Merrily Farms

Johnny Appleseed Cottage

"I had one of the most fantastic weekends of my life. You are brilliant and I appreciate your sharing your gifts with others. Merri is so very warm and gracious. What can I say???"
Carol L., Florida

Sure Way to Beat Stress

Just tell me this, what would have happened if Johnny Appleseed had stumbled onto a labyrinth in his quests? We have lots of really old apple trees here on the farm and I often picture Johnny Appleseed working his way through these mountains so long ago. He might have even planted some of our trees. But this raises some interesting questions.

One question is was Johnny Appleseed really here? He might have been because we sure have lots of houses in these parts called "Johnny Appleseed" houses. I can't think of another reason why they would call them that. Can you?

Now the legends say that Johnny Appleseed was a pretty calm guy. Must have been, working in the wild, doing nothing but planting trees. In fact I see him as the calmest meanderer, bare footed, in bib overalls, just taking his time spreading those seeds. This leads to another question. What would have happened if he had been even more calm? (Would those orchards still be here?)

Well anyway there's lots of these Johnny Appleseed cottages here in the Blue Ridge. They are always the same, three rooms up, four rooms down. Sturdy and homey, they've sheltered mountain folk ever since…well perhaps since Johnny Appleseed walked these woods. And these mountain folk really are calm, (unless the revenuers get to snooping around) so there must be something to that.

This is why we are so proud to have preserved a perfect Johnny Appleseed cottage at Merrily Farms where you can stay now.

Facing the creek, it's one of the calmest places I know with two oversized rockers on the open porch and a white, cotton hammock on the nearby hemlock. This is where our two creeks (Little Horse and Fern Creek) meet. Their rushing waters are welcome enough to help you sleep but we decided that's not enough. To make this the calmest place on the farm we mowed a labyrinth into the front yard!

This makes this house the only Johnny Appleseed I know that has its own labyrinth.

Labyrinths are tools that have been used by many cultures throughout history to create a balanced spiritual, emotional, psychological and physical well being. They have a single winding unobstructed path from the outside to the center, unlike a maze which has dead ends. The steady flow of a labyrinth has an almost mystic affect on stress.

Labyrinths have been created all over the world at churches, hospitals and schools to help create calm. In fact Country Living wrote, "Labyrinths have become a powerful healing tool for today's hectic times. While no clinical studies have been done to prove exactly how they unravel stress, some frequent labyrinth travelers call the experience a meditation in motion, fusing motion, movement and inner calm. Concentrating only on the course before you, your pace slows, breathing deepens and your mind becomes clearer as you let go of stress."

So if you want calm and beauty, why not come stay at our Johnny Appleseed house? Two bedrooms upstairs and one down. Sleeps five. Vermont cast iron stove in the living room adds a warm glow. Big front porch for rocking and doin' nothing. 17 steps from the front door to the creek for dipping on hot days or to catch a breakfast trout. Full kitchen and pure spring fed mountain water you'd pay a fortune for at the store, free on tap! Just a short walk to our deep woods, spring fed Japanese hot tub, and the steam bath is just a walk down the lane and across the creek.

$79 per night per room ($149 per night for the whole house), but if a family (it can sleep up to five people) takes the whole place for a week it is just $799 for the week, that's $244 less.

Book here

Book online now using our secure server or contact us using traditional means.

Details of all our accommodation is available here.