Overview

Plantation is a gorgeous 500 acre working farm nestled in the heart of the Sonoma County redwoods. We have been a livestock ranch and farm for over fifty-five years, and we lovingly care for our animals throughout the year in an environmentally friendly, sustainable manner. During the summer, campers play an integral part in running our farm. As part of our community, everybody has a farm chore twice a day. We raise our animals and tend our garden to provide food for the camp, and our kitchen uses the freshest ingredients possible to create wholesome, delicious, farm-fresh meals.

Since 1952, we have taught respect for and love of nature. In everything we do, we endeavor to leave as small a footprint on the earth as possible and to practice and teach environmental sustainability. We compost, recycle, or re-purpose the vast majority of the waste that camp produces.Living outdoors we consume very little electricity and water conservation is important as we have our own spring-fed water system. These values are increasingly becoming a part of everyone’s daily life. At Plantation they have always been integral to our community. We are not simply residents of this place, we are also stewards of it. Plantation teaches that in the activities of our daily lives, we have a responsibility to understand and care for the natural systems of the earth that sustain us. As they nurture the animals and help the plants in the garden grow, the campers themselves directly experience the impact that they have on their world and how their care can make something thrive.

Chores

Campers actively participate in the chores, getting hands-on experience caring for the animals and the rest of the farm. Farm chores help foster responsibility and a sense of involvement and self-worth. Caring for our cows, pigs, sheep, goats and other animals also gives campers a new understanding and appreciation for the origins of (and labor involved with) the food we eat. For many campers, responsibility for and close contact with animals is a rewarding part of their summer. To read more about specific chores, click here.

In addition to the daily chores and occasional farm projects, we dedicate each Saturday morning to taking care of the farm. Farm Day provides a time to give the horses or dogs extra grooming, administer medicine to the animals, learn how to make sourdough bread, make butter or ice cream, pick blackberries for jam or pies, or build a shade structure for the pigs. Campers choose how they want to participate, and after a big dinner that the campers can decide to help prepare, the day culminates with our Saturday night Barn Dance.

Farm-Fresh Food

The food that is served at Plantation is central to the camp experience and we believe that camp food can and should be the very best. While at Plantation, campers will enjoy farm-fresh meals that they help make possible.

With every meal our chefs use the freshest ingredients to prepare high quality meals from scratch including fresh bread and baked goods. Indeed, almost all of the meat that we eat is pasture-raised on our farm, our lettuce along with many of our vegetables are grown in our organic garden, and the jam is made from fruit picked from our trees and bushes. Vegetarian options are always available and we are also able to accommodate many special dietary needs and allergies.

The campers also learn to help prepare meals at camp. On Farm Day (Saturday mornings), campers can choose to help make bread, homemade butter, jam, and other dishes for Saturday night's dinner. Sunday and Wednesday mornings, units of campers cook their breakfast over the campfire. Also, Tuesday dinners are also cookout dinners, with campers preparing burritos, burgers, and of course, s'mores. For more details and a Sample Menu, click here.