The current owners of Sugar Water Manor have refurbished, renovated, and restored the entire property and run a farm bed and breakfast here.

After driving down the long driveway past two large pastures and a small herd of bison, we arrived. We walked through a large expanse of fresh-cut green grass in front of the house and onto a large and sturdy, welcoming porch.

I only really thought about the benefits of rural life and didn’t consider the potential drawbacks. Like most things in life, there are both good and bad things about raising farm kids, just ask my teens!

Deep in Appalachia lies a verdant paradise of sustainability. The brainchild of Eustace Conway, mountain man and naturalist, Turtle Island Preserve now serves to teach forgotten skills back to the community while protecting a pristine environment that would have otherwise become a development for the wealthy.