(new in 12/2021) Featuring straw bale walls with clay plaster, wood flooring and tile, the cabin is a calming retreat immersed on a 20-acre forest farm. Watch the birds from the porch, write your next novel, so by a campfire or walk the nature trail right outside your backdoor.
Set back from a quiet country road, you'll find a peaceful and private experience close to all the Finger Lakes has to offer - beautiful state parks, hiking, wineries, breweries, and many good restaurants. We are just 12 miles from Ithaca, 10 miles from Watkins Glen and 8 miles from Trumansburg!
The space:
The inside of the cabin was completed in mid-December 2021. Vintage decor and hand-plastered walls combine with brand new furnishings and an open floor plan to provide a uniquely relaxing atmosphere.
Walk to the cabin from the private driveway along a short 100' path. We provide a cart to make it easier for you to carry your luggage. There are two wide steps to climb which bring you to the large covered porch.
Outside, enjoy a large covered porch with chairs and a table, a propane grill and fire pit with Adirondack chairs (wood is provided).
Upon entering the cabin, a small nook framed in repurposed local barn wood provides a bench and hooks to hang your coat and leave your shoes. To your left are stairs to the LOFT, complete with an all-natural mattress, bamboo pillows and cotton sheets. Two windows, an open-style railing, a view of the living room and high ceilings in the middle of the loft ensure a spacious and cozy feel.
*Please note, the stairs to the loft are steeper than normal steps. We suggest using the railing.
The cabin has an open floor plan with large windows surrounding a couch with a chaise lounge, blanket and pillows, inviting you to relax in front of the woodstove. Fiber-optic WIFI with a wireless router keeps you connected for streaming to your favorite shows or working remotely.
*Extra Beds: The couch can be used as a twin bed for sleeping.
The full KITCHEN has a refrigerator, freezer, stove, oven, tea kettle, pots, pans, cookware, silverware, dishes, toaster oven, oil, basic spices, dish towels, organic coffee, french press and tea. (A microwave and paper towels are not provided).
Off the living space is a full BATHROOM, with a large tiled shower, sink, vanity, toilet and shelves to store your toiletries. A bath towel, hand towel and washcloth are provided for each guest. All-natural hand and body soaps are also provided.
HEAT/AC: There is no AC in the cabin, although the 12-inch thick straw-and-plaster walls are built to naturally keep the temperature comfortable in both summer and winter. Heat is provided by a large space heater or the woodstove. Firewood is provided for the woodstove. The wood stove should be used if temps are below 20 degrees outside.
*Please note we DO NOT ALLOW PARTIES. A MAXIMUM of 3 people may stay at the cabin. People may not set up tents outside.*
About straw bale construction: Straw bale buildings are earth-friendly and provide excellent insulation and an ability to moderate temperature, staying cooler in summer and toasty warm in winter. As in this cabin, straw bales are usually covered in multiple layers of earthen clay plaster, with each layer (from the inside out) getting smoother and more refined. Almost all the construction materials (straw, clay, sand, wood) in this cabin have been sourced locally, from within 80 miles. No plywood or pressure-treated wood was used in the construction. Strawbale buildings are known to create a very healthy environment because the clay literally purifies the ambient indoor air and humidity. The plastered walls, with their natural textures and velvet-like appearance, make for a calming and soft living space.
The GROUNDS and Property: The cabin is on the grounds of our farm, Wellspring Forest Farm, a small family-run agroforestry farm producing mushrooms, pastured lamb and maple syrup. In warm months, the sheep occasionally graze near the cabin as they rotate through our 20 acres.
A short distance from the front of the cabin, there is a .8-mile NATURE TRAIL available all year-round to cabin guests (seasonally, the trail can be very wet). The trail is used occasionally by guests of our other rental from May - October; "Secluded Cozy Yurt Finger Lakes, Grill & Fire Pit," ourselves and neighbors.
Farm tours are available by request for $40-$80/group and last about 60 minutes. Meet the sheep, see the mushrooms, taste the sap (depending on the season.)
Other things to note:
Because the building is new, the grounds around the cabin are slowly growing in. Gardens and grass have been seeded but expect to still see some straw mulch throughout the 2022 season.
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Since this listing is new, please visit our other listing "Secluded Cozy Yurt Finger Lakes, Grill & Fire Pit" to see the positive reviews we have had over the four years we've been rental hosts. You can expect the same level of cleanliness, comfort and enjoyment as our yurt guests.
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Groups who rent both the cabin and the yurt can receive a 10% discount.
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We ask guests to remove shoes inside the cabin to help keep it cleaner for everybody. Guests might want to travel with slippers to ensure your comfort, especially in cooler months.
We also ask guests to strip beds and put used linens in a laundry bag. This helps reduce germ exposure to the cleaner and enables us to keep our cleaning fees lower (compared to the many $100+ fees that are common).
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The cabin is available to rent by all people regardless of race, color, class, gender identity, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, physical ability or marital status. We support BLACK LIVES MATTER.
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COVID 19 Protocols- As per New York State, AirBnB, WHO and CDC guidelines, we follow strict recommendations to assure your safety while staying here including strict adherence to cleaning & sanitizing guidelines. We suggest you to travel with a mask and hand sanitizer and take precautions to wash your hands thoroughly each time you enter the cabin after going into public.
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Please - If you need anything during your stay, something isn't working properly or there is an issue, please let us know! We want your stay to be most enjoyable and comfortable.
