Welcome to Fernberry, a super cozy Off Grid post and beam rustic Cabin, located in a small country town in rural Upstate NY. This off grid escape, with a hint of luxury, gives you the chance to be fully present with yourself, and your surroundings. The cabin is nestled in a private spot at the back of our beautiful 5 acre piece of property surrounded by rolling hills, views, apple trees, berry bushes and the occasional visit from our neighbors farm animals in the adjoining pasture. Pure bliss! Off the grid living is a unique experience that enables you to "unplug" and enjoy nature and be mindful in the simple tasks of everyday living. Having said that, this may not be for everyone, although I truly believe everyone should experience this magic! So....PLEASE read thoroughly before booking! Although we have already meticulously designed, decorated and tweaked our little haven, there will be more to do. We will be continuously making improvements to the landscape, gardens, and trails surrounding the property. We will add more cozy outdoor spaces and be planting more ferns and berries throughout. We would love your feedback and suggestions. - Solar powered lights and outlets in Cabin -12V capacity (can charge a cell phone :) Can't run a blow dryer. -Cell service good, not the best (not necessarily a bad thing) Arrival and Parking - Please let us know when you will be arriving. Most often we will be on property and available to check you in and show you the lay of the land. Self Check-In: When you see the Fernberry sign on the huge Maple tree, you will pull in just to the right of the tree, facing the small black garden shed. From there, you will follow the map, we will provide you after booking, and the signs. Guests will drive up in the field next to or home and follow a winding mowed pathway up the hill following rustic signs. Please follow this path when heading up to cabin and back out. Thank you! Parking - The very last portion is a little steep but can be driven up in just about any car. AWD is helpful but not necessary during late Spring and Summer. If there is mud, it may be better to park and walk up the last part which is very short distance . Sleeping - There is a queen sized bed in the sleeping Loft accessed by a post and beam ladder The couch, in the open room, on the main floor opens up into a full sized sleeping bed. Additional space: There is plenty of room on the property to set up a small tent for another couple or kids!! Fun!!! Bathroom/bathing/kitchen *******THERE IS NO INDOOR PLUMBING***** Outhouse - Located about 20 steps from the cabin. Yes, this is the real deal! A primitive, hole in the ground, outhouse. But, who said an outhouse couldn’t be “Glamporous”?!! ;) ****TP and Hand sanitizer provided. You may bring biodegradable wipes if you desire however they need to be discarded in the garbage can NOT in the toilet. ****ONLY TOILET PAPER IN THE TOILET!!!! EVERYTHING ELSE GOES IN THE TRASH CAN PROVIDED. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. ****We treat the “septic”, after each guest’s departure, with ash, and wood shavings. Shower - There is an enclosed HOT Outdoor shower (no roof) run by a propane hot water heater (Propane Provided) The outdoor shower will NOT be in use during late Fall and throughout Winter. During the time our outdoor shower is not in use, you can wash up using a basin, warm water (from stove) and a washcloth. Back to basics! We provide Dr. Bronner’s, Puracy, goat milk and Meyers natural biodegradable soap products used for bathing and dishes. NO Deet bug repellent allowed. Only natural bug repellent as this may wash off when showering and soak into ground. Kitchen - There is a 20" propane stove in the cabin for use when the weather is not suitable for outdoor cooking. We encourage you to cook outdoors on the charcoal grill and Coleman 2-burner stove provided, if the weather permits. Outdoor sink can be used to wash dishes. **** Be mindful that water drains into a bucket underneath sink and can be dumped by the compost near the stone wall. There is a "compost" trash can underneath sink in cabin where you can put all things compostable such as; any vegetable or plant debris, egg shells, coffee grinds. No MEAT, fats, fish bones or dairy products. When can is full you can dump in compost bin and give it a turn. Kitchen Supplies Provided: * Sanitized Rain water for showering and dishes * Propane for Coleman stove *8 Gallons of fresh drinking and cooking water *Pots/pans, cooking and serving utensils, cutlery, bowls, wine and bottle opener. *Plates, bowls, wine glasses, drinking glasses, coffee cups (service for 4) *French Press for making coffee * Organic raw sugar *Outdoor charcoal grill and Coleman propane cooktop (Both for outdoor use only!!!!) *Biodegradable dish soap, scrubbie and dish cloths. *Tea Kettle *Local organic honey *Olive Oil *Balsamic vinegar *Some spices, salt and pepper/fresh herbs in summer when available *Pure paraffin Lantern Oil NOTE: you are welcome to bring your own paper products such as plates, napkins, bowls, and wooden cutlery, for ease of clean up (paper products can be burned in the OUTDOOR fire pit in SUMMER ONLY! Outdoor Fire pit and fire ring - There will be times that we have extra wood and brush to burn, as we periodically clear out dead wood from our property. During these times, we are more than willing to share and we will leave what we have available next to the fire pit. Please be prepared to provide your own wood otherwise. Wood can be purchased locally, just let us know. *****ABSOLUTELY NO LIQUID FUEL IS TO BE USED TO START FIRES INDOORS!!! Lighter fluid may be used to start Charcoal grill outside ONLY. ****NO SMOKING anywhere on the property. This is NON-Negotiable. Woodstove - Indoor Woodstove is to be used in Fall and Winter months only unless there is unseasonably cold weather. It would be helpful to look up and familiarize yourself with a woodstove and the process of starting and maintaining a fire. Upon check-in, we will go over this thoroughly. Other Misc. Provided: Cards Puzzles Backgammon Horseshoes Books Helpful Items to Bring: Cooler and Ice (We can provide a cooler if needed) Paper Towels Natural based/biodegradable bug repellant and sunscreen Slippers for cooler temps Tom's Toothpaste or similar natural product A good book WINTER GUIDELINES: Very late Fall and Winter months are for the more adventurous individuals who want to experience a simpler way of living. **Shower is not available in Fall and Winter months **Plan on snowshoeing up to cabin in winter months with backpack filled with supplies. (I did this this past winter and enjoyed it more than the summer!) ** wood provided for a couple nights fires ** Cabin not insulated/ Woodstove heat only ****We thank you so much for accommodating our desire to keep our property pristine and as natural as possible. As well as a safe habitat for wildlife, bees etc. We do the very best we can to find natural and organic products to use that are safe for the environment. Our home is located on the property and we are more than happy to offer suggestions for a great place to eat, cool place to hike, lend a spice, and guide you to our garden so you can pick fresh veggies, sunflowers and berries when in season. Having said that, we totally respect our guests privacy, and need for "alone" time. We will only socialize if you so desire! :) We will always be a text or call away for anything that you may need or any questions you may have! The cabin is nestled in a secluded spot, on the top of our 5 acre property. We are just 3 hours from NYC! A Beautiful drive through the Catskill Mountains. The property is located on a quiet, tree lined country road. There is a beautiful hiking trail on our neighbors 100 acre farm that can be accessed by taking a left when you leave our property walk or drive about a 1/4 mile and the trailhead is on the left. It is a beautiful walk that takes you up through the woods and behind Fernberry Cabin. you will see a beautiful pond, farm animals and lots of nature!! There are many nice walking and biking routes along the meandering roads just off our property. Be prepared however; there are hills! The sweet, sleepy Town of Jefferson is less than a mile walk, where you will find the town green, a gas station, one Stop sign and a couple of cute eateries with great food! In the Spring we tap trees on our property and make our own syrup! Buck Hill Farm is a breakfast must. Housed in a sap house, diners can indulge in fresh blackberry pancakes (my personal favorites), smothered in pure maple syrup or maybe some homemade biscuits and sausage gravy. In the early 1900's Jefferson was known for it's premium creamery's and produced so much high quality butter that it was known as "Buttertown". Great Restaurants within a mile (can easily walk): Heartbreak Hotel- Casual, rustic bar and eatery. Great burgers, wings steaks, Prime Rib(weekends), salads, fish and specials daily. The Mill Pond - Great atmosphere, deck dining, beautiful bar and higher end cuisine. Other suggestions for hikes, kayaking, canoeing, antiquing, noshing, and more will be provided in our guest book upon arrival!! We are located in a very rural area and most destinations require a bit of a drive depending on what you are planning to do for the day. We have a gas station with beer, ice, subs, wood and essentials less than a mile away. A new Family Dollar opened and has all that you may need and more, located on Route 10 just a little out of town, maybe a mile and a half from cabin. Our closest grocery store is Tops which is about an 8 mile jaunt, but a beautiful drive. In that next town over you will find some nice places to eat, ice cream, fantastic coffee shops a farm stand and wonderful butcher - Solinsky's Smokehouse!!