Baita·Privato

Solar Cabin: A Modern, Off-grid Retreat on 100 Acres

Galleria fotografica per Solar Cabin: A Modern, Off-grid Retreat on 100 Acres

Esterni
Area soggiorno
Terrazza/patio
Parco della struttura
Esterni

Recensioni

10 su 10
Eccezionale
2 camere1 bagnoPer 5 persone111.5 m²

Servizi più richiesti

  • Asciugatrice
  • Lavatrice
  • Camino
  • Cucina
  • Griglia da barbecue
  • Parcheggio disponibile

Esplora la zona

Map
Spring Mills, PA
  • Penn's Cave
    ‪23 min in auto‬
  • Beaver Stadium
    ‪38 min in auto‬
  • Università di Stato della Pennsylvania
    ‪40 min in auto‬
  • Reedsville, PA (RED-Mifflin County)
    ‪38 min in auto‬

Camere e letti

2 camere (5 posti letto)

Camera 1

1 letto queen, 1 letto singolo e 1 culla

Camera 2

1 letto king

1 bagno

Bagno 1

Sapone · Asciugamani forniti in loco · Vasca da bagno · WC · Solo doccia · Shampoo

Spazi

Terrazza o patio
Veranda o lanai
Cucina
Ufficio
Balcone
Giardino

Informazioni su questa struttura

Solar Cabin: A Modern, Off-grid Retreat on 100 Acres

Enjoy your own private nature retreat when you stay in our unique solar-powered cabin in the woods, where the nearest neighbor is a mile away. Feel the hustle-bustle of life fall behind you as you slowly traverse the single-lane, gravel road that leads to our property that we call "Love Farm". We have woods, fields, walking trails, two ponds, a new greenhouse, large garden, chickens (at times), fruit trees, and lots of wildlife. Although we're off-the-grid, our home is a custom-built, modern cabin, and you'll have all the conveniences for a comfortable stay. In Amish country, near Penns Creek (10 mins), Millheim (15 mins), Woodward Camp (20 mins) & Penn State (30 mins).

Have dinner on the deck overlooking "Frog Pond." Swing in a hammock, go for a walk, or fish for blue gills in the larger, lower pond. In the evening, catch lightning bugs or roast marshmallows under stars unpolluted by town lights. Welcome to Solar Cabin!

**If interested in booking, please keep reading the description below so you know what to expect when staying at our unique off-the-grid cabin.**

🏠👨‍👩‍👧‍👧 Andy and I (Becca) have remodeled the family's old hunting cabin into our rustic-modern home. We live here with our baby (Lyrra) and our 2-year-old (Porter) and vacate during your reserved dates. Because we live here, you can expect extra conveniences during your stay (for example, a well-stocked kitchen, complete with spices and condiments, an Instant Pot, and GOOD knives!).

🛏️ Bedrooms
The loft bedroom has a king bed with a certified organic hybrid mattress (springs and latex). The private bedroom has an organic latex queen mattress. Additionally, there is a single upper bunk and a baby crib in the private bedroom.

The walls in the cozy private bedroom are finished in an earthen plaster and a wood accent wall makes use of boards we painstakingly reclaimed from the original cabin.

The larger loft bedroom has amazing views, cathedral ceilings, an office nook, and a clerestory that brings in lots of natural light. Each bedroom has an entrance onto the 2nd story deck and into the shared bathroom.

😋 Kitchen
The modern kitchen has everything you need: UV-filtered spring water (delicious straight from the tap), gas range, convection oven, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, pour-over coffee carafe with bean grinder (coffee supplied), an assortment of teas, blender, Instant Pot, Aqua Fizz machine, wine glasses, cloth napkins, pots/pans, plates/silverware, etc. Please note that due to the large electrical draw, we do not have a conventional toaster (you can use the oven to toast items). No need to buy and pack spices and condiments, as you are welcome to use ours. All you need to bring is the food you wish to cook or grill.

🚽 Bathroom
The bathroom features a custom vanity made from reclaimed wood from the old cabin, designed by me and built by a friend. It has a walk-in shower with a rain shower head and handheld sprayer, as well as a cute little old-fashioned soaking tub that Andy refurbished himself. First aid supplies are in the top drawer of the small teal stand and the bottom drawer has extra supplies that you may have forgotten (contact solution, new tooth brushes, etc). Help yourself!

🔋 Off-grid solar system / electrical / energy use
Experience life in a sustainable, solar-powered home! Our home is powered by an off-grid solar system, meaning that we are not connected to the public utility grid. (You'll notice that you don't see any telephone poles or power lines running to our home!) The solar system supplies the cabin with regular 110v electric and you can plug-in and use your chargers and other items just like you would in any other home. Items that produce heat (for example, toasters, hair dryers, and clothes irons) pull large amounts of electricity, and this is why you won't find these items in our home.

If the solar batteries get low, a back-up outdoor propane generator "communicates" with our solar system. The generator automatically turns on to charge the solar batteries, then shuts itself off again once they are recharged. When it kicks on, the generator sounds like someone starting their car in the driveway. Be prepared for this to happen periodically throughout your stay if it's not summer, or if you run the a/c a lot. Please try to conserve energy and always turn off all fans, lights, and a/c when checking out. In cold months, set the pellet stove thermostat to 65 degrees.

🌡️ Pellet stove / heat / temperature regulation
Our main source of heat is a pellet stove (needed from about October through May). Guests set the thermostat to their preferred temperature and load a bag of pellets into the hopper when it runs out. Guests also need to scrape the ashes from the burn pot once a day. We'll show show you how to do this, or send you the link to a video that shows you - it's very simple and only takes a minute. We also have radiant floor heat in half the cabin to supplement the pellet stove. In cold months, set the temperature to 65 degrees F when you check out.

During the hot months, our home stays cooler than the outside (it's in a shady nook and doesn't get much direct sunlight). There are ceiling fans on the main loft ceiling (numbered control near the laundry room) and in the private bedroom (switch hides behind the door curtain). If needed, a window air conditioning unit is available, although we rarely feel the need to use it ourselves. We recommend turning it off at night to avoiding draining the house batteries and needing the generator to run. Please turn all fans and a/c off when you check out.

🐸 Decks
The 2nd story covered deck overlooks Frog Pond, with views of the garden, orchard, solar array, and fire pit. There is a small sitting area, a table with 6 chairs and umbrella, a ceiling fan/light, propane grill, a pulley clothes line, and a hummingbird feeder. Hummingbirds will whizz around you from about June through early September, and from the deck, you can often see deer, many bird species, squirrels, bunnies, ducks, and turkeys. In the hutch are games and cards. The ground-level deck has my grandma's porch swing that we rehabilitated and a set of rocking chairs. Grandma's swing is a lovely place to take a little afternoon respite.

🔥 Fire pit
Guests are welcome to use the fire pit in the side yard. Make sure to put the fire out before you leave or go to bed. In the big wooden box under the porch swing, there are extra camp chairs and other supplies for the fire pit. Firewood is supplied and is stacked by the driveway. Just collect some small dead twigs from the ground for kindling (please do not cut or break live branches from trees, as these will not start your fire well anyway!).

👶 Family-friendly
For those traveling with kids, there are lots of things for the kids to do and some things we can supply (upon request): suspension stroller, high chair, pack n' play, scooters, sleds, etc. We have two small kids, so just ask if you're wondering about something in particular! We have retractable baby gates at the stairs. The kids can roast marshmallows over the fire pit, catch salamanders (with an adult's help), make wildflower boquets, learn how food grows in the garden, play on the slip n' slide (you set it up), or fish in the pond by the barn (byo bait or dig for worms). We also have tons of kids' toys and books they are welcome to play with.

🍅 Gardens
In season, the chef in your party will appreciate harvesting fresh produce and herbs from our gardens. There is a large fenced-in vegetable garden by the pond. Typically, we plant a variety of tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, flowers, and onions. There's a small raspberry/blackberry patch as well. We have a large plot of garlic planted above the orchard that we sell for seed garlic. We are in the first year of establishing the soil in our new greenhouse, where we plan to plant figs next year. In the space by the deck closest to the pond, we plant fresh herbs. Wild mint grows along the yard, and for those into foraging/medicinals, morels, elderberry, aronia, mullein, and stinging nettles can be found on the property.

🐱 Our Cat
We have a cat (Shiva) that lives here with us. We'll move her out with us for the duration of your stay (unless you indicate that you'd like her company, in which case, she'd be very happy to avoid car rides!).

🚗 Access
Our private, one-lane, gravel driveway is nearly a mile long. The lane goes through the forest and there are no street lights, so arriving at night can be a bit intimidating. If snow is a possibility, guests MUST bring an AWD or 4WD vehicle. At other times of the year, higher clearance vehicles are recommended but not necessary, just take it slow.

📱 Connectivity
Depending on your carrier, your cell phone may or may not have reception here. T-Mobile does the best, and often picks up a signal indoors, but you may still have to go outside to get reception. Verizon does okay, with the best access on the hill by the solar panels. We have recently upgraded our internet to Starlink (the new satellite internet developed by Tesla).

🥾 Trails
Finally, Andy and I have been slowly building a system of (as yet unmarked) walking trails on the property. Guests can amble around the property to check out over an acre of pollinator-friendly plantings we've established in the field, enjoy acres of quiet forest, visit the "Mama Tree", and walk around the two small ponds. We have made a google map of our trails that we will share with you upon request!

Responsabile della struttura

Rebecca Robertson
Host Premium

Lingue

Inglese, spagnolo
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Servizi

Cucina
Lavatrice
Asciugatrice
Wi-Fi gratis
Aria condizionata
Spazio all’aperto

Strutture simili

Regole della casa

È disponibile il check-in flessibile (contatta l'host prima dell'arrivo)
Età minima per affittare: 24
Il check-out è entro le ore Mezzogiorno
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Bambini

Bambini ammessi: 0-17 anni
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Eventi

Non è consentito organizzare eventi
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Animali domestici

Non sono ammessi gli animali domestici
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Politica fumatori

Non è consentito fumare

Informazioni importanti

Da ricordare

Questa struttura è gestita da un privato, che la affitta unicamente a titolo personale (non in ambito commerciale, imprenditoriale o professionale). I diritti dei consumatori stabiliti dalla legge europea, compreso il diritto di recesso, non si applicano alla tua prenotazione, ma restano valide le condizioni di cancellazione stabilite dall'host privato.
Per eventuali ospiti aggiuntivi possono essere previsti supplementi, variabili in base alla politica della struttura.
All'arrivo, oltre a un documento di identità comprensivo di foto, potrebbero essere richieste una carta di credito/debito o una caparra in contanti per eventuali spese accessorie.
Tutte le richieste speciali sono soggette a disponibilità al momento dell'arrivo e possono comportare spese aggiuntive. Le richieste speciali non sono garantite.
Le feste in loco e gli eventi di gruppo sono severamente vietati.
L'host ha indicato la presenza di un rilevatore di monossido di carbonio in struttura.
L'host ha indicato la presenza di un rilevatore di fumo in struttura.
La struttura è dotata di un estintore antincendio e un kit di pronto soccorso.

Informazioni sulla zona

Spring Mills

Questa baita si trova a Spring Mills e vanta una posizione strategica in campagna e in montagna. Azienda vinicola Seven Mountains Wine Cellars e Pisano Winery sono due tappe fondamentali per gli amanti delle attività. Tra le altre attrazioni della zona spiccano Tait Farm Foods e Creekside Rock and Gems. Viaggi con dei bambini? Che ne dici di fare tappa a Stazione storica Bellefonte Historical Railroad Society, o di prendere dei biglietti per Beaver Stadium e andare a vedere un evento sportivo o uno spettacolo. Ammira gli stupefacenti animali della zona con le escursioni alla ricerca di animali selvatici e il birdwatching.
Mappa
Spring Mills, PA

Cosa c’è nei dintorni?

  • Penn's Cave - 23 min in auto - 14.1 km
  • Poe Valley State Park - 24 min in auto - 11.1 km
  • Bryce Jordan Center - 38 min in auto - 34.7 km
  • Beaver Stadium - 38 min in auto - 34.9 km
  • Università di Stato della Pennsylvania - 40 min in auto - 34.7 km

Come spostarsi

  • Stazione di Lewistown Junction - 43 min. in auto
  • State College, PA (SCE-University Park) - 46 min. in auto

Ristoranti

  • ‪The Frosty Hook - ‬15 min in auto
  • ‪Pizza Heaven - ‬16 min in auto
  • ‪HOMAN’S GENERAL STORE - ‬22 min in auto
  • ‪Riddle's Ice Cream Shop - ‬16 min in auto
  • ‪Gaffron's Sunrise Bakery - ‬24 min in auto

Domande frequenti

Gli animali sono accettati presso Solar Cabin: A Modern, Off-grid Retreat on 100 Acres?

No, questa struttura non accetta animali domestici.

A che ora si deve eseguire il check-out presso Solar Cabin: A Modern, Off-grid Retreat on 100 Acres?

Orario del check-out: Mezzogiorno.

Dove si trova Solar Cabin: A Modern, Off-grid Retreat on 100 Acres?

Con una buona posizione in montagna, questa baita per famiglie si trova a 15 km da Azienda vinicola Seven Mountains Wine Cellars, Poe Valley State Park e Penn's Cave. Poe Paddy State Park e Pisano Winery si trovano a meno di 20 km di distanza.

Recensioni

10

Eccezionale

Le recensioni vengono mostrate in ordine cronologico, sono soggette a un processo di moderazione e sono verificate, salvo indicazione contraria.
Scopri di piùApertura in un’altra finestra
Valutazione di 10 - Eccellente. 9 su 9 recensioni
Valutazione di 8 - Buono. 0 su 9 recensioni
Valutazione di 6 - Soddisfacente. 0 su 9 recensioni
Valutazione di 4 - Scarso. 0 su 9 recensioni
Valutazione di 2 - Terribile. 0 su 9 recensioni

10/10

Pulizia

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Comunicazione

10/10

Posizione

10/10

Accuratezza dell’annuncio

Recensioni

10/10 Eccellente

Melinda S.

Mi è piaciuto: Pulizia, check-in, comunicazione, posizione e accuratezza dell’annuncio

Wonderful Hideaway

The Love Farm is everything we were hoping for. Secluded, eco-friendly, surrounded by nature, welcoming and gorgeous. I love that the owners of the Live Farm are clearly stewards of their land, caring for the forest as well as their home. We had everything we needed and never left the property once we arrived. You can explore the woods and trails, the lovely music selection and relax in a multitude of peaceful locations.
Soggiorno di 3 notti a ottobre 2021

10/10 Eccellente

Gunnar W.

Mi è piaciuto: Pulizia, check-in, comunicazione, posizione e accuratezza dell’annuncio

Fabulous as the year before

Very relaxing, extremely comfortable stay. Grilled some burgers on the deck while watching hummingbirds fly around. Breakfast in that luxurious kitchen is a treat. Ducks on the pond in the morning, frogs in the evening. Places to sit, relax, contemplate and sleep everywhere. Played some vinyl records. Host left some treats like smores and local milk. Great spot. Can't recommend it enough.
Soggiorno di 3 notti a maggio 2023

10/10 Eccellente

Glenn M.

Mi è piaciuto: Pulizia, check-in, comunicazione, posizione e accuratezza dell’annuncio

Rustic Beauty for a PSU Football Weekend

What a beautiful property. For those who are nature lovers and not averse to country life, this place is it. This is quintessential central PA. Despite being off the grid, it is fully functional with no limits on convenience or comfort. But on top of that, the design and craftsmanship of the home is simply incredible. Because of our schedule with the OSU game that weekend, we were obliged to spend most of our time away from the house, and we were not able to enjoy it for all that it has to offer. I am definitely looking forward to the opportunity to book this home again at a different time when we can settle in and explore the immediate surroundings. Kudos.
Soggiorno di 2 notti a ottobre 2022

10/10 Eccellente

Katie W.

Mi è piaciuto: Pulizia, check-in, comunicazione, posizione e accuratezza dell’annuncio

Just Like Heaven

What a spectacular host, property, and rental. One can tell this family loves this property and this house and accordingly named it “Love Farm”. We could feel the warmth and hard work this couple has put into this place. It radiated love and peace and rest. I highly recommend this rental to all who need to get away from the hussle and bussle of whatever their daily routines entail. What a gracious and kind-hearted property owner as well. The solar powered complex is really inspiring to anyone who is curious about how this could work for them. The entire place runs on solar power and they are raising their small children this way and showing them they can live a modern life without being consumers only. I hope we are able to go back some day.
Soggiorno di 4 notti ad agosto 2022

10/10 Eccellente

Amy B.

Mi è piaciuto: Pulizia, check-in, comunicazione, posizione e accuratezza dell’annuncio

Absolutely incredible!

We had such a peaceful and restorative stay in this beautiful, exceptionally cared-for home. The entire experience was stellar, including thorough communications with the host who was gracious, flexible, and responsive at every step. The property was magnificent and the home was clean, welcoming, and well-appointed. We were delighted in every way and will make a point to return!
Soggiorno di 5 notti a luglio 2022

10/10 Eccellente

Gunnar W.

Mi è piaciuto: Pulizia, check-in, comunicazione, posizione e accuratezza dell’annuncio

Peaceful, off-the-grid getaway

Very impressive design and construction elements are everywhere on this property. It's a secluded, peaceful spot to recharge or use as a base to explore the area. The kitchen is especially well-appointed; we had everything we could ask for including a professional gas range, oven, and cast-iron cookware. Bathroom is spa-like with great views. Everything was set up for us upon arrival (including a thoughtful little munchie after a long car ride). There are lots of different nooks and places to hang out or have a meal, depending on what you like. An upstairs deck with a grill, a picnic table on the lawn, a porch with rocking chairs, on and on. Becca was very attentive and pointed me at anything I needed. Groceries, trails, hiking, mountain biking are all close by.
Soggiorno di 3 notti a maggio 2022

10/10 Eccellente

Ernesto L.

Mi è piaciuto: Pulizia, check-in, comunicazione, posizione e accuratezza dell’annuncio

Best place in centre County PA!

It's the best place we've been in Pennsylvania! We love it so much that this was the 2nd time we stayed there and we hope to come back again. The house is very stylish and comfortable with everything you need. Everything is sustainable and self-sufficient with solar panels and it's constructed in a way that minimizes your environmental footprint without sacrificing any of the comforts of home. The house inside is extremely comfortable, the kitchen is amazing with lot of appliances and everything you need for cooking . The bathroom is very beautifully decorated with orchids, and it has a big shower and bathtub where you can enjoy the views of the property. Both my wife and I were working remotely during our stay and the internet (Starlink) worked very well for our video calls. The outdoor space of the property is incredibly beautiful and you can enjoy views of the apple trees, the garden, the pond and the forest whatever you're doing! The house is very secluded in the woods but it's only a short drive away from a lot of nice restaurants, cafes, breweries and outdoors attractions. State College is just 25 minutes away. We enjoyed the 1 mile trail in the same property and we did a lot of hiking and fly fishing around the area. Penn's Creeks is just 15 min away and is considered one of the best Fly Fishing rivers in the North East. The location is absolutely perfect for someone like us who enjoy a lot of outdoor activities. Becca was very easy to communicate with and was very fast in answering all the questions we had and made sure everything was alright in the house. The cabin was extremely clean and Becca took the time to explain everything to us when we got there. We had an great experience and we really hope we can go back again soon!
Soggiorno di 10 notti ad aprile 2022

10/10 Eccellente

Collin R.

Mi è piaciuto: Pulizia, check-in, comunicazione, posizione e accuratezza dell’annuncio

Perfect Getaway

This was probably the best VRBO/air-bnb I’ve ever stayed at. We came to the area for a football game, then relaxed here for few days after (as I tried to recover from the loss). Beautiful off the grid house and property, well appointed, and incredibly helpful hosts. Can’t recommend this enough.
Soggiorno di 4 notti a settembre 2021

10/10 Eccellente

Shannon B.

Mi è piaciuto: Pulizia, check-in, comunicazione, posizione e accuratezza dell’annuncio

A Slice of Heaven Wrapped in Magic

Pulling up the driveway you know you're arriving somewhere special, but to say Love Cabin exceeded my expectations is an understatement! Living in center city Philly, I was looking for a retreat reminiscent of my central PA upbringing. Love Cabin delivered in every respect. From its secluded yet accessible location (State College is a mere 25 mins away); it's modern and comfortably appointed design; it's inspired landscape of walking trails, frog pond (the bullfrogs at night will put a smile on anyone's face!), garden, hammock, fire pit and delightful porch swing; to the complete serenity all of these things combined offer, Love Cabin was just what I needed. I will undoubtedly be back if you'll have me, and I'm already excited for all the shooting stars I'll see from bed :-)
Soggiorno di 4 notti ad agosto 2021

Informazioni sull’host

Host: Rebecca Robertson

Immagine del profilo dell’host
My husband, Andy, and I are travelers at heart and have been to at least 60 countries combined. While we're raising our kids Lyrra (3 months) and Porter (2 years) and building our cabin-home here in the woods, we are more stationary than we used to be, which is why we enjoy hosting and sharing our property with guests so much. We are determined to get the kids in snorkeling gear by age 3 though!

I work at Penn State as an Instructional Designer and Andy sells solar systems for Envinity, a State College-based sustainable building and solar company.

We appreciate hosting a diversity of guests and welcome all ages, races, languages, sexual orientations, and religions to our home ❤️

Thank you for staying with us!

Perché ha scelto questa struttura

In 2014, Andy and I had the "brilliant" idea that, instead of renting, we would remodel his family's old hunting cabin. Andy's parents areed and Andy and I set to work tearing down the old cabin to its first floor studs. We built up and out on top of the original foundation, adding plumbing, electricity, and insulation - all of which we lived here without for about six months the first summer during the renovation.

We are off-the-grid by necessity. When we first called the power company to inquire about connecting the cabin to the grid, they quoted us $90,000 to bring the power lines back here - more than our whole budget at the time! So we built an off-grid solar power system with solar panels, batteries, and a back-up generator for a fraction of the cost. You won't see any electric poles or lines within a mile of the cabin. Now, when the town's power goes out, life goes on as usual here at Love Farm :)

Although we are off-the-grid, we wanted to raise our family with modern conveniences. We don't think you'll miss any comforts during your stay and we hope you'll enjoy all the little details we've built into Solar Cabin. Seven long years later, and the cabin is now finished, save for a few trim pieces here and there.

Now we're more focused on renovating the property - building trails; establishing gardens and improving the soil; reclaiming the native plants and pastures from the invasive plants that had taken over in 20 years of being left to their own devices. We call this property "Love Farm" because it is a work of labor and love (and also because of all the amazing springtime rituals that go on between the forest animals around here lol). We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Cosa rende unica questa struttura

This is the perfect place to unwind in total privacy, yet be only 30 minutes from a vibrant college town (State College) and 15 minutes from the quaint town of Millheim. You can't find a much more peaceful place than this! You won't hear the sound of traffic; only birds, frogs, and crickets. At night, you'll hear the occasional owl hooting or whippoorwill calling, and if you're really lucky, coyotes howling in the distance. The only lights you'll see at night are a billion stars on a clear night and lightning bugs during the summer. In season, eat fruit right off the trees or harvest ripe tomatoes off the vine from our garden. Stroll the mowed paths around the field. Let the kids catch (and release!) salamanders and frogs. Slow down to the pace of nature. This is country living at its most relaxing and peaceful.

Lingue parlate:

Inglese, Spagnolo

Host Premium

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