LOCAL, GREEN & ELECTRIFYING!

Visit us and stay local. Buying sustainably grown and organic foods is a priority for us due to the benefits for our guests, our family, staff, and community. A big bonus is that we know exactly where the food is grown and by whom it is grown. Moreover, these farmers are real people we have grown to care about as part of our community – by supporting their businesses we strengthen our community and its vitality.

The Grazing Room and the inn's Gift Shop source from the following local farms and producers (and always seeking more):

Angel Ridge Farms – Cornish Center
Brookford Farms – Canterbury
Coffin Cellars
Contoocook Creamery – Contoocook
Uncanoonuc Foraging Company

Gilded Fern Creamery - Contoocook
Gould Hill Farm & Contoocook Cider – Hopkinton
Grant Family Farms – Weare
Grounding Stone (Blueberry) Farm
Hop N Hen Farm – Henniker

Lucullus Trading, LLC (Oysters)
Meadow View Farms – Gilmanton (lamb)
North Country Smokehouse – Claremont

Porkside Farm - Henniker
Robie Farms – Orford
Sunset Rock Farm – Lebanon
Terra Organics – Contoocook
Work Song Farm – Hopkinton
Yankee Farms – Warner

Electric Charging Station - CLOSED until 2024

*Please note that we had to disconnect the (very old) charging station. We plan to reinstall a new charging station in 2024. Overnight and dinner guests can pull right up to our main barn to charge their electric cars while they themselves recharge with some great food and relaxation.

Sharing for Enoying the Outdoors

We are willing to lend out backpacks, snowshoes, blankets, beach chairs, beach blankets, and umbrellas. Just ask us to borrow!
We also provide picnics with notice at least by 6:00 pm the night prior.

Sustainable Management. We take the term "Innkeeper" to heart because we are carrying on a legacy with this property for the 25 plus years we hope to operate it. We also care about the larger environment around us.

A few of our ECO practices include:

Installation of dispensers for shampoo, conditioner, and body gel in all bathrooms so we can purchase bulk supplies of Natura bath products.
Maintaining our own organic vegetable gardens and heirloom fruit trees on the property
Composting all fruit and vegetable scraps as well as grass, leaves and straw, and manure from the goat pens
Our used cooking oil is picked up by White Mountain Biodiesel for use as biodiesel fuel in the Mount Washington Cog Railway (which had been coal-operated at one time)
Illuminating the inn with energy-efficient bulbs
Upgrading HVAC system, washers and dryers, and equipment to energy-efficient models
Replaced all toilets with dual-flush models to save water with every flush
Recycling all cans, bottles, and paper used on site.
Canning summer local and organic produce to use throughout the year
Including organic and sustainable wines on our Wine List and featuring New Hampshire spirits in all of our House Signature Cocktails
Cleaning with "green" products as much as possible – this is a much bigger focus in 2018 with new cleaning staff leadership
Purchasing recycled paper products for office supplies, facial tissues, and toilet paper
Integrating repurposed/recycled items into special events
Planting native plants and installing birdhouses made of recycled/repurposed materials across the property
Feeding birds
Ridding the property of invasive plants and vines that have been weakening the trees and making other areas, such as a long stretch of creek, impenetrable
Preserving a mid-1800s barn with new life – Yes, we host barn weddings!
Walking to the post office, bank, and other almost daily errands in town
Extending our commitment to local to any products we can use in the gift shop and for operations – we also carry recycled/repurposed products

Community Support

Our expenditures to bring the inn to where we envision it still, after four years, take just about any profit we have. However, giving is important at any level and builds relationships we hope to grow!

We have elected to align our community support with our mission through three primary giving objectives:

Strengthing a Multi-Generational Community

We both grew up with three and four generations of our family in close proximity, and we missed having that for our daughter. Fortunately, in Henniker, The White Birch Center provides programs for early learning, extended learning for after school for kids up to age 14, and active learning (and recreation) for seniors. In 2021, we plan to begin working with The Birches at Concord - Memory Care Community for Seniors as Bruce's mom moves here from Arizona.

Creating & Maintaining Outdoor Recreational Spaces

We love to get outside and breathe fresh air – it reminds us why it's so important to keep the Earth healthy and sustainable. We welcome support for initiatives that allow more people to bicycle, hike, garden, swim, exercise outdoors, or see outdoor performances. We support Concord's Five Rivers Conservation Trust, Rails to Trails Conservancy and Main Street Warner Stage. We also support the Henniker Azalea Park Riverwalk's planned archway as well as the Henniker Lions Club's kite festival and garden program and the Rotary Club of Henniker's summer outdoor concert series.

Strengthening the Local Green Economy

Jefferson serves on the board of directors of the New Hampshire Farm to Restaurant Connection. We also provide support to the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire. We also provided in-kind support to the NH League of Craftsmen.

In January 2018, we started the year by accomplishing one of our business goals – reaching a minimum pay rate of $15 per hour for all adult staff who work at least 3 shifts per week. This more than doubled some of the staff positions' earnings compared to 2015. As of 2020, all full-time staff earn at least $20/hour!