MOUNTAIN LIFE - Blue Mountains | Winter 2021

55 words & photos :: Kristin Schnelten I packed a bottle of wine for my overnight stay at the Off-Grid Retreat. A night away from the kids with no power and no phone? Seemed the perfect time for a glass or two in front of the fire. It took only moments on-site to recognize the fault in my plan. This little off-grid cabin tucked deep into the towering pines, with its quietly zen host and palpable spiritual energy, was no place to catch a buzz. It was, in direct opposition to my comfort zone, truly a retreat—an escape from everything and everyone in the world, except yourself. I leaned into it, and left the wine in the truck. Arriving at dusk on a cloudy, blustery day, disoriented and a bit lost without my customary entourage of children, husband and dogs, I was grateful for Neil Baldwin’s calm, warm welcome. He introduced me to the history of the place, from his 19th-century traditional pioneer cabin, found in Tara and reconstructed on the property by a previous owner, to my own little cordwood accommodation. Located about 100 metres from the main house down a dark forest pathway, the eco-structure was just large enough for a bed, woodstove, washstand, table and dresser. The single-pitch natural green roof, with its haphazard sprouts and overhanging moss, was storybook-charming. Taken aback by the craftsmanship and design, I needed to know the builder’s name. Rob Roy. Of course it was Rob Roy, respected expert on cordwood masonry, whose multiple books on the topic were fixtures on my own coffee table two decades ago. The couple from whom Neil purchased the property spearheaded this project, persuading Roy to make the trip from New York to lead a workshop during construction. MOUNTAIN HOME SELF-SUFFICIENT SANCTUARY Cordwood log cabin in the forest offers the ultimate accessible retreat from the 21st century