THE FARMHOUSE
at Tabula Rasa Farms – Carlton, Oregon
The Farmhouse at Tabula Rasa Farms has been a magical place for me. It was here I realized my dream to return to my farming roots and start a homestead in the heart of Oregon wine country. And now, I’m so happy to open the doors of The Farmhouse to guests visiting this very special region of Oregon and share a bit of that magic.
The story of this house provides insight into where my journey has led me. When I bought this land in 2008 it was a clean slate. No electricity, no house and, as I discovered shortly thereafter, not enough water to support a farm. So began my journey with water. After four failed attempts at drilling wells, I learned to listen to the land and over time began to sense where the water might be. Mother Nature provided. The fifth well was a success. Still not enough for farming but enough to support a house.
For the next two years, I worked with a drafter to design and build my home. Until I could solve my water problem, it would be my artist studio, my inspiration. I designed it to flood the open floor plan with light and a feeling of connection with the land that surrounds it. Built on a hill, the expansive pastoral views are a soothing balm for the soul, uplifting, invigorating and inspirational.
A few years later, I was able to acquire 10 additional acres adjoining my land with enough water to let me trade in my paintbrushes for livestock. While my journey with water will likely never end, it is now plentiful thanks to our ongoing work with permaculture retention landscaping.
Now as you sit on the deck that surrounds The Farmhouse, you look out on one of the many ponds that feed our water table and pastures. The air is filled with the sounds of nature, rustling grass, birds singing, frogs croaking and, occasionally, the moo of a newborn calf.
Mother Nature lures us in with her beauty. She’s complicated, unabashedly clever and profoundly beautiful. For me, The Farmhouse at Tabula Rasa Farms is part of the connection between land, animals and people I have striven to build here. A place to see it, live it, feel one with it.
I hope to share it with you. Please visit The Farmhouse listing on Airbnb for more details and booking information. And while you are here, make sure to schedule a tour.
-Brenda Smola-Foti
