Cottage Grove, Minnesota Development News

Shepherd's Farm in Cottage Grove Offers Diverse Outdoor Recreation and Educational Programs

Shepherd's Farm, affiliated with Dodge Nature Center and located at the corner of 70th Street and Jamaica Avenue in Cottage Grove, offers a variety of programming and amenities. These include summer day camps for children, nature education programs in local schools, and various classes such as cooking, nature, and outdoor skills. The farm features extensive forest trails, a mile-long loop, and abundant wildlife like pileated woodpeckers and owls. A newly constructed smithy with eight forges offers blacksmithing classes, from introductory sessions to specialized knife making. The facility is transitioning to using biochar charcoal made from fallen wood for its coal-fired forges. Additionally, Shepherd's Farm provides beekeeping opportunities, with formal classes for learning beekeeping and rental spaces for individuals who wish to keep their own bees on-site. The farm also hosts livestock, including cows, goats, chickens, turkeys, and sheep, which are visible to the public from the trails. A community garden offers 15x15 foot plots for rent, providing tools, water, and tilled ground, with hay available for mulch. The trails are open to the public from sunrise to sunset and are free to use. The city administrator noted seeing a great horned owl on the property.