Cozy Cabin at the Sow's Ear Farm

Tucked back from the road and surrounded by woods, yet only one minute from OH7, this farmhouse has 5 comfortable bedrooms and 2 baths. It's perfect for family get-aways: two creeks, a pond, swings, play house, hiking, fire pits -- no need to go in search of entertainment! Our wrap-around porch is just the place to enjoy a quiet book, board game, or beverage -- or cook a whole meal on the large gas grill. Order ahead to have the kitchen stocked with fresh, farm-grown ingredients. This beautiful, completely remodeled 1930's farmhouse is our family's work of love! Every improvement, from the pine cabinets and concrete counters in the kitchen, to the claw foot tub and penny tile in the master bath, the distressed pine floors, and the quiet library room with built-in bookshelves filled with games, puzzles, and eclectic reading, was designed and renovated by the family. The Sow’s Ear B&B is the perfect place for a family, or family and friends looking for a weekend getaway. Our guest house is surrounded by acres of woods and hills, wonderful for hiking. Nearby, the pasture pond is filled by the overflow from our spring-fed house cistern – our spring water is the freshest you'll ever taste! And while the guest house is a full 1/4 mile from the main farmhouse, and with privacy assured by trees, pasture and hills, it is still on a diverse, regenerative organic farmstead. You can arrange with us ahead of time for a tour of the farm with its lambs, poultry and pigs, or you can just stay in your retreat and enjoy the seclusion! Explore the woods, play in the creek, visit the playhouse, swing in the backyard, light a campfire, or just relax on one of the many porch swings. The spacious guest house includes five bedrooms and two full baths, a fully equipped kitchen, a large, comfortable living room with a wood stove, WIFI, and a quiet library/play area. The large family bedroom includes a very comfortable king size bed, full-size futon sofa/bed, and sitting area, connected to the upstairs bathroom which is equipped with an antique claw foot tub for luxurious soaking. Off the master bedroom is our mini-bedroom with a full-size bed perfect for the younger ones who want their own space but don't want to get too far from Mom and Dad. The third bedroom is equipped with a king size bed, futon sofa/bed, and sitting area, while the fourth guest room is cozy with a queen bed and rocking chair. Downstairs in the library a day bed and trundle add more sleeping space. Also downstairs is the second bathroom, with corner shower stall. Two more fold out futons can be found in the living room area. In keeping with our whole-farm no-waste policy, and to protect our precious watershed, both bathrooms feature state-of-the-art European waterless toilets (go to Separette-USA to see what they are like). These clean, odor-free units look and operate almost exactly like ordinary toilets, but cut our farm water use by many gallons per day and safeguard our vital aquifer. . These are not strictly speaking 'composting' toilets, but more closely resemble an RV toilet, except that they are of normal size. When one sits down on the toilet seat, a door slides open in the bottom of the toilet that allows the biosolids to drop into a bucket lined with a biodegradable plastic bag and pre-loaded with absorbent sawdust. A baffle in the front of the toilet shunts urine into a waste pipe, so that the solids and fluids do not combine. This, along with a small, quiet exhaust fan, is why this system has no more smell than a normal toilet. It is also why everyone (including guys) MUST sit down to use the toilet. (If guys want to stand to pee we suggest wandering outside to one of the many trees that surround the cabin.) In all other ways, use of these toilets is no different from that of conventional toilets. Although we do, prior to guests' arrival, pre-load the toilet with a small amount of sawdust, this step is not required by the manufacturer, nor are our guests expected to put anything else in the toilet other than their waste and toilet paper. For their further comfort and convenience, our guests are invited to call us at any time if they think the toilets need service, and service is prompt. Moreover, with large groups or folks making longer stays, it is not uncommon for us to make a quick visit (5 minutes) for toilet maintenance every three days or so. Thank you for helping us to make our corner of Appalachia green! Also, adjacent to this bathroom is a fully-equipped laundry room, where we supply biodegradable detergent for your use. Our fully-equipped kitchen is ready, whether you want to brew a quiet cup of coffee, grill a steak, or fry your breakfast eggs. Feel free to help yourself to oatmeal, and sugar, coffee, tea, and cream and milk from our Jersey cows (the milk and cream are available seasonally) compliments of the house. A microwave is provided for warming up a quick bite, while the full-size refrigerator holds plenty for larger families. The open design of the main floor makes it easy to enjoy the large, comfortable living room while socializing with friends in the dining area or kitchen. Two sofas (which make out into queen size futons at night), with several comfortable chairs, provide plenty of seating. The wrap-around, covered porch is our favorite spot! Wide and shady, half screened, half open, it is just the place for enjoying a quiet beer after a long day's work, curling up on the porch swing with a favorite book, or lighting up the outdoor wood stove for an evening of catching up with friends. Great play space for the children, the porch is 1,000 square feet of woodsy, cozy comfort. Enjoy cornhole, the child swing set, and horseshoes in the spacious backyard, flanked by a generous covered deck space with large BBQ grill, dining area, seating, and a porch swing. A flight of outdoor steps takes you right up to the the kitchen/dining area upstairs. In fact, this space is just perfect for sociable gatherings of family and old friends, with lots of places to play, eat, or just chat. In front of the two car parking spot at the base of the stairs up to the house you will find a wood shed filled with dry split wood perfect for burning in the indoor or outdoor woodstoves (we ask that you don't use this wood for the woodfire pit across the creek). Cross the walking bridge to the fire pit surrounded by benches for a delightful evening campfire. You are welcome to scavenge for your fuel in the woods or bring your own supply in. And don't miss the playhouse facing the front of the house. Built just the right size for your kids, the playhouse is furnished with a homemade play stove and table and chairs. Move down the drive into the pasture area to find our small pasture pond, plenty of space for baseball, football or soccer and the 20 foot tall swing set including picnic tables. The guest house is located on four acres at the confluence of Jeddo's Run and Yankee Creek in Jefferson County, just two miles from the beautiful Ohio River, and surrounded by acres of inviting trees and hills. A woodland trail beginning in the front yard takes you up the Yankee Creek watershed, or you can hike up the creek itself to its source springs. Below the house site are a lush green pasture, small farm pond, and a young orchard. Don't be surprised if you encounter sheep, a pony, cow, or flock of ducks or chickens in your morning rambles, while your evenings are liable to be enlivened by visiting deer, raccoons, or even the occasional fox. Birdwatchers will love the wide variety of native songbirds and raptors; we've even had a visiting bald eagle! Take your lunch down to the picnic table by the pond and count the minnows and frogs, and enjoy the swings, built big enough for adults. The area is at your disposal and we encourage you to explore this beautiful spot. Our farm household is five people strong, with the main house out of sight but just 1/4 mile from the B&B. We also have a woodworking studio just across Yankee Run which is visible from the guest house. This work area is not part of the guest space, and we ask that you treat it as off limits. If you are interested in seeing our farm, please contact us to schedule a tour. We love having you as our guests, and want to tailor our interaction to meet your expectations. Your primary hostess is Masha, but our whole family -- Shawn, Beth, and the children and young adults still living at home -- are involved in managing the guest house. Fire us a text or message if you would like to ask a question, or let us know ahead if you would like a tour of the farm. We are always excited to talk about our work and our innovative, regenerative farming methods! If you are really interested, you can even buy our book, The Independent Farmstead, available at the farm house, or sign up for one of our extended farm tours, classes or workshops. In any case, since farming keeps us very busy, you can be sure of enjoying your solitude! Welcome to the foothills of Appalachia! We are proud of the beauty of far east central Ohio, with its lovely lakes, majestic river, and steep, wooded hills. Our nearest small town, Toronto, Ohio, is only a mile away. Quiet and peaceful, it has some good restaurants and coffee shops, a grocery store, two pharmacies and an emergency care clinic. Whatever you may need, it's not far away! Pittsburgh International Airport is only a half-hour drive; Pittsburgh itself, with its four outstanding professional sports venues, great shopping, museums and restaurants, is only forty-five minutes from our guest house. Right on the beautiful Ohio River, Toronto boasts two marinas, as well as a public boat ramp. Boaters may also enjoy nearby Austin Lake, with its swimming area and many amenities (ten minutes away), or the quieter pleasures of little Jefferson Lake (twenty-five minutes). Further off, but still within an hour, are big, beautiful Tappan, Clendenning, Salt Fork, and Peidmont Lakes, with multiple marinas, swimming areas, and great fishing. Just across the river and only fifteen minutes away, enjoy biking or hiking on the Northern Panhandle Rail Trail along beautiful Harmon Creek with its inviting park benches and swimming holes; or check out the five covered bridges on the Conotton Creek Rail Trail in Hancock County, Ohio, which runs from Bowerston to Scio (one hour away). Go thirty minutes north to hike the trails at Beaver Creek State Park, with its restored pioneer village and grist mill. Two Christian retreat centers, Faith Ranch and Catholic Familyland, are only half an hour west, with trail riding, hiking and swimming, as well as inspirational retreats. Twenty minutes upriver, shop for antiques in East Liverpool, OH (where the wonderful antique malls have not yet been discovered by the masses, and are full of excellent finds!). Cross the river on the historic Jennings Randolph bridge to Chester, WV, and visit the Homer Laughlin pottery, makers of Fiesta Ware, and check out the horses at Mountaineer Racetrack. Downstream, Steubenville, Ohio, hosts the Dean Martin Festival (in honor of its most famous native), a wonderful Greek Food Festival, and monthly street fairs on the first Fridays of each month from April through November. Music lovers will enjoy weekly summer concerts in Historic Fort Steuben; Saturday jam sessions at Leonardos, our art-and-coffee venue; or the October Half Hills Music Festival. Visit the restored Grand Theatre, browse the titles at Bookmarx, our eclectic used book store, or grab a cup of coffee at Leonardos, settle into a corner, and meet some of the many locals who gather there. We think you'll like our independent, back-to-basics community! During the Christmas Season the Nutcracker Village at the restored Fort Steuben is a must see. For the history buff, also in Steubenville there is historic Fort Steuben with its park, amphitheatre, and gifts shop. Just across the river in Avella, PA there is Meadowcroft Village, featuring a recreated pioneer village, as well as Meadowcroft Rock Shelter, National Historic Landmark and the oldest site of human habitation in North America. Or visit the Grave Creek Mound in Moundsville, WV, ancient burial site of the Adena peoples, with its terrific new interpretive center. Downtown Pittsburg, just forty-five minutes away, is home to many excellent museums! Franciscan University of Steubenville, overlooking the city of Steubenville, (at which Shawn Dougherty, owner and co-host of the Sow' Ear airbnb, taught for 25 years), is just ten minutes away; Our Lady of Sorrows Franciscan Monastery, just two miles up the road, is even closer if you are looking for a daily Mass. And don't miss a visit to Nelson Fine Arts and Gifts in Steubenville (home of "Catholic to the Max") just fifteen minutes from the guest house. LOCAL AMENITIES Despite the isolated setting, within 2 minutes of our house (just the other side of Route 7) is a Riesbecks grocery store, a Family Dollar, a Rite-Aid, a 24-hour gas station, Subway, McDonalds', Dominoes, as well as a number of smaller, local businesses of the same kind. HOUSE RULES: THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT ALLOWED: Smoking inside the house (you are welcome to smoke on the porch and grounds, but please throw away your cigarette butts) Illegal drugs Drinking to excess Underage drinking Firearms Pets Any violation of these rules can lead to additional fees up to $500 for each offense. DAMAGE -- If something is damaged, please contact us at your earliest conveniece. Our maintenance staff charges us $30 per hour plus supplies. Expect that you will need to cover those expenses. We will bill you through Air BnB after our crew has completed the work and billed us. EXTRA GUESTS -- If you invite extra guests to the house and any of your guests decides to spend the night please notify us. Each additional guest is $10 per night. We will submit a money request at the end of your stay for the appropriate amount through AirBnB. SCREENS --The guest house, like our farm house, is not equipped with a television or flat-screen; instead, it is very well suited for bird-, wild animal-, firefly- and star-watching. Get a glimpse of the kingfisher that lives down by the creek and hear its ratcheting cry, count shooting stars, or catch the wild scream of the vixen fox which dens just up the hill. WIFI is available; the modem is on the end table in the living room, with the access code printed on the side. PARKING -- The guest house has parking for at least a dozen cars. There is one flat parking space to the left of the outside stairs that lead up to the house wide enough for two cars (a great place to unload luggage), and you are welcome to park anywhere along the drive, though be aware that the edges of the road can be muddy and slick. We have hung a rope between posts on the creek side of the drive to prevent anyone from parking too close to the creek drop-off. A safe and easy place to park is at the bottom of the hill by the split rail fence. Please do not pull in beyond the gate into the pasture. (When it is snowy or wet we encourage you park at the bottom parking.) SAFETY -- The guest house area includes two creeks, and the small pond (about the size of a swimming pool) in the guest house pasture is not fenced; for safety, guests need to oversee children playing outside. Our diverse farm community includes many species of animal, both domestic and wild. The guest house space is completely available to you; you may see deer, squirrels, many wild birds, even a fox or two! If you would like to come visit the farm proper (past the swingset and west of the little blue gate up the hill in the woods) please contact us in advance. A working farm is a wonderful place! We can arrange a free tour, and make sure that you don't inadvertently touch an electric fence, or surprise or frighten any of the animals. For folks who want a more in-depth look at our innovative regenerative farming practices, we offer whole- and half-day tours. By booking a stay with us, guests take full responsibility for their own safety and that of any children in their party. WATERLESS TOILETS -- we will instruct you in the use of our state of the art Swedish-made waterless toilets. Though they are not complicated, it is important that they be used correctly (waterless toilets require the user to be sitting down). It is very important that you pass on the information about use of the toilets to all the guests of the house – especially the men. TRASH, RECYCLABLES, and FOOD -- In line with our low or no-waste policy, please pass on the instructions that you will get from us in regards to the appropriate separation of food scraps, recyclables and trash. This also helps prevent visits from wild animals that could decide to explore the trash cans!