Harper's Farm House

Free use of the washer and dryer in the basement. Cable TV. WiFi. Plenty of parking. It's as cozy as can be...

For guests with kids, we have a high-chair & a pack-n-play for use during your stay. There are toys, puzzles, Disney movies, sidewalk chalk and a playground across the street. The field by the guest garden is safe to run and kick a ball in.

There is a seasonal guest garden, so help yourself to whatever you can harvest during your visit. It’s all there for you to enjoy as the veggies and fruit become ready to eat. We have fruit trees including a variety of apples, plums, cherries and grape vines. Everything is as organic as the air and water provided by Mother Nature herself. Guest access

Guests have free & ample parking in the driveway. Please do not block the drive leading through to the pasture gate. You can park in front of the white garage door... it's no problem to block it.

If you need additional storage (for longer term stays), just ask. We can make some room for bikes, kayaks, gear, etc. in the basement.

Free use of: -Washer & dryer in the basement. -Gas BBQ & patio furniture on the deck.

Please DO NOT wander around the farm without Earl or I in attendance with you. It is important that gates get closed so animals do not get out and for your own safety. I am extra cautious when it comes to people being around the animals, so for insurance purposes, you will need to sign a waiver if you want to be around the horses and wander around the farm. No exceptions. By booking the farm house, you agree to these terms and the Limitations of Liability for equine activities.

ANNOTATED REVISED CODE OF WASHINGTON TITLE 4. CIVIL PROCEDURE CHAPTER 4.24. SPECIAL RIGHTS OF ACTION AND SPECIAL IMMUNITIES

Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) § 4.24.530 (1994)

§ 4.24.530. Limitations on liability for equine activities - - Definitions

Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the definitions in this section apply to RCW 4.24.500, 4.24.510, and section 3, chapter 292, Laws of 1989.

(1) "Equine" means a horse, pony, mule, donkey, or hinny.

(2) "Equine activity" means: (a) Equine shows, fairs, competitions, performances, or parades that involve any or all breeds of equines and any of the equine disciplines, including, but not limited to, dressage, hunter and jumper horse shows, grand prix jumping, three-day events, combined training, rodeos, driving, pulling, cutting, polo, steeplechasing, endurance trail riding and western games, and hunting; (b) equine training and/or teaching activities; (c) boarding equines; (d) riding, inspecting, or evaluating an equine belonging to another whether or not the owner has received some monetary consideration or other thing of value for the use of the equine or is permitting a prospective purchaser of the equine to ride, inspect, or evaluate the equine; and (e) rides, trips, hunts, or other equine activities of any type however informal or impromptu that are sponsored by an equine activity sponsor.

(3) "Equine activity sponsor" means an individual, group or club, partnership, or corporation, whether or not the sponsor is operating for profit or nonprofit, which sponsors, organizes, or provides the facilities for, an equine activity including but not limited to: Pony clubs, 4- H clubs, hunt clubs, riding clubs, school and college sponsored classes and programs, therapeutic riding programs, and, operators, instructors, and promoters of equine facilities, including but not limited to stables, clubhouses, ponyride strings, fairs, and arenas at which the activity is held.

(4) "Participant" means any person, whether amateur or professional, who directly engages in an equine activity, whether or not a fee is paid to participate in the equine activity.

(5) "Engages in an equine activity" means a person who rides, trains, drives, or is a passenger upon an equine, whether mounted or unmounted, and does not mean a spectator at an equine activity or a person who participates in the equine activity but does not ride, train, drive, or ride as a passenger upon an equine.

(6) "Equine professional" means a person engaged for compensation (a) in instructing a participant or renting to a participant an equine for the purpose of riding, driving, or being a passenger upon the equine, or, (b) in renting equipment or tack to a participant.

§ 4.24.540. Limitations on liability for equine activities - - Exceptions

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, an equine activity sponsor or an equine professional shall not be liable for an injury to or the death of a participant engaged in an equine activity, and, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, no participant nor participant's representative may maintain an action against or recover from an equine activity sponsor or an equine professional for an injury to or the death of a participant engaged in an equine activity.

(2) (a) RCW 4.24.530 and 4.24.540 do not apply to the horse racing industry as regulated in chapter 67.16 RCW.

(b) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall prevent or limit the liability of an equine activity sponsor or an equine professional:

(i) If the equine activity sponsor or the equine professional:

(A) Provided the equipment or tack and the equipment or tack caused the injury; or

(B) Provided the equine and failed to make reasonable and prudent efforts to determine the ability of the participant to engage safely in the equine activity, determine the ability of the equine to behave safely with the participant, and determine the ability of the participant to safely manage the particular equine;

(ii) If the equine activity sponsor or the equine professional owns, leases, rents, or otherwise is in lawful possession and control of the land or facilities upon which the participant sustained injuries because of a dangerous latent condition which was known or should have been known to the equine activity sponsor or the equine professional and for which warning signs have not been conspicuously posted;

(iii) If the equine activity sponsor or the equine professional commits an act or omission that constitutes willful or wanton disregard for the safety of the participant and that act or omission caused the injury;

(iv) If the equine activity sponsor or the equine professional intentionally injures the participant;

(v) Under liability provisions as set forth in the products liability laws; or

(vi) Under liability provisions in chapter 16.04, 16.13, or 16.16 RCW.

HISTORY: 1989 c 292 § 2.

Interaction with guests

We live in the home directly south of the farm house with the three dogs keeping an eye on things. I am out feeding the animals every morning and evening. I'm usually around all weekend doing chores. If you see me and have questions, flag me down. I would be happy to help with whatever you need. Come evening time, Earl & I are usually ready for a cold one, so holler if you want to sit back and enjoy one with us.

I tend to lean toward giving our guests privacy since it's their vacation and family time. I am happy to offer more time around the farm if we can schedule it a little in advance. I work during the week, so weekends are best for extended interaction time.

Other things to note

For extended stays, the monthly price includes all utilities, insurance, yard maintenance & garbage services. That being said, please conserve the resources (gas, electricity, water, garbage & recycling) so the monthly rate can remain affordable & competitive. I also reserve the option of doing a monthly inspection to make sure the house is being kept clean, the vacuum is being used and repairs aren't needed.

For extended stays, the Post Master has asked that guests request a "Temporary Forward" of the mail instead of a "Forward". It will make their job easier.

For those staying with pets. Conditions exist... please clean up after them daily. There will be an additional fee added to the rate to cover the extra cleaning involved if warranted. Any damage created will need to be covered by you and is a condition of allowing them to stay. Pets are not allowed on the furniture or beds. We have an area north of the driveway that is fully fenced and gated with a shelter. Dogs can run freely in there and can stay outside or in the basement when no one is home to monitor them. The basement is warm in the winter and cool in the summer, so it would be comfortable for them to stay in all day if necessary. Pets are not allowed to stay in the house unattended. We do have free-roaming chickens and a barn cat, so if your dog likes to chase animals, then please es**rt them with a leash when walking them around the property.

As mentioned earlier, we are conveniently located near the airport (~6 miles). With that comes airplane noise and can be noticeable during the summer while sitting on the deck. The house itself is extremely quiet and insulated with sound insulation and triple pane windows.

The neighborhood

Des Moines is a charming water-land town nestled along the inland waters of Puget Sound. It has the only marina between Seattle and Tacoma with a boat launch at the Redondo Pier, a seasonal farmer's market at the marina, unique shops and family restaurants. There are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy at the local city and state parks nearby. The Redondo Pier has a boardwalk along the water and Salty's Restaurant is a nice place to watch the sun set behind the Olympic Mountain Range. Federal Way is the next city to the south where you will find lots of shopping opportunities. Check out our Guidebook for more activities and fun things to do!

Getting around

Public transit runs north and south on Pacific Highway South and I-5. SeaTac Airport is 10 minutes away, where you can catch the light rail system into Seattle.

Policies

House Rules

No smoking. No parties or events. Check-in is anytime after 3PM. Check out by 11AM.

Self check-in with lock box.

More information

You will have the whole house to yourself, so privacy is not an issue. It's clean and updated with cozy down bedding and nice linens. The bathroom is newly renovated with new tile and fixtures. The tub/shower has grab bars for those needing assistance. There are two TV's with basic cable, a desk, couch, kitchen nook, and large deck with a new grill to enjoy in the warmer months. The grocery store is 0.5 miles away. We live next door, so if you need anything, we can help you out. Please let us know if anything needs repair or attention so your visit is comfortable and worry free.

The cleaning fee will cover washing all of the linens, vacuuming, sweeping and general cleaning after your departure. Please strip the beds and pile the linens so I know what needs to be laundered. Towels can be tossed into the tub. Other than that, the house should be turned over the same way it was delivered to you.

If food is left in the refrigerator, then we sort out the perishables and feed it to the chickens. There are usually condiments (ketchup, mustard, relish, etc.) for the guests to use, so you may want to see what's on hand before stocking up at the store.

Those with pets... all droppings must be picked up and disposed into the garbage. Pets aren't allowed on the furniture or beds. Any damage that they cause will need to be repaired or compensate us for the repair(s) to be done. And, pets should not be left unattended in the house. They can stay in the basement which is warm in the winter and cool in the summer, or they can stay in the fenced yard next to the garage. Please walk them on a leash just in case they like to chase cats or chickens.

Base Rules: Absolutely... -No smoking. -No parties. -No drugs. -No shoes in the house. We like to keep the 'farm' outside. You may prefer to bring a pair of slip-on shoes for easy on and off. Please use the mud room as the main entrance.

I will happily give you a tour of the farm. There are a few rules to follow for your safety and the animals, so we can go over those when we wander around.

There is a farm cat that will greet you and want your attention. His name is Mouse, so if you like cats, he will happily be your friend. If you don't, he will still try to be your friend.

If you enjoy gardening, I would be happy to show you where the tools are, provide you a pair of gloves and let you get your green thumb on.

Frequently on weekdays, you may see a red Grand Am or a white Volvo wagon pull into the driveway. A lady will get a bag out of her trunk and put it in the blue container by the garage. Don't be alarmed. She is my mother-in-law, Mercedes. She drops off fruit and vegetable scraps for the chickens and I'll distribute it to them the next morning.

Thank you and we hope you enjoy your stay!

You must also acknowledge

Dangerous animals on property - We have horses that some people might be intimidated by. We have coyotes, raccoons, opossums, eagles, owls and hawks that visit the property.

Pet(s) live on property - We have a farm, so there are chickens, horses and a barn cat to enjoy.

Amenity limitations - We don't have a dishwasher, but it hasn't been a problem for guests.

Potential for noise - Airplanes and roosters can be heard when outside.

Must climb stairs - There are steps to the back porch through the mud room. There are two bedrooms on the top floor with steep carpeted stairs.

Security Deposit - if you damage the home, you may be charged up to $300.

Some spaces are shared - Guests will share the driveway with farm visitors. The best spot to park is in front of the garage door or next to the truck.

Surveillance or recording devices on property - We have a camera pointing at the driveway so we know when someone comes on the property.