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, 2011
January
1/1 Happy New Year!
1/14-17 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
3/25 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
4/21 Earth Day--think green. Plant a tree. Start a compost pile.
Eat something organically grown, perhaps from a farmers' market, the Willy Street Co-op in Madison or Whole Foods Market.
4/23 Opening of the Madison Farmers' Market on the Square.
Held every Saturday morning around the Capital Square. One of the best farmers' markets in the U.S.A.
4/28 Maintain 600 mostly native trees along stream bank at Inn Serendipity Woods cabin property as riparian buffer.
May
5/1 Start harvesting asparagus.
5/1 Local Sky-Vu Drive-In movie theater opens for the season! Weather permitting, of course.
5/5 Get Certified as Travel Green Wisconsin (business-to-business consulting session)
Don't let the certification checklist get in the way of participating in the nation's most comprehensive and well-supported green travel program, Travel Green Wisconsin (TGW). This hands-on, three-hour workshop -- led by John Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist, experts in the green travel field and innkeepers of the TGW-certified Inn Serendipity -- navigates the TGW Checklist (all 14 pages of it) and efficiently guides you through the certification process. The voluntary Travel Green Wisconsin program continues to earn both international media attention and marketing support for the more than 266 certified Travel Green lodging, restaurants, attractions, events and other travel related enterprises. From energy conservation and renewable energy to local food options and meeting the basic requirements of the TGW program, this workshop will spark ideas to help grow your business green, earning the minimum 30 points to receive TGW certification.
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.
Instructors: Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko, co-owners of Inn Serendipity and co-authors of ECOpreneuring: Putting Purpose and the Planet before Profits, Rural Renaissance: Renewing the Quest for the Good Life and Farmstead Chef.
5/14 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.
5/16 Last frost date: Plant tomato, pepper, broccoli and cabbage transplants.
5/19 Get Certified by Travel Green Wisconsin (business-to-business consulting session)
Don't let the certification checklist get in the way of participating in the nation's most comprehensive and well-supported green travel program, Travel Green Wisconsin (TGW). This hands-on, three-hour workshop -- led by John Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist, experts in the green travel field and innkeepers of the TGW-certified Inn Serendipity -- navigates the TGW Checklist (all 14 pages of it) and efficiently guides you through the certification process. The voluntary Travel Green Wisconsin program continues to earn both international media attention and marketing support for the more than 266 certified Travel Green lodging, restaurants, attractions, events and other travel related enterprises. From energy conservation and renewable energy to local food options and meeting the basic requirements of the TGW program, this workshop will spark ideas to help grow your business green, earning the minimum 30 points to receive TGW certification.
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.
Instructors: Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko, co-owners of Inn Serendipity and co-authors of ECOpreneuring: Putting Purpose and the Planet before Profits, Rural Renaissance: Renewing the Quest for the Good Life and Farmstead Chef.
5/27-30 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
6/4 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.
6/17-19 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!
7/9 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 5pm, 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) 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.
7/13 John begins preparing his delicious fried green tomatoes for breakfast.
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.
7/29-31 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.
8/6 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. For more information, contact the IREA.
September
9/2-5 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.
October
10/1 "Speed-Skilling" with Transition Green County in conjunction with the National Solar Tour of Buildings and the Farmstead Chef local book launch party at Inn Serendipity, Browntown, Wisconsin
9 am - 7 pm
Cost: Free, open to the public, but please pre-register for the event by e-mailing "lisa (AT) innserendipity (DOT) com" or 608-329-7056
Rediscover Wisconsin's farmstead roots of self-reliance and community collaboration with a diversity of seasoned mentors sharing their inspiring skills and talents. From food preservation techniques to renewable energy, come learn about how we can rebuild our interdependence and support sustainability by connecting with knowledgeable neighbors. The Speed Skilling workshops aim to help beginners get started with introductory information and provide resources for action. The Inn Serendipity Farm Tour will provide an overview of many renewable energy options, green building, organic food systems and the green businesses that make it possible.
The Speed Skilling event will be held in conjunction with the National Tour of Solar Homes and Transition Green County and is free and open to the public. However, please pre-register for the event by e-mailing "lisa (AT) innserendipity (DOT) com" or 608-329-7056 and please bring a dish to pass for the potluck lunch. Self-guided tour maps will be available for visitors attending just the National Tour of Solar Homes, or they can join the scheduled walking tours at 10 am and 2 pm. The event will proceed, rain or shine. Please dress appropriately for the weather since the majority of the activities will be held outside.
At the close of the Tour of Solar Homes and Speed Skilling event, join the book launch party for Farmstead Chef, co-authored by Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko, and sample some of the delicious recipes found in the cookbook's pages. Farmstead Chef as well as Rural Renaissance, ECOpreneuring and other books by the authors will be available for sale.
For a complete schedule of events, click here.
10/15 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.
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.
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.
