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Looking for eco-friendly travel so that you tread lighter on the earth? Want to help heal the earth and all of its natural systems? Bear's Den Cottages is the first authentic/full-fledged green/socially responsible lodging facility in Hocking County (located in the Hocking Hills, foothills of the Appalachian Mountains). A green business since opening the cottage in 2000. In 2006 the Lodge opened. Having an environmentally responsible business is just not enough. It is essential to really live this lifestyle personally as well. For over 20 years the owners, Mike & Gwen, have been living and growing personally into understanding and committing to a sustainable lifestyle. Read below to learn their green and socially responsible committment.” With the greatest respect for the earth and all of its inhabitants.
- Gwen and Mike Corbett |
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Gwen and Mike met at The Ohio State University in 1993. Both
of them graduated from the Dept. of Landscape Architecture/Planning
in 1993. Mike also took 2 years of Architecture at the University
of Buffalo. Gwen's family lived in the Philippines for 7 years
working as Lutheran Missionaries. So, from birth to 7 years
she was exposed to the living conditions of a 3rd World Country.
Upon return from the Philippines in 1974, her family purchased
property in Southeastern Ohio's Appalachian Hocking Hills on
Bear Run Road, Logan, OH.
This original site is now the
beautiful Bear Run Inn. Mike grew up in rural Central New York
State, on Onondoga Hill in Syracuse, NY. Both of them come from
a family of builders, Mike's father a lifelong skilled carpenter
and Gwen's father a General Contractor and detailed specific
trades as well. With their design backgrounds and coming from
families who built and did everything themselves, Gwen and Mike
came together with an interesting blend of function and form,
design and practical implementation.
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That coupled with spending so much of their youth in the natural world helped them to come up with very unique designs for both the Cottage and Lodge. They also applied appropriate Land Use Planning, Environmental consideration to every facet of site planning and construction. Gwen and Mike actually built the entire Cottage. With post and beam construction of the Lodge, they required outside help from local builders.
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Over 90% of wood in our structures (Lodge and Cottage) was timbered locally and milled by nearby Amish/this recycled dining room table was once a school library table/chairs were teachers chairs. |
Gwen has been recycling and working with recycling education for over 20 years. She started recycling while at Ohio State in her design studio, then went on to educate on the topic at various firms. For 2 years in Hocking County, she served as the Environmental Education Coordinator and went to schools, businesses and other groups in the community to inform and educate about recycling and litter prevention.
She worked with a group in Hocking County to attempt to educate the local people and political leaders about the importance of Land Use Planning and Zoning.
About 10 years ago Gwen and Mike switched to over 95% organic food due to chronic illness and more research on chemicals/antibiotics/hormones and other unhealthy additives that are in our food. Also, about 8 years ago, their family and business converted to using all natural/biodegradable cleaning and toiletry items to help improve their own health and that of the environment.
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The
Cottage has been open since 2000 and the Lodge since 2006. Both
units are a part of their Green and Socially Responsible lifestyle.
It is not only a core of their business philosophy, but a core
of who they are. For them, the two are inseparable. They are
proud to be the first Green and Socially Responsible business
in Hocking County. So far, from 2000 to 2008, they are the only
Green and Socially Responsible business in Hocking County.
Gwen's family has been preserving/conserving
land as a family for nature and light use by guests since 1974.
Gwen and Mike are part of a 200 acre parcel. As an extended
family there are approximately 600 beautiful acres of woodland
and meadows that have been preserved. |
Both the Lodge and the Cottage were sited in areas that had existing lanes. The Lodge site is a recovered oil well site. The cottage land led up to a storage shed. So, no new lanes were constructed for either site. No trees were removed to locate the Lodge. One tree was removed to locate the cottage.
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Green/efficient building construction/energy use
To carbon offset the Lodge and Cottage money is contributed
to Native Energy. 6 tons of carbon for the cottage and 8 tons
for the lodge. 50% goes to support wind-powered projects and
50% goes to power methane-powered projects.
- Over 90% of the wood used in the structures (Lodge and Cottage)
was timbered, weathered and milled locally by the nearby Amish.
- The 2 large retaining walls at the Lodge are made from recycled
local sandstone foundation stones.
- The siding at the Cottage was locally timbered and milled.
The siding at the Lodge is made from recycled cementatious
fiber board with a 50 year warranty.
- The walls and ceilings at the Lodge are constructed of thick
paneled walls which provide a very efficient insulation.
- The heating system at the Lodge is designed to convert between
Gas and Heat Pump depending on the outside temperatures and
which is more efficient.
- Thermal Pane windows allow for efficiency, but also allow
ample light into the Lodge so that very few to no lights are
needed many times during the day.
- When possible high efficiency compact fluorescent light
bulbs are used for lighting.
- All of our water fixtures are low flow fixtures.
Lawn care/treatment
The lawn is only mowed every 2 weeks to save on energy and
cut pollution.
Lawn & plantings are not watered.
Business items
- Use only 100% recycled paper for envelopes, letters, and
brochures. Brochures are printed with soy inks. For note taking
and planning we use the back side of paper.
- Use a Green/Socially Responsible credit card that donates
a percentage to green/socially responsible causes.
- Use a Green/Socially Responsible cell phone that donates
a percentage to green/socially responsible causes.
- All Printer Cartridges Recycled.
Cleaning/toiletry items
- All cleaning products are all natural/organic/biodegradable
- All laundry detergent, stain remover is all natural/organic/biodegradable
- All toilet paper and garbage bags are recycled
- All dish detergent, dishwasher detergent is all natural/organic/biodegradable
- Bar soaps are ESA, environmentally sensitive
- Liquid hand soap is all natural/organic/biodegradable
- Only use rags for cleaning, not disposable paper products
such as paper towels
Kitchens items
- Repurposed Antigue Refrigerator
& Stove
- 95% of kitchen cook and serving ware is made from glass
or metal, not disposable chemically laden plastics
- Coffee filters are all natural and made from recycled fibers
- Coffee is organic and fair trade
- Tea is organic
- A Kinetico water filter is available at the Lodge (even
the ice cube maker in the fridge filters the ice cubes). A
Brita Water Filter is available at the Cottage. Guest are
encourage not to bring bottled water, but instead use the
purified water on-site.
Furnishings
Most of the wood furniture at the Cottage and Lodge are recycled
or reused pieces. Most of the wall hangings are pieces that
the owners already had in their possession or were purchased
at a second hand store.
Recycling
Recycling is required. Guests are educated upon arrival. The
following items are eccepted: glass (brown, clear, green), plastics,
paper, newspaper, magazines, paperboard, cardboard, aluminum,
tin. The majority of the items are brought to the Hocking County
Recycling Center. Some items such as green glass and other plastics
not accepted at this center are brought to Columbus for recycling.
Education
A large part of the owner's mission is to educate guests on
environmental and socially responsible issues that we face as
a nation and as a world. Literature and books pertaining to
these topics to further educate and open doors for our guests
are available. Guest are encouraged to take bigger steps toward
making the world a better place.
The responsible use of nature is promoted while guests visit
the property and the Hocking Hills. A focus on helping guests
to appreciate the real reason for coming to the Hocking Hills–to
appreciate nature, to grow spiritually to find physical and
emotional well-being, to be refreshed and rejuvenated by all
that nature has to offer. Additionally, guest are encouraged
to support the cultural and historical arts of the area. See
our Cultural Arts Retreat Page.
"We offer hopeful solutions to the problems of the world."
We are here to educate and motivate our guests to learn more
about how to heal the planet.
We support Cultural Creative Lifestyle – creativity, justice,
sustainability.
Memberships
We are members and supporters of Friends of Earth
(FOE), National Resources Defense Counsel (NRDC), Waterkeeper
Alliance, National Wildlife Federation (NWF),
Heiffer International, OXFAM, and other organizations.
Travel with Ethics
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Protect and enhance natural environment.
- Protect Local cultures and provide tangible benefits to
host communities.
- Be educated, responsible, and an enjoyable traveler.
We are proud to refer you to other organizations who share
a common philosophy for improving the world in which we live:
Co-op America www.coopamerica.org
Crown Point Ecology Center www.crownpt.org
Stratford Ecological Center www.StratfordEcologicalCenter.org
Natural Remedies www.naturalremedies.massagetherapy.com
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