Justin Trails

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Innkeepers Don & Donna Justin

Don & Donna Justin
Naturally we create joy with quality lodging and recreation in a secluded coulee in Southwest Wisconsin known as the Driftless Region.

Sustainability is an important concept that we have taken seriously all of our life. Our home was built by Don’s grandparents in 1920. We have carefully remodeled to add amenities that guests expect, but we have maintained the small footprint. We added innkeeper quarters in the lower level and a sun room on the west side of the house. Following are some of the sustainable practices we adhere to:

THE BUILDINGS

  • wood floors of local hickory, pine, oak and original maple with low VOC water base finish
  • new energy efficient windows throughout all buildings
  • Rock wool insulation from the 50’s provides high R value insulation in the foursquare house
  • original cedar and pine siding maintained with paint on all buildings
  • Trane Energy efficient furnace and AC in 2001
  • scribed log cabins that utilize all of the local log (not milled to perfection) built by a local builder with large overhanging roof and ceiling fans
  • recycled the machine shed into the office/lodge/restaurant/pro shop by a local builder
  • owners recycled the chicken coop into the Comfort Coop for small meetings, upscale camping,  dressing area for brides
  • recycled the dairy barn basement into Don’s woodworking shop by owner & “handy person special” guests
  • recycled the Granary, an original farm building into The Cottage guest lodging by local builders
  • logs cut into boards flooring for the loft  of the 1919 post and beam barn constructed from lumber sawn from the property for Don’s grandfather

SPORTS

  • promote and support human powered sports on our land: hiking, disc golf courses, mountain biking, snowshoeing, snow tubing (without a tow rope) and cross-country skiing
  • provide two llamas, two Siberian huskies and several cats for companionable recreation for guests and ourselves

THE LAND

  • native plant landscaping including vegetables for personal and guest use
  • member of two Food Coops to provide organically grown food for personal and guest use
  • two large silver maples and a huge white pine provide shade around the buildings
  • shovel and sweep the snow off walkways (no noisy, gas polluting snow blower or leaf blower)
  • feed the birds, maintain barn swallows and bats for insect control
  • maintain strip cropping begun in 1970 to prevent erosion on highly erodible land
  • no-till plant corn/soybeans 1980-2008 to prevent soil erosion
  • 48 acres certified organic contracted to organic farmer
  • selective timber harvest with professional forester to provide homes for wildlife and scenic trails
  • support and participate in the purchase of electricity from renewable sources
  • Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) Grant from WI Dept. of Natural Resources to restore oak savanna
  • EQUIP program with Natural Resources Conservation Service to restore 15 acres of prairie

INNKEEPING

  • micro fiber towels which dry quickly
  • whirlpool top load washer for low water use with warm wash and cold rinse
  • cards offering reuse of sheets and towels
  • commercial dishwasher completes its cycle in 90 seconds with 2 gallons of water per load
  • bulk purchasing of flour, oats, nuts, spices, sunflower seeds, coffee
  • private sewage treatment plant that does not use chemicals

 

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