It’s been a minute since we have posted a blog, but today felt like a good day for an update and introduction to our Off Grid Treehouse, in case you haven’t seen it on our social media, which you should totally follow us on 😉
So here we go…
How the off grid treehouse started…
We love living near Charleston, SC and growing our urban farm and historic BnB, we have built the life we are proud of! But with running a farm full time, taking vacations can be a challenge. After putting feelers out we found an amazing farm sitter, and started taking short adventures to the nearby mountains of Western North Carolina. It was close enough to the farm, where if in an emergency we could be home in a couple hours, but was also a beautiful change of scenery and we love the outdoors! We fell in love, and started going once or twice a year. After a few trips, we started to discuss getting our own vacation property up there to call our own, and began driving around looking at different properties until we found the one!
To visit the farm click here: Visit Flowertown Charm Farm
We found the one.
We purchased 23 acres (2 parcels) of raw land in Western North Carolina the month before COVID started…That says a lot right there as to where this story goes doesn’t it?
The property is beautiful, and we got it for an amazing price! It starts at 3100 and goes up to almost 3700 in elevation at the ridge, and has gorgeous views! It’s about 20 minutes outside of Asheville. Its located on a scenic byway, equidistant to 2 Blue Ridge Parkway entrances, a block from the river, minutes to hundreds of hiking trails, basically next door to hunting, and close to adorable Hallmark towns for shopping and dining, but surrounded by farm land and forest and that feeling of seclusion. It is just the perfect spot in our opinion!
So why raw land? Well our goal was to build most of it ourselves…We have renovated most of our 1870’s fixer upper ourselves, and built most of our farm outbuildings too. We like a challenge! To take that challenge further, we wanted to design the entire thing start to finish, make it completely off grid, sustainable as possible, and a treehouse! No biggie…lol
How the off grid treehouse is going…
Well, COVID happened, and it has taken 2 years to finally make our dream a reality. Had to hire a contractor to take our design and build the foundation and exterior to make up for the COVID time we lost. After 2 horrible contractors and a year wasted on them, we finally found an amazing one! They got it built, and beautifully, but along with lumber inflation costs, we overspent by a long shot. Then it was our turn to take over the build, utilities, landscaping, and decor. That’s when it really started coming together!
The off grid treehouse is our baby, it literally has our blood, sweat, and tears in it. We built and designed it for us. To be our ultimate vacay getaway but with a self sustainable focus. Being off grid and relying on oursleves has always been a topic of interest for us, and then add in being in the trees, it’s just totally us!
Well, alot of folks started asking us if we were going to rent it, and at first that was not the intention, but we do run a BnB full time, so why not rent this too when we can’t be there? Shifting gears to renting it does make us nervous, because now there is the pressure and thought of, what if people don’t like it? We built it for us, not everyone else. But we just have to hope that the right sort of folks rent it, we will be as upfront as we can that it’s not for everybody…
The nitty gritty
So what do we mean by off grid treehouse, self sustainable, primitive, and earth friendly? In the world today we all mostly rely on, electrical grids. Which is where the word “off grid” originally stems from, meaning, no longer on that power grid. But that can also extend to any sort of city reliant utility besides just elecrtical, such as; water, sewer, internet, and gas. Most depend on their city to create and provide those services for them. So when we say “off grid treehouse” and “self sustaining”, we are saying we are not depending on any of those city grid entities. And we are self sustaining them, meaning creating our own, ourselves.
So in place of hooking up to city electrical, we have created our own solar power at the off grid treehouse. To replace city water, we have a natural spring we are diverting into water catchment, and also have gutter catchment. As far as toilet and sewage we have an amazing homebiogas system. Which needs its own future blog post to explain, but check that out here, its cool! We have the cutest tiny wood stove to create our own heat, and a forest full of firewood. There is a plumbing system Chris made from scratch that filters the water, pumps it, sanitizes it, and heats it like a normal house would have. We do for the moment have to rely on propane for cooking and to heat the hot water heater. But we do plan to change that later with imrovements to the homebiogas system.
Although all these things may sound like a version of camping, we have built it to be far from it! It really runs like a normal house would, just smaller, and smarter.
The fun stuff
Design and decorating are my creative outlet. Chris likes the building part, and he loved making the off grid utilities work. It was so rewarding seeing the electrical work for the first time, or the first time we took a hot shower! TRULY AMAZING! I am so proud of him!!!
But what I LIVE for, is making that hot outdoor shower look like something out of a magazine. That’s my jam, and seeing it come to life now is so exciting! From designing the treehouse on paper, to then finding the repurposed old windows. To adding in the toilet with a view. Our awesome neighbor letting us help take down her centuries old barn to use the wood in the cabin. To using organic and earth friendly linens. The trees we were able to use from our own property to build shelves, counter tops, and furniture. Tying all these things together into a perfect little story is my favorite part, and I am so happy to say I accomplished that.
The ultimate question, when can y’all rent it?
Soon. All we can say for sure, is soon. We are wrapping up a few loose ends. We do have a waitlist, make sure you’re on it. Those folks get first dibs and we will be announcing it via email and do expect to book up quickly when that happens. You can join our waitlist here: Join our waitlist
Once the treehouse is live you will be able to book it directly through us on our website here: Flowertown Charm Stays
Georgia Ross says
So beautiful, so amazing, so smart, so everything wonderful!
Ultimate dream goal! You mentioned you were nervous about guest not enjoying it the way you do, impossible! You’d have to be insane to not love this! You guys should be extremely proud you have created a wonderful retreat and I wish you the best of everything with this project. Way to freaking go! I’m totally blown away, truly an amazing job. I can’t stop looking at the pictures.😍😍😍
Jenna Panehal-Pelayo says
hahaha awww well thank you!!!!! That makes me so happy to hear!!!!!
Mary Ellen Jobczynski says
Looks so good.
Amazing work.
Can’t wait to stay!!!
Jenna Panehal-Pelayo says
yayyy!!!! thank you!!!
Cp says
Omg sooo cool. That Hawaiian guy is so cute.
Virginia Baker says
Hi Jenna, haven’t been seeing your post lately…but glad to hear from you. How is everyone, your place in the mountains is beautiful…hope to see more of of you!
Hugs!
Virginia
Jenna Panehal-Pelayo says
aww we are good! hope you are good as well!
Virginia Baker says
That’s great!