So it was an absolute treat last week, to accompany neighbour Elaine back to her family farm, to see what her son Geoff, Michelle and their boys have created there.
Fall colours, warm sun, weathered barns and rail fences, friendly farm dogs, trails leading off through woods and along fence lines, welcoming and warm hosts. Would that not have been enough?
The photos in this post are just outside the front door of the suite. The smiling dogs will be there too. Michelle tells me they get excited when she begins cleaning and preparing for guests - and take up their position outside the barn door as welcoming commttee. Carson and Chunk and their cats warmly welcome others of their furry race.
So...have you been waiting for me to say 'adaptive reuse'? Can you think of a better way to save, and share, our amazing agricultural heritage? I am so grateful to Geoff and Michelle for showing me around. I can only imagine that warmth extended to a stay of several days.
I didn't include any photos of the BarnLoft, knowing that there would be more (and better) on the Airbnb site. And there are - not just golden autumn days, but bright green spring, deep snow and hot summer. And enough interior shots to help you imagine yourself in a comfy barn deep in the quiet country near Tamworth, Ontario.
I'm surprised that barn conversions haven't caught on more here. It's such enormous business in the UK. Sounds like Elaine's family have hit the mark.
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