: mreainfo@wi-net.com)
July
7/4 Happy 4th of July!
7/12 Farm Open House: Energy Independence Day and the Good Life
Join us for an all-day feast of friendships, food, fun and renewable energy. From 10am to 7pm, Inn Serendipity will host a farm celebration, welcoming those who yearn for a bit of the good life in the country. Children's activities, farm tours, and potlucks (bring a dish to pass) for lunch (12noon), dinner (5pm) or snacks (anytime). The day-long educational event is free of charge. Bring along a dish to pass (to share with 5-6 people), and your questions about wind turbines, solar panels, squash and the employment world of free-agency. For more information, visit the schedule of events for the Open House. Please RSVP, so we can anticipate how many chairs are needed. Copies of ECOpreneuring: Putting Purpose and the Planet before Profitsand Rural Renaissance: Renewing the Quest for the Good Life, co-authored by Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko, will be available for sale, as well as John's children's books. Reading hour under the willow tree.
7/13 John begins preparing his delicious fried green tomatoes for breakfast.
7/26 Annual Amish Quilt Auction in Brodhead
Come for the quilts and hand-crafted wood furniture, stay for the pie and ice cream. Spend a wonderful day out in the country and experience true craftsmanship as hundreds of quilts, furniture pieces and assorted antiques go up for auction. The homemade ice cream machine will be in full gear, as well as a plethora of abundant Amish baked goods.
7/15 to the middle of August.
Perennial flower gardens in full, spectacular bloom. Chase butterflies. Swing in a hammock. Sip lemonade. Contemplate corn fields.
August
8/9-10 Illinois Renewable Energy Association Energy Fair, Oregon, IL
The Illinois Renewable Energy Association (IREA) supports sustainable energy development in Illinois. IREA provides hands-on opportunities for the Illinois public to learn about the benefits, potentials, and uses of renewable energy and energy-efficiency for our homes and businesses. Catch our workshop at the Energy Fair (pending confirmation). For more information, contact the IREA.
8/13 Enjoy the lazy days of late summer.
Play a game of chess with the life-size chess set, instigate a water balloon fight, catch fireflies.
September
8/29-9/2 Celebrate Labor Day with hammock-lounging (2-night minimum B&B stay)
9/5 Start harvesting apples from the snow, red and golden delicious trees. Canning apple sauce begins in earnest.
9/6 Pick grapes before Mr. Raccoon gets them first; John crushes the grapes for grape juice.
9/14-15 Berghoff & Blues Festival and Cheese Days in Monroe
Jam with some of the best blues bands around under a big-top tent with the award-winning, local craft-brewed Berghoff beer on tap or join in the fun at the world's cheesiest party.
October
10/1 Fall colors ablaze, lasting for about 2-3 weeks, weather depending.
Try to see if you can find every color in the visiable light spectrum.
10/3-4 National Solar Tour of Buildings at Inn Serendipity, Browntown, Wisconsin
Tour the farm, learning about renewable energy, energy conservation and sustainable living during this informal opportunity. The tours and event are FREE. 10am - 4pm, on both days.
10/31 Boo! Lisa dresses Liam up as "The Great Protector" and John dresses up as Obi Wan Kanobi.
November
11/2 "Oh the weather outside is frightful...but the wood fire is so delightful."
Cuddle around the first fire-up of the Lopi Endeavor woodstove.
11/22 Happy Turkey Day.
We are thankful for the invention of cappucino, our health, our community of friends and family, recycled paper, libraries, and pumpkin cheesecake leftovers (Lisa's mom's specialty).
December
12/1 Start the holiday season with an afternoon at Paul's Christmas Tree Farm
Don't forget to check out Paul's rolling pin collection...and return your saw.
12/6 Sustainable Living in the 21st Century
Experience a "hands-on" approach to sustainable living by spending an afternoon at Inn Serendipity, an organic farm and B&B. This workshop includes resources to get started and a hands-on tour of the farm, gardens, a strawbale greenhouse under construction and various renewable energy systems. Topics Include: buying farm property; sustainable gardening; using renewable energy; developing a diversified business from a rural setting; raising a family on the farm.
Time: 1pm - 4pm
Location: Inn Serendipity Bed & Breakfast, Browntown, WI (see map and directions in links below)
Cost: $30 per person. DISCOUNT of $10 per person for B&B guests staying one or more nights. Registration fees cover printed materials, a copy of John Ivanko's The Least Imperfect Path (a $12 value), and hands-on instruction.
Instructors: Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko, co-owners of Inn Serendipity and co-authors of ECOpreneuring: Putting Purpose and the Planet before Profitsand Rural Renaissance: Renewing the Quest for the Good Life.
