ZigBone Farm Retreat
ZigBone Farm Retreat provides naturally built, light-filled, artistic spaces for people to gather, celebrate, teach, and learn. The 100-acre farm, a series of mountainside pastures segregated by old stone hedgerows, grows sheep, goat, and vegetables sustainably.
Zigbone Farm Retreat, available for weddings, family reunions, retreats, workshops, and other gatherings, consists of three buildings: ZigBone Lodge, Meeting Hall, and Spring House. The buildings were designed by internationally renowned natural building architect Sigi Koko, and were constructed with craft timber framing using salvaged and local natural materials, such as re-purposed old barn beams and wood siding, straw bales for insulation, and clay plaster hand-made from the farm’s earth and hand-applied.
Seven geothermal wells provide energy efficient heating and cooling. We hope to one day install solar panels and windmills to eventually move ZigBone entirely off the grid.
Zigbone Farm Retreat, available for weddings, family reunions, retreats, workshops, and other gatherings, consists of three buildings: ZigBone Lodge, Meeting Hall, and Spring House. The buildings were designed by internationally renowned natural building architect Sigi Koko, and were constructed with craft timber framing using salvaged and local natural materials, such as re-purposed old barn beams and wood siding, straw bales for insulation, and clay plaster hand-made from the farm’s earth and hand-applied.
Seven geothermal wells provide energy efficient heating and cooling. We hope to one day install solar panels and windmills to eventually move ZigBone entirely off the grid.
ZigBone EcoLodge
The main lodge is also known as the Three Little Pigs Lodge because the old farmhouse was renovated with one-third straw, one-third “sticks”, and one-third bricks. The straw section is the newest, made of straw bale insulation covered with clay plaster. The “sticks” section was a pre-existing historic, two-story log cabin, a big surprise discovered during demolition and now the lodge’s proud centerpiece. The brick section, appended to the log cabin in the 1880s, is made from brick baked on the farm. To create the tendons and ligaments necessary to connect these thirds together, the crew dismantled a dilapidated barn from near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to use for beams, more old brick, and barn siding. Two living roofs cover the outdoor walkway and the front porch.
The Meeting Hall
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The Meeting Hall, which can accommodate 130 people (day only), was converted from a four-car garage and infilled with straw bales and clay plaster. It was built by the owners with help from natural building workshops led by internationally renowned natural building architect Sigi Koko. On the rear wall, Marijke Torfs, ZigBone’s owner and resident artist, created a large bas relief called Farmers Retreating. The Meeting Hall has a large outdoor patio space for gatherings, a piano and warming kitchen. Use it for receptions, meals, break-out meetings, musical gatherings, yoga, dance, lectures, large meetings or anything else your group needs.
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The Spring House
The Spring House sits over the spring that provides water to the retreat complex. It has been completely rebuilt with old timber beams, cathedral ceilings, and straw bale insulation covered with clay and lime plasters. The cabin is handicapped accessible, and provides sleeping accommodations for up to four people.
