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 co-authors of Farmstead Chef, ECOpreneuring and Rural Renaissance can be found on our national speaking tour schedule.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: JANUARY THROUGH DECEMBER, 2013
January
1/1 Happy New Year!
1/14-17 Get away for some quiet reading nestled next to the woodstove.
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
3/21 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.
3/21 Start pruning and dividing perennials. Plant potatoes and onions.
April
4/22 Earth Day--think green. Plant a tree. Start a compost pile.
4/20 Opening of the Dane County Farmers' Market on the Square in Madison, Wisconsin
Dane County Farmers' Market is held every Saturday morning around the Capitol Square in the spring-summer-fall growing season. It's one of the best farmers' markets in the U.S.A. and the largest producer-only farmers' market in the nation.
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.
5/3 Local Sky-Vu Drive-In movie theater opens for the season! There's always a double feature, since 1954.
5/11 Tour some of the growing number of sustainable farms in the Green and Rock County area at the Brodhead "Tour the Farms Day".
5/16 Last frost date: Plant tomato, pepper, broccoli and cabbage transplants.
5/22 - 27 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
6/14 - 16 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: info@midwestrenew.org)
6/22 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 Farmstead Chef, ECOpreneuring: Putting Purpose and the Planet before Profitsand Rural Renaissance: Renewing the Quest for the Good Life.
July
7/4 Happy 4th of July!
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.
7/27 Kickapoo Country Fair, LaFarge, WISCONSIN
Celebrate the good life in the country. Great food, presentations and music.
August
8/1 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
9/1 - 9/2 Celebrate Labor Day weekend with fresh, grilled seasonal veggie appetizers (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.
9/7 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 Farmstead Chef, ECOpreneuring: Putting Purpose and the Planet before Profitsand Rural Renaissance: Renewing the Quest for the Good Life.
October
10/31 Boo! John dresses up as Obi Wan Kanobi or Indiana Jones (depending on mood).
November
11/5 "Oh the weather outside is frightful...but the wood fire is so delightful."
Cuddle around the first fire-up of the Lopi Endeavor woodstove.
11/16 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 Farmstead Chef, ECOpreneuring: Putting Purpose and the Planet before Profitsand Rural Renaissance: Renewing the Quest for the Good Life.
December
12/1 Start the holiday season with an afternoon at Stan's Rock and Christmas Tree Farm, Browntown, WI
Depending on the species, the trees start at $20. It's rustic: you get a saw and they point in the direction of the trees.
