Farm Tours & Clinics - redgatefarmllc.com

NOTICE: Due to our recent move, most tours and events are temporarily suspended, and thus no dates listed. We are however, offering the PRIVATE Horse Driving Clinics and a few of the smaller clinics listed below. We apologize for the inconvenience, and hope to be back up and running soon, so stay tuned! Feel free to follow our Facebook page for updates!

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Farm Events may be added throughout the year, and most schedules are updated in January for that year. Check back often to see what's new! We only post group clinic/class dates, but our primary focus is private clinics, which we generally schedule March-November, depending on the clinic desired. Consultations can be scheduled at any time of year. For information on our horse-drawn rides or on hiring our horse team for your private event, please see our Horses Drawn Carriages page. Because all group classes and clinics have limited registration slots in order to maintain the quality learning and experience for each attendee, we require the registration fee up front in order to reserve your slot. We will contact you via e-mail about a week before your clinic to remind you and send directions to the farm and any other instructions necessary. Be sure to contact us if you do not receive this e-mail, and/or check your spam box. Please Contact Us if you have any questions.

Due to our recent move, tours are temporarily suspended while the new farm is being constructed. We apologize for the inconvenience!

Do you want to see a working, horse-powered, sustainable farm in action? Interested in using livestock to clear your forests or poultry to control bugs? Do you need ideas for edible landscaping or gardening? Have you wondered how draft horses are used in a farm setting today? Perhaps you'd like to learn more about wild mustangs, intensive management rotational grazing, or how to keep animals without turning your yard into a dusty, smelly, manure-filled lot? You can learn all this and more during our guided farm tour!

Prices are a set fee, so you can bring as few or as many (up to 10*) as you like at one price!

Customizable to your interests, we will take you to each station on the farm, and describe, in detail, how we manage that aspect of the farm and why. We can discuss the practical farming and business aspects for current or future farmers, host family reunions, or just guide you as a single family or individual seeking to learn. Contact us to discuss your desires.

Please note: In most cases, we recommend scheduling farm tours between late April and October, due to the seasonal nature of our farm, with the best months being late May to September. During the colder months, we have very few animals on the farm, and it is difficult to get the full picture of how a sustainable farm is run.

Standard Farm Tour ............................................................. $50*

This tour is about 2 hours long, and is ideal for groups and families who wish to learn about and see the overall picture of a sustainable farm.

Custom Tour .....................................................................$30/hr*

This tour is designed for individuals who are interested in learning about particular aspects of sustainable farming. We can include a basic tour of the farm if desired, as well as offer demonstrations in draft-horse logging, draft-power around the farm, milling lumber with the lumber mill, small-scale hay-making using a scythe and hay stack, designing and using a walipini (pit greenhouse), the basics of dairy animals, using animals for forest and woodland management, and more! We can focus on forest hogs, or pastured poultry, or you could even get hands on and milk a goat! We can even arrange for a horse-drawn wagon ride during your tour! Most tours run 2-3 hours in length, depending on your preferences. Feel free to e-mail an inquiry regarding your desires for more information.

*Please note that standard tour price is based on a group of 10 or fewer. Additional attendees are welcome for an additional $2/person (age 2 and over). Some tour options, especially those involving extra setup, powered equipment, or harnessing horse-power may require an additional fee. Dates and times are by appointment.

Due to our recent move, tours are temporarily suspended while the new farm is being constructed. We apologize for the inconvenience!

Are you looking for options to educate your group in a new, fun way? We can help! Our field trip options are based on our Farm Tour, but are more suited to larger groups. Whether you are wanting to supplement a topic studied in class, add adventure to a complicated science lesson, bring history to life, witness a wild horse being gentled, or give your group unique hands-on opportunities to learn, our customized field trips create amazing memories! We can further tailor your event to focus on the Biblical principles behind our practices for church groups, incorporate interactive Q&A sessions to children for school or homeschool groups, or help senior groups reflect on past memories. A field trip to RGF is sure to thrill all!

Please note: In most cases, we recommend scheduling field trips between late April and October, due to the seasonal nature of our farm, with the best months being late May to September. During the colder months, we have very few animals on the farm, and it is difficult to get the full picture of how a sustainable farm is run.

Standard Farm Field Trip Tour............................ $50*

This tour is about 1.5-2 hours long, and is ideal for groups who wish to learn more and see the overall picture of a sustainable farm. This is also a popular option for preschool and kindergarten field trips, and is tailored a bit based on the age group.

Custom Field Trip ............................................$30/hr*

This tour is designed for individuals who are interested in focusing on particular aspects of the farm. We can offer demonstrationss in draft-horse logging, draft-power around the farm, milling lumber, small-scale hay-making using a scythe and hay stack, designing and using a walipini (pit greenhouse), the basics of dairy animals, using animals for forest and woodland management, and more! We can focus on forest hogs, or pastured poultry, or you could even get hands on and milk a goat! Most tours run 2-3 hours in length, depending on your preferences. Feel free to e-mail an inquiry regarding your desires for more information.

*Please note that standard tour price is based on a group of 10 or fewer. Additional attendees are welcome for an additional $2/person (age 2 and over), making it a very reasonable fee for large families, groups, or school field trips. Some tour options, especially those involving extra setup, equipment, or horse-power may require an additional fee. Dates and times are by appointment, and our ability to customize will depend on the season.

If you've considered purchasing a home lumber-mill, or even starting a small-scale milling business, this hands-on clinic is a great way to get started before jumping into such a large investment!

For this clinic, participants should arrive prepared for some limited walking in the woods, as well as working hands-on with logs, cant hooks, and the lumber mill. For this clinic, we use the Woodmizer LT-15.

Types of Lumber Mills, pros/cons
Tools and Safety Equipment Needed
Selecting logs for milling
Felling Trees Safely
Moving Logs (even without heavy equipment, such as with vehicles and even draft horse power!)
Debarking techniques
Milling techniques
Calculating log weights
Working with split or damaged wood
Proper stacking and drying of milled lumber

This is a unique 1/2 day clinic that you are sure to enjoy! It's designed for the outdoor enthusiast, who isn't afraid to work hard and get a little dirty! Class size is limited to 8 participants. Participants must be over 18 years old.

NOTE: Closed-toe shoes, work gloves, and long pants are required to participate in the clinic. Long sleeve shirts, ear protection, eye protection are recommended.

2023 Group Clinic Dates: April 8, 8am-12 pm and Oct 7, 8 am-12pm.

PRE-REGISTER FOR THIS CLINIC HERE!

We are happy to offer a private clinic for your group. Just contact us for information!

We will be processing several Cornish-cross meat birds, and you will have the opportunity to be directly involved in the experience. Clinic includes discussions and demonstrations for:

Minimal-stress, humane killing using cones
Proper scalding technique
Hand-plucking and using a mechanical plucker
Proper eviscerating
Keeping the work area clean and safe
Options for packaging
Legal issues related to home processing
MORE!

Best of all, you will select and harvest a chicken. At the end of the class, you get to go home with the chicken YOU harvested, so you can show off your handywork by serving it at your next meal time! Class size is very limited.

2023 Group Clinic Dates: June 10, 8 am- approx. 11am and Oct 14.

PRE-REGISTER FOR THIS CLINIC HERE!

We are happy to offer a private clinic, using our birds or yours, for an additional fee. Just contact us for information.

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For information on renting our poultry processing equipment,

CLICK HERE!

If you've ever considered raising backyard laying hens, meat birds, turkeys, waterfowl, or just a few fun pet poultry, this is the class for you. Even if you're already raising poultry, you will find all sorts of useful information and insights in this class, and the class will be tailored slightly to the interests of the particpants. Topics to be covered include:

Different methods, pros and cons, for raising chicks, poults, etc.
Different breeds of chickens and poultry
Feed options
Pest and predator control
Housing options
Differentiating between birds from different years
Identifying active layers
Molt
Pests and Diseases
Egg Care
Mixing Poultry species
MORE!

After the class session, we'll take you on a first-hand tour of our chicken facilities, including our chick brooder, portable meat bird tractor, and layer coop. We will discuss the reasons and risks involved with the way we raise our poultry, and the many services and products that derive from home-raised poultry.

Group Class Dates: TBD.

We are happy to offer a private class for your group. Just contact us for information!

Have you considered adding (or maybe already did add!) a few goats to your homestead, but aren't sure where to start? Are you interested in drinking raw goat milk, or supplying your family with goat meat? Do you have thick brush, wild rose, poison ivy, russian olive, or honeysuckle you'd like cleared, but don't have a lot of time?

If you answered "yes" to any of these, this clinic is for you! Topics include:

Breeds of goats and their practicality on the small homestead Miniature, standard, and large breeds, and their pros/cons
Selecting your goats
Breeding and kidding
Culling to meet your goals
Horns...or not
Hoof trimming
Using goats for brush clearing
Kid goats and their requirements
Milking dairy goats
Management to prevent "off" or "goaty" flavors in your milk
Using dairy goats for meat
MORE!

This educational class involves hands-on opportunity to play with kids, milk dairy goats, test your hoof trimming skills, and witness the practicality of goats on the homestead first-hand! You will leave this class well-prepared to add goats to your homestead or farm. The class concludes with an opportunity to sample different items made from goat milk.

Group Clinic Dates: TBD.

We are happy to schedule private clinic for your group, however! Just contact us for information!

This class is a great opportunity to really learn the details about raising pork in an unconventional and even fun manner! When most folks think of raising hogs, they often think of the overwhelming stink, flies, disease, pollution, and filth that accompanies it. This class will show you firsthand that there is a better way how raising hogs can actually be a very enjoyable experience! Topics of this class include:

Breeds and types of hogs
Sources for pigs
Choosing a location to raise your hogs....or not!
Housing options
Fencing options
Management methods
Reduce or eliminate flies and stink!
Feeding options
Using hogs for land improvement
Knowing when to process
More!

After the classroom session, you will get to tour the farm and see first-hand how we raise our hogs. You will see how we have used hogs to convert portions of our woodlands into other uses. Note that, although we have previously bred and farrowed outdoors, and the topic is likely to be briefly discussed, this class does NOT detail breeding and farrowing. Its focus is limited to raising feeder hogs and pork production.

Class size is limited.

Group Class Dates: TBD.

We are happy to offer a private class. Just contact us for information!

Who can refuse a pad of fresh, homemade butter?! Maybe you'd like to find that perfect soft-cheese topping for your crackers. What if you could stop paying the high prices for yogurt and just make your own?! You can learn all this and more at the Dairy and Cheese Clinic. It doesn't matter if you purchase your milk at the store or have a cow or goat in the backyard, because we will work with both store bought and farm-fresh, raw milk to create a variety of delicious treats, using standard kitchen tools that you likely already have at home. Clinic topics include:

A brief discussion on hygenic management of dairy animals
Safe handling of milk and dairy products
Store bought milk/cream vs. raw milk/cream
Separating cream to make butter and other cream products
Methods of culturing cream for flavor
Best ways to store butter for best flavor
How to make butter, yogurt, and soft cheese, start to finish
Tips to increase health benefits of dairy items

You will be directly involved in making the items, so you will be mentally prepared to go home and try it on your own. This class begins with an opportunity to try at your hand at milking a live goat, and concludes with an opportunity to sample your creations of the day at a little brunch! This is a unique clinic you don't want to miss! Class size is very limited to 6 particpants. 

NOTE: This has proven to be one of our most popular clinics. Don't delay registering if you've been hoping to attend this clinic! Also be sure to allow yourself extra time, as these clinics occasionally run a bit longer than stated due to the brunch.

Group Clinic Dates: TBD.

We are happy to schedule a private clinic for your group, however! Just contact us for information!

Are you considering purchasing some land or a farm but need some advice? Do you want to improve the health and decrease the maintenance required of horses at your personal farm or boarding stable? Do you have a farm and want to incorporate another aspect or make it more sustainable or permaculture-oriented? Do you dream of homesteading, but need ideas to help you get set up efficiently? Perhaps you desire assistance just to get you thinking "outside the box?" Do you have a desire to design your home or farm to be more self-sufficient or possibly off-grid?

Whatever your desire, we can help! We have been studying and involved in permaculture and sustainable farming for over 10 years. Sean has a degree in engineering, and Danielle has a degree in farm management. We start with a simple questionairre to get us familiar with your lifestyle and goals, then come to your farm, take a look around, give you a feel for your options, and help you develop short and long term, written plans to help you get started on the right track to be successful in your dreams!

Consulting services are arranged by appointment, and usually run between 2-8 hours, depending on details and goals. CONTACT US today to get started!

Be sure to check this page frequently, as we update our class and clinic schedule every few months!

Farm TourS

Field Trips

Horse & Driving Clinics

Home Lumber Milling Clinic

$30/person

Chicken Processing Clinic

$40/person

Poultry Raising Class

$10/person

Backyard Dairy Goat Clinic

$20/person

Raising Pork Naturally Class

$10/person

Dairy & soft Cheese Clinic

$30/person

Consulting Services

$25/hour, +$2.50/mile