What I’ll remember most is the way the lanky trees arched to the ground, swaying back and forth with each powerful gust of wind, bending but never breaking. I sat in the corner, transfixed, transported, simultaneously anxious and calm. Our tiny home stood strong against the storm.
For Valentine’s Day of this year, I gave the Urban Farmer a guessing game of sorts- bottles of wine with moons on their labels, bagged with poems and quotes about the moon and the heavens. (I could have given him a bottle of moonshine, but I value his eyesight.) Was this a newfound interest in astronomy? No, it was my thematic, obscure way of saying, “We’re going to Blue Moon Rising!”
A friend told me about this magical place after she booked it for her wedding venue. It speaks volumes to our friendship that she highlighted how the cabins include separate bins for compost, recycling and trash (thanks Renae!). She spoke to my heart, and I rushed to begin scheming a stay of my own.
Nestled on a hillside across from Deep Creek, Maryland’s namesake lake is Blue Moon Rising, a unique campsite built with the intention that “nothing go to waste.” It’s the first and only vacation oriented, tiny-house community in Maryland. With the use of reclaimed wood, metals and muted, natural color palettes, each tiny-house cabin balances the line between earthy and quintessential New England cottage. Trying to pick just one cabin for our stay was a difficult choice.
The cabins are nestled in a cul-de-sac, their close proximity reduced the cost and environmental impact of installing utilities and a road, but that minimal footprint also preserved the wide open fields and forest surrounding the site, making a leisurely hike a daily luxury. Compost, cottage vibes, simple strolls had me, but the feature that really sold me…?
Blue Moon Rising is dog friendly!
Since we are the type of people to FaceTime our dog when she can’t travel with us, the dog-friendly aspect of Blue Moon Rising made our late winter/ early spring retreat feel that much cozier. Julep loved the hiking trails, fresh air and the freedom to run. Despite her sniffing and my scoping each cabin, neither of us could decide which was our favorite. Our only conclusion was- could we collect them all?
Had I had a powerful hitch and a trailer bed, I might have tried to haul the Evergreen cabin to the urban farm. It looked so spacious and bright- the perfect quaint cabin for frequent weekend getaways. My life and my work require space and collections of props and kitchen tools, so a tiny house as a permanent residence boggles my mind, but as an escape route, I’m on board.
What distinguished Blue Moon Rising’s tiny-house style cabins, designed by Hobbitat, from other tiny houses I have seen is the human factor. So many of the models on shows or online seem so narrow as to feel constricting, in which eating dinner with someone means sitting awkwardly next to them and facing the same direction. These condensed homes still felt conversational and communal, like large cabins pared down to their essentials.
You’d be hard pressed to shoot a cabin without a tree in the way, but this speaks to the careful planning of each site plan. Only the trees that absolutely had to go went, and they didn’t go far. Every single tree was removed with great care, whether it became a beam in one of the cabins or fuel for the efficient masonry stove.
In planning for our little getaway, we toyed with the idea of little excursions- a hike to a waterfall, visiting the highest point in Maryland, maybe walking around the lake, all activities which will have to wait for a return visit. The weather alternated between rainy dreariness, torrential winds, perfectly fluffy snow and pristine golden hour light. The intense fluctuations weren’t ideal for outdoor adventuring, but they were the perfect excuse to cozy up with books, a puzzle and a tiny kitchen.
Stay tuned as I’ll be sharing menu ideas for a tiny house kitchen, which comes with its fair share of challenges and rewards. I’ll also be sharing a sneak peek into the cabin I finally did choose, this beauty…
In the meantime, be sure to checkout Blue Moon Rising to start picking your own favorite tiny house cabin.
Cheers,
Disclaimer: Our stay was sponsored by Blue Moon Rising, but all opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support With The Grains.
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