Deep sleeps await in our off grid forest Wigam. With everything you need, and nothing you do not, this exceptional retreat boasts a Danish Morso wood stove, fire pit, private forest baths, Finnish sauna, HUGE windows overlooking a wildlife trail and Peepers Owls and Coyote song. From photo shoots to wedding proposals - this is a special place to care for yourself and your family. We are on farm - but out of sight. Bring your kids, dogs, friends, guitar, or just a good book and settle in! A secluded nest to unplug and let nature restore you. Your feed will love this spot! Please read the description and guest access as being off grid on farm is a unique experience - which is exactly what our guests are looking for and we love providing! August 26-Sept 9th 2024 forest baths are unavailable. Enjoy sleeping in our civil war era rope frame bed and book a forest bath...totally off grid and yet close to civilization. Stroll along our pastures with cows and sheep into the forest to a secluded traditional dwelling space for Native Americans here in New England, updated with minimalist design. Lay in bed all weekend and take a sauna or forest bath (prices listed in Guest access below and non refundable deposit required at time of booking). We also offer membership fobs to the local YMCA for classes, workouts, showers and the like! They are the tri community YMCA in Southbridge. You can find us at Meadowhead on Cedar on a "photo based platform" (we can't mention those platforms here) to follow along with the farm activities. Wigwam is 400 ft from the car park down hill on a dirt path. Our privy is 20ft from the wigwam. Keep in mind in cold months the garden stops producing and in deep winter chickens often take a break from laying eggs. Sometimes we send animals off to “freezer camp” or a friends farm to manage fencing if a tree falls on it. Nothing is static on a farm. Everything changes day to day just like the weather. Most of you understand this but a couple guests are surprised so we wanted to be sure to mention it! Hello from the farm! We love our guests and know they are a self selecting bunch, you guys rule. Important tips on OFF GRID space. Off grid means not tied to the electrical grid. We do have solar lights. That’s heaven for us! We do not supply cooking or eating utensils so please bring what you require for preparing meals over a camp fire or on the wood stove. We do have a kettle for the wood stove or on the grill accessory for the camp fire. DOG VIRUS POLICY 08/24 We are currently not accepting dogs showing signs of illness. Dogs visiting must be kept on leash and use their own bowls. The front pasture can be used for off leash play. Subsections include THE ESSENTIALS - FIRE - FOREST BATH - SAUNA - DOGS - CHILDREN - BEDDING - SEASONS ON THE FARM - LITTER AND TRASH - PHOTO SHOOTS -FARM ANIMALS Video - Go to the “Nomadic Movement” YouTube page and watch a tour by Kaylee of our wigwam and Traditional Finnish Sauna under her tiny house tour playlist. THE ESSENTIALS - Please read the entire description - this is an off grid cabin. No running water and no electricity other than solar lanterns - which provides mood lighting. We provide two gallons of water and there is an outhouse compost toilet. That’s heaven for us and our guests, but if you don’t like nature or require electricity - this is not a listing you will enjoy. Excellent as a first time camping experience. ----We provide a solar shower if you want to hook it up and take a shower. We also have a pitcher and basin as is off grid appropriate. Remember to bring essentials, we provide cordwood for your fire, but it’s always wise to bring matches/lighter/duraflame log and that sort of seasonally appropriate gear. The wigwam is shoes off and slippers for inside or “hjemsko” are lovely! The trail can be steep if you have mobility issues. It’s a forest trail so imagine you’re hiking the blue hills or mount monadnock. Not hard but not a sidewalk or lawn. We recommend the OFF LANTERN REFILL for mosquito season you can get refills on Amazon. There is plenty of kindling around the property but if you’re arriving after a rainstorm or dark pick some up at the store. We sell fire starters as well. Please don’t hesitate to ask questions and we are happy to help out! But we don’t recommend showing up in stilettos expecting AC and not knowing your way around a wood stove which is the heating source in winter. You are close to civilization, having an off grid experience. FIRE - How to start a fire in a wood stove - It’s just like our stoves and provides most of the tips we use ourselves. WE ONLY PROVIDE WOOD IN WINTER MONTHS AND OFFER BUNDLES TO BUY FOR CAMP FIRES AT $5/BUNDLE FROM APRIL 15TH THROUGH SEPTEMBER 15TH. PLEASE REQUEST THE NUMBER OF BUNDLES YOU PREFER PRIOR TO ARRIVAL. EACH BUNDLE PROVIDES ROUGHLY 75 MINUTES OF FIRE. There is kindling everywhere and if it’s damp choose kindling from off the ground (dead branches for example) or buy some to ensure an easy light. The Big Y Supermarket has kindling lighter fluid charcoal and duraflame logs and is 3 miles away. Remember a lighter or matches for all the different reasons you may need it. We heat our home with the exact same wood you use all winter - so we know it works. If you’re nervous - buy firestarters and kiln dry kindling at the store for your stay. Cord wood that is not store bought is not allowed to protect our forest from disease transfer. DO NOT leave the wood stove door open. We’ve had rugs burned and even the floor with embers that pop out. Do not move the chair in front on the wood stove or close - we had an apologetic guest burn the cover off that as well. It’s dangerous and best to leave everything at a safe fire code appropriate distance. Look up Ricardo Sierra "The best way to make a fire in your wood stove" on YouTube. for a method that is foolproof in our wood stoves. We can't provide links but recommend this one! If you cannot make and tend a fire in a woodstove we do not recommend this listing during winter months for you. Absolutely NO accelerants may be used to start fires. Duraflame and fat wood are allowed. If the forecast says below 20 degrees let’s discuss rescheduling. If you are marginally familiar with fires please don’t book when the forecast calls for below freezing - I’d prefer no guests to unhappy guests. Better to come in the summer when it’s above 50 at night. Li’l Buddy Space Heater - never for use while you sleep.Not needed if temps are around or above freezing. You are responsible for replacing the tank when it’s empty. There is a mobil station 3 miles away which sells them. Always follow manufacturer’s guidelines. We do not provide tutorials on usage due to liability. Never remove the batteries on the smoke and carbon monoxide detector. Improper usage can result in death. Forest Bath - $175 total (both baths) with $63 non refundable deposit at time of booking - in season for this unique spa experience! Sunset is definitely the best time for a bath! Please contact us with any questions and arrangement of deposit information. We can not ensure availability if bookings are made less than a week from arrival date. Towels, herbal posy for infusion, or flowers from the garden included. Finnish Vihta are $10 each when available. Most spas charge more for an indoor bath you draw yourself - here you are immersed in nature and water with no chlorine! Milk baths $20 extra. Deeply relaxing and unavailable any where else in 150 mile radius. We’re all about eco luxury. Finnish Sauna - warm up and detox/distress in our Finnish Sauna! This wood fired experience comes with towels, essential oils for steam, cold plunge pool and water to drink. $95 sauna total with $40 non refundable deposit required at time of booking. Be sure to let us know you would like to reserve time and when and we will light the fire for you and leave you to unwind. Bathing suits required and following all medical advice. Children under 16 and dogs not permitted in the sauna but may stay in the sitting room while you indulge. Sauna, like the Wigwam, requires a knowledge of how to run a wood stove. We will show you, but you must control the fire to keep it warm enough and cool enough to fit your preferred temperature. IF you have a challenge and think you might be forgetting something - call us! I'm literally 50 feet away. DOGS --We love dogs! Keep them leashed please until we meet you and ensure they are cool with the horses and the chickens are safely in the barn. Also ensure they are up to date on all shots and no ill dogs can be brought on our property if it's contagious. We want to keep our Mac and other guests pup's safe. We cannot accept dogs that’s are aggressive toward children cats or other dogs. Not even on a leash. It’s just too dangerous for you, us, and our neighbors. If an aggressive dog arrives on our property I would very sadly have to ask you to leave. Dogs must be kept on leash when away from the wigwam. We like to have doggie dates but an initial introduction on leash is important prior to taking your dog off leash. Please do not allow your dog to come up to the farm buildings or pastures unless on leash with you. Please dispose of all dog poop in bags in the black trash bin at the bottom of the driveway. CHILDREN--We love children. This is a magical place and we are happy to help them meet the animals and go hunting for eggs or garden delights. If you bring a pack and play and need help getting it down the hill we are happy to do so. Keeping children out of the firepit and off the woodstove is up to your discretion, as we do not supervise while you are visiting please consider this prior to booking. BEDDING-- Bedding for our king size bed is included. If you want to bring your own sleeping bags let us know and we will take off $20! If you need bedding for more than the king size bed (we can lend thermarests for free) it's $20 per person for sleeping bags. Dry cleaning adds up! The bed is a traditional civil era rope frame bed like you find at Old Sturbridge Village. That means with temperature change and different body weights it changes shape. If you aren't intrigued a hotel may be a better match for your needs. Stained bedding is an automatic $40 fee…we’d rather not get into the details or hand wash bodily fluids so we throw them out. If the feather duvet or bed is stained the same policy applies. Feather duvet is $110 and the Feather bed is $175. SEASONS AND THE FARM--This is a working family farm and a quiet retreat. We will protect your privacy, and thank you for keeping the peace on our farm. --This is the woods, bring good shoes/boots, matches or a lighter for the fire, and bug spray for summer, warm clothes for winter. We provide water as needed either from our sink or the equally delicious water in our garden hose just off our front porch. Always remember - wildlife loves to party - don't leave food loose outside or inside at night. It can be kept in the cooler we provide or your car. Please bring ice if you plan on using the cooler. We constantly have projects from the garden to felling trees or moving fencing - manure - feeding animals and so on, life is definitely HAPPENING! We promise no sounds from us before 10am so you can have a good lie in though --- our guests sleep deeply and that's just how we want it! SHOES OFF INSIDE PLEASE - We ask that you remove your shoes inside - white floors keep us on our toes...slippers are fantastic - "hjemmsko" as a strong Scandanavian tradition. Parking and path - you can park beside our house and walk down our lawn past the horses back pasture into the woods and down a natural dirt and rock path to the wigwam. Please wear shoes you would walk on a path - heels and flip flops are a risk. It's 400 ft from car park downhill to the wigwam in the woods. LITTER POLICY AND TRASH - Finally - if we find toilet paper in the woods or any other garbage it's a $200 charge. If my dog finds it and puts it in his mouth - it's a $500 charge. If you are unsure what to do with your rubbish please let me know. I'm a farmer - such things do not phase me! If you have personal items please - BAG THEM - and throw them in the rubbish at the bottom of the driveway (black is trash - blue is recycling). I really hope I need not say more. and THANK YOU to everyone who treats our woods and farm as the sanctuary it is! That's 99% of you and I'm so grateful! Let's move on shall we? ;-) PHOTO SHOOTS - Photo shoots on the property vary in price. If they are combined with our forest baths an additional $100 is required. If you'd like to use a part of the property which is not the wigwam we require 1 month advanced notice and must approve the location at time of booking. This is to ensure the property is at it's best for you. This requires $250 on top of the booking fee. Any models or other team members must provide names and car licenses for check in to ensure we keep track of who is on the property and the team can arrive after sunrise and must leave before sunset unless we agree otherwise. No more than 6 people for any one photo shoot unless otherwise agreed. Finally, if it cannot be seen on social media, it can't happen here. FARM ANIMALS We host Airbnb and keep livestock because it’s increasingly hard to get close to them and they’re literally good for our health! Watching livestock graze lowers human heart rates because of our extensive co-evolution. It means we can relax because there are no predators around. So they are here for you to be near. Never under any circumstances enter a pasture or go over any fencing. Risk of death either to you or our animals. Never feed the animals unless I have said it’s ok, bloat and colic happens easily and there are plants around which can kill them. We love allowing children and people in with us for feeding time when possible. If that interests you please ask - we love connecting guests to our animals! I will welcome you and see you are settled, then leave you to your retreat and utter privacy. My phone is always on in case of emergency. Check in is between 4-8pm. If I do not hear from you I cannot promise to greet you, but will leave a message in the airbnb thread on which direction to walk on arrival. Be sure to bring a flashlight generally - but definitely if you arrive after sunset. Please please please stay in touch and understand once you arrive past 8pm I can only greet you at the door. I’d rather start a fire for you than you be cold - let me know if you’d like that! Arrival before 4 is not always possible and while you are free to ask and I will accommodate if possible - I do run my own company and cannot always do so. There is an outhouse and basin/pitcher we provide with water for your use a la nature. We like to be flexible and helpful when possible! The horse fencing is electric and with that in mind (it will shock you if you touch it) please feel free to say hello! They are super sweet and happy to chat over the fence. If you'd like to feed them or the chickens let us know and we are happy to give guidance on what food they can accept and how much. Kids love this in particular and that's why we open are farm - it's just so grounding... Our garden - please help yourself! WE SADLY CANNOT TAKE RESERVATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS UNDER 21 AS WE WOULD BE HELD LEGALLY LIABLE FOR ANY CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL AND SUBSEQUENT DRIVING OR REPERCUSSIONS. WE ARE SO SORRY AND ASKED AIRBNB TO FOLLOW UP WITH THEIR HOSTS AND HELP SORT OUT THIS ISSUE. Here is the link to our Neighborhood Guidebook! https://www.airbnb.com/s/guidebooks?refinement_paths[]=/guidebooks/262850&share_channel=copy You definitely need a car here. If you are coming via train or bus Uber can get you from Worcester which is the closest train station at about 25 minutes away. This is a working farm subject to elements and animals. Our animals love guests, but again it's helpful for everyone if doggie guests arrive leashed. You never need interact with the animals if you prefer not to, but we are also happy to give you carrots to say hello and introduce you to the farm residents! We love all people and all animals - whatever their race, religion, sexual orientation or doggie treat preference (as long as it's not our chickens ;-) ), This is a farm that loves and respects everyone. Diversity is welcome! Please - do not unplug the fire alarm. That’s illegal and there for your safety and ours. If you have not worked a wood stove recently please be sure to watch the video and get a duraflame log. We cannot stress this enough as we’ve had multiple guests who book this space and think anyone can light a fire - and then are very cold or setting off the alarm. Please don’t book if you don’t know how to run a wood stove while it’s winter. Come back in summer when it’s an outdoor fire pit and for pleasure rather than necessity! The peepers will keep you good company. We want our guests thrilled with being on farm and take the extra time to warn you to ensure your comfort. We keep security cameras on the driveway and at our house. You never need to worry about them inside the units.