Wineforest Farmhouse

Hi! You'll have a private room (or 2) and share the one bathroom in this cozy farm house with the owner, Adam (and sometimes Wendy). We are clean, considerate, and friendly. 120 acres of woods and meadows provide great hiking and exploring. Great place for peaceful retreats without distractions, and close to many Finger Lakes attractions: 20-30 minutes from Ithaca College, Cornell, with the gorges and wineries nearby. 5 minutes from Eve's Cidery. All are welcome as long as you are kind. The space Please note: this is an older farmhouse. As such, it has all the expected quirks, creaks, and rustic charm. It has been lovingly maintained, and even updated in some ways. It’s cozy and cheery and doesn't smell musty or weird. But... Mismatched furniture and decor? Check! Toilet with special instructions? Check! Water stains? Check! Spiders and flies? Check! Function over fashion? Check! If you consider yourself high-maintenance, no judgement from us, but this place will probably not make you happy. We keep it clean, safe, and full of good energy... but it's simple and far from perfect (or "farm" from perfect). On the other hand, if you seek tranquility, natural beauty, adventure, and unique experiences, the Farmhouse is what you’ve been looking for. We do have WiFi and a 43-inch smart TV if you don't want to completely unplug. Verizon and AT&T networks do great here, but T-Mobile does not work here or anywhere nearby. Every room has ceiling fans and screened windows, but there is currently NO AC. Please note: Absolutely No Hunting. No pets. (As much as we love animals, our family has bad allergies.) No smoking indoors. This old farmhouse sits on almost 120 acres of land with a small stream trickling through a misty hollow. It has a lot of hills, varied terrain, flora, and fauna to explore and observe (see photos). Eagles, owls, hawks, and other raptors abound. You may be lucky enough to see a fox or a bear, a turkey or a marten, a grouse or deer... and many more. When the weather is right, mushrooms fill the forest. The forests and meadows are enchanting, and you are welcome and encouraged to explore them. Of course please take care, check for ticks after your hikes, and don't remove anything from the woods (except trash... there is a bit of it left from previous generations of owners, and we're in the process of cleaning it up). The house is surrounded by fruit and nut trees which you are welcome to enjoy if they are in season during your stay. Starting in June, the mulberries and cherries are delicious. The peaches and plums follow starting in July, then the grapes, then the chestnuts, apples, and pears ripen into October. We do not spray our trees - better than organic - so the apples and pears may not look beautiful... but they taste delicious. In fact we do not use pesticides or any kinds of chemical sprays anywhere on the property. This is to protect our environment, and the watershed (and the health of everyone who visits or lives here). But this means that there are bugs and bees and wasps and yellow jackets and spiders... and the whole spectrum of biodiversity, the beautiful and the sting-y too. We are in the process of creating a unique vitiforestry farm with the land, which will include grapevines growing in fruit trees and animals grazing beneath them. It will emulate one of the most ancient forms of polyculture. You will already see many vines climbing trees around the house. Guest access The full bathroom is on the first floor next to the kitchen, and your private room(s) are also on the first floor. Adam, the owner (that's me!), stays in the upstairs rooms, so you won't have access to the upstairs. A cozy living room and large dining room on the first floor provide lots of room to relax, eat, and work... or do yoga. The kitchen has a propane gas range/oven, toaster, drip coffee pot, electric water kettle, new refrigerator, electric ventless washer & dryer, and all the basics... but no microwave. You're welcome to any food/spices/oils you find in the cabinets or fridge. We ask that you do not go upstairs at all, nor into the basement. We use these spaces for personal storage and they are off limits to guests. But the entire first floor is yours to use, while sharing access to the kitchen, bath, and living & dining rooms with me/us. I work both on the farm and away, so I may or may not be around during the day, and at check-in & check-out. If I'm around, or if you plan with me in advance, I can take you on a hike or give you suggestions to explore. If you want to learn about vines, trees, plants, mushrooms, etc. I'm happy to give you an ecology tour of the land and explain the vision for, and science behind, the Wineforest Farm. I'm also happy to chat or offer any help, and may offer you wine or cider and snacks. There are several outbuildings around the house as well. These are off limits as well. There is a fire pit and firewood that you may use. We can help you if you'd like. Please keep fires small, be careful, and make sure fires are completely extinguished and cold to touch before you leave the house or go to bed. We will provide further, in depth instructions and guidance in the house manual. During your stay We will provide our mobile phone numbers to guests for any questions or needs, and we will list numbers of local resources in the house manual in case of emergency. We live on the property and will share the kitchen and bathroom with you. We're happy to coordinate our schedules to make this as easy as possible, and will stay out of your way unless you ask for any help or initiate conversation. We're friendly and kind, but not "talky" or pushy. Do your thing and just let us know if you need or want anything.