FARM ETIQUETTE:

Here are some simple rules at White Rose Farm. Please:

• You are entering a farm with famous (or infamous) Taneytown red clay. It is slippery when wet and easily creates lasting ruts. (Do not park on the lawn.)
• Park in the driveway around the circle.
• In the gardens, stay on the pathways and in the straw-filled trenches so the plant roots can breathe in the garden beds themselves.
• Return all tools (scissors, tubs) when you are finished.
• Use the bathroom on the first floor of the farmhouse. (The house has a septic system, so please wrap sanitary napkins and place them in the wastebasket.)
• If you go through a gate to a pasture, close the gate behind you immediately.

• The animals are domesticated, not tame.
• The house uses well water. It is delicious and safe to drink, and it may affect some people’s digestive systems. However, please bring your own bottled water if you have concerns.
• We keep a first-aid kit in the customer shed.
• The fences around the pastures are electrified. People or animals that touch the fence will receive a jolt of electricity — not life-threatening--but shocking.
• Chickens, ducks, turkeys, and Guinea hens range freely at White Rose Farm. We cage the geese and turkeys upon request.
• Rules for livestock:
• Don’t turn your back on a rooster.
• Don’t come between a rooster and his hens. He may attack.
• Don’t run from a goose.
• Do not move behind the heifers where they cannot see you.
• Stay calm and animals will stay calm around you.
• We keep honeybees on the property. They are not aggressive unless you get close to the hives; however, if you are allergic to bee stings, you might want to bring an epi-pen for your own peace of mind.
• We grow vegetables and flowers naturally—using well-rotted manure in the beds. We also let the chickens and ducks eat insects off of the vegetables. Wash your hands after working in the fields; rinse your vegetables well.
• Children may hold animals or pick up eggs. Again, make sure they wash their hands after that activity.
• The farm abounds with wildlife, including groundhogs, skunks and snakes. It also has ample poison ivy and multiflora rose. If you venture into the woods and hedgerows, watch for holes in the ground, make sure you and your guests know what poison ivy looks like and take precautions to prevent it. Wear long pants and check yourself and your guests for ticks if you venture into high grass.