Peaceful Solar-Powered Country Home 6 miles from Mayo

Irish Ridge Farm is a B&E (that’s Bed and Eggs!). Our farm house is located five miles east of Rochester, MN making it a convenient, homey spot for any Rochester visitors, especially Mayo patients, who will find a relaxing and rejuvenating environment. We are quiet and rural, yet 15 minutes from downtown Rochester with all the city amenities. Our home, now solar-powered, is cozy but not fancy and we hope you’ll find it imbued with a warm energy that comes from all of the happy memories that our family made over the last 60+ years.

We have three bedrooms (one queen and two doubles) that comfortably sleep six people. The kitchen is stocked with cookware, dinnerware, silverware, coffee maker, microwave, toaster, and dishwasher. You can also have a cook-out with the outdoor gas grill. In season, we stock the fridge with a carton (or two) of fresh eggs from our happy, free-run chickens. As with many houses of its era, there is a single modest bathroom, with an extra shower and vanity in the adjoining laundry room. A shed protects your car from those frosty Minnesota winter mornings. Irish Ridge Farm provides central A/C, WiFi, flat screen TV with cable, free laundry, games, and books to peruse. There is a baby grand piano for you to create beautiful music whether you are a accomplished pianist or just like to tinker.

Children are welcome. Kids find it great fun to explore 160 acres of meadows, trails, and woods as well as the red barn that has hosted many barn dances over the years.

We have chickens, a goose, sheep, goats, a couple of barn cats and a friendly Lab. Favorite farm activities include walking mowed trails, hiking to the woods or up the country road to a small lake. Cranes, eagles, hawks, swans and pelicans are commonly spotted. Bird watchers will be delighted. Some outdoor activities in the area include biking, hiking, swimming, canoeing, fishing and x-country skiing. Rochester has a Saturday Farmers Market, many cultural activities, and plenty of great restaurants.

Irish Ridge Farm presents a myriad of opportunities to relax. Each season has its own character: from spring-time morel-hunting to summer-time gardening and watching the glow of the fireflies; from savoring the fall colors to star gazing and snow shoeing in the crisp winter air.

Our ancestors, Irish immigrants, settled the area in 1858. In 1949 our parents bought the farm where they lived and raised a family for over sixty years. Martha moved back to the farm over 25 years ago and she and her husband raised their children in the house across the driveway. Margie lives in Madison, WI with her family and returns often to spend time on the farm. Guests from around the world have found that the Bowman family on Irish Ridge welcomed them with open arms. We want to continue the tradition by hosting you and your family at Irish Ridge Farm. There are no strangers here, only friends we haven’t met.