Interested in alternative energy? Learn about wind and solar power
as you harvest veggies and feed the goats! Check out these four
alternative energy farm stays in the Northeast.
Apple Pond Farm and
Renewable Energy Education Center, in the Catskills of upstate
New York, offers a three-bedroom guest house rental, and has
rooftop solar panels in addition to a wind turbine. The farm
is organic and horse-powered. Owners Dick and Sonja also raise
sheep, goats, and veggies and offer classes on farming,
cheesemaking, spinning, and renewable energy. Guesthouse rates
start at $400 for two nights for up to five guests.
Pompanuck Farm
Institute, also in upstate New York and 3.5 hours from both New
York City and Montreal, is a non-profit that hosts courses,
concerts, and events related to the arts, gardening, and
sustainability. The institute is located on 78 acres of
fields, forests and streams, and offers personal retreats in
private or shared guest houses, or primitive camping. Some
buildings are powered with solar panels. Roundhouse rooms start at
$75/night, and a private guesthouse starts at $175/night.
On Warren Pond
Farm & Seed Co. , in Central New York's Finger Lakes
region, is a self-sufficient, off-the-grid farm with has a water
wheel, windmills, and solar panels. The farm offers tent
sites and four rustic cabin rentals on 37 acres. The Warren
family raises "morganic" heritage meats like bison, elk, and deer,
in addition to grains, seeds, and vegetables. Cabin rentals cost
$40 per weekend.
D Acres of New
Hampshire Organic Farm and Educational Homestead offers
primitive camping as well as private or
shared hostel accommodations in a beautiful modern farmhouse in
Central New
Hampshire.
The farm is located on 180 primarily-forested acres, and has 3
acres of fruit and vegetable gardens, as well as chickens, pigs,
and oxen. Outside the farmhouse sits
a freestanding solar array that rotates to follow the sun, as
well as solar hot water and a solar-powered irrigation
system. Prices for camping and the hostel range from $10-65.
(Disclaimer: I worked as the Garden Manager at D Acres in 2005)
In addition to contributing
here at Farm Stay U.S., Michelle also blogs about farm
stays and agritourism at farmstays.blogspot.com