​When we first started out, there weren't really any rules. Over the years, we've accumulated the following rules based on actual guest interactions. One year a group of families with many young children allowed the children to roam loose on the property. They entered the coops, took all the eggs that they could find and broke them all over the patio. Another year, a group of cyclists decided to bring all of their expensive gear into the home, scuffing up the walls.  You might be able to imagine what prompted some of these rules. 

 

1. Park in the designated area. If you arrive at the ranch and proceed to park in a non-designated area, we'll know that you didn't read the rules and we'll let you know. The designated parking area is to the left of the house, along the black fence.  

2. Harvest Ridge Ranch is not pet-friendly.  Please ensure that you and your guests leave Fifi and Fido at home. Please do not allow guests to bring pets on to the ranch, even waiting in the car. So this means you cannot bring a pet and walk it on the property! If you need assistance with locating a pet sitter, please just let us know in advance and we'll try our best to help.

3. SPEED -- please drive SLOWLY on the property. Speeding kicks up dust, causes excessive wear and is dangerous for our animals. You are responsible for any vet bills caused by your vehicle injuring any of the animals on the property. Also, we know when you are speeding.  Please don't do it.

4. There are four bathrooms inside the home. Do not use any other location on the property as a toilet and thank you for ensuring that your guests are respectful enough not to do this at our home either.  

5. This is a working farm. While you are welcome to explore the grounds of our working farm, for biosecurity and animal welfare reasons, please do not enter any of the fenced or gated areas and work areas including the barn, chicken coop, pastures and orchard. Do not open or close any coop/barn doors, nor any gates. Access to fenced/gated areas and structures beyond the home are by explicit permission only.

6. The garage and pool equipment area are off limits; do not tamper with the networking, security or pool equipment. ​

7. Do not climb any fence.  This includes the short black fence around the house and the pool.  Parents, please instruct your children not to climb the fence as they are not intended for climbing.    

8. Children must be supervised at all times and are not allowed to roam the ranch without an adult present. 

9. Our Livestock Guardian Dogs, Sabrina, Thea and Gunner, protect the ranch livestock from Coyotes, Bobcats, Foxes, Hawks and potential roaming pack dogs.  Our dogs are responsible for guarding the poultry and livestock. Do not chase, grab, harrass, torment, throw rocks at, or threaten any ranch animals at any time as it will be seen as a threat.  

10. One dozen complimentary pastured eggs are waiting for you in the fridge.  If available, additional fresh eggs may be purchased for $9 per dozen; just ask. We are a production egg farm, so please do not enter the chicken coops or barn to collect any eggs on your own.

11. You are welcome to gather your non-meat, organic kitchen scraps into a large bowl for the chickens. Please check with the host before feeding scraps as we want to avoid feeding the dogs and DO NOT feed the ducks and geese.  

12. If you’d like to interact with the goats and/or chickens, feeding time is in the early evening about 1-2 hours before sundown.  If the goats are up for it, you may brush and pet the goats as well. Please check with the caretaker. Closed toed shoes are required before entering the goat area. Photos of the ranch animals are always welcome.  ​

13. All windows and doors to the exterior shall remain closed when the A/C or Heat are in use. In hot weather, it is helpful to pull down all the blackout shades upstairs during the day to help the house stay cool. 

14. Bicycles (and other outdoor equipment) are not allowed inside the home. Guests may not bring outdoor equipment (bicycles, kayaks, oars, fishing rods, auto repair tools/parts, etc.) into the home. If needed, secure them to the gate on the patio or inside your personal vehicle.

15. Do not leave doors open. All windows have screens and can be left open when A/C/heat are not in use. Leaving doors open will allow unwanted pests like field mice to enter the otherwise fully secured home. Ranch personnel reserve the right to enter in order to close doors and remind you not to do this. 

 

TIPS: ​

• Before going to bed, ensure that all windows are closed to drown out the livestock guardian dog action in the evening and rooster crows in the morning .. unless you like to be woken very early.