It’s been 40 years since the tiny town of Woodstock, New York, nestled in the Catskill Mountains two hours north of Manhattan, gained an international reputation as a hippie hotbed. Ironically, that famed festival never actually happened there; it was held 40 miles away in Bethel, New York. Regardless, the ideals of the festival survive in its namesake town: it remains a center of progressive, earth-conscious culture with a decidedly more updated and upscale feel — “chic-edelic,” if you will.
So it’s no surprise that the area is also home to an eco-friendly bed and breakfast, The Retreat at TreeGap, located just outside the village in the historic Byrdcliffe Arts Colony. My family and I prided ourselves on choosing eco-friendly lodging over other options, and we were curious to see exactly what that experience would entail.
A picturesque drive up a winding, woodsy road leads you to owner Megan Reynolds’ property, which includes several acres with a stunning Adirondack arts-and-crafts style main residence and a charming separate carriage house. Reynolds has recently renovated both spaces to include such eco elements as natural fiber Ultra Touch insulation, a water-saving dual flush toilet, on-demand hot water, salvaged pieces (like the bathroom counter that was once a door in its former life), recycled tile from Breakstone Tile, VOC-free wall paint, a high efficiency wood stove, high efficiency windows to let in natural sunlight, and of course, compost bins.
Reynolds raises her own food to prepare the ingredients for a simple but delicious organic breakfast. The fresh eggs come from her flock of laying hens, the pastries from her own kitchen, and the raspberry juice (we couldn’t get enough of it — just beware of stains!) from the berries that grow on the property.
A stroll beyond the main house to a nearby field revealed several large solar panels, which according to Reynolds supply about 75% of the property’s electricity needs. (And on top of that, they conspicuously help her to keep up with the Joneses in a town where there are more solar panels than you can count).
Reynolds left her urban life to open the bed and breakfast three years ago and share her vision of greater self-sustainability with others. As she explains, “It’s like anything: you try to keep your end goal in mind, but there are plenty of compromises along the way.” Future plans include composting toilets, water catchment systems, lots of forest gardening, and tepees. In the mean time, TreeGap is still a worthy destination for New Yorkers looking to enjoy nature — and give back to it too.
The Retreat at at TreeGap is located 90 miles north of New York City in Woodstock, NY. For more information, visit their website.
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