October 2011
Greeted with fresh flowers and fresh cookies- we loved you right from the start!
Set to work first thing greeting the chickens and picking fresh raspberries for our breakfast- and what a breakfast! Garden sweet potatoes, garden leeks-tomato egg frittata, rhubarb-pear muffins, coffee, hot chocolate, fresh pear and grape juice-most exotic delicious breakfast ever.
A horse drawn carriage ride into town for an apple festival, the hillsides covered in colored leaves, the smells and sights of autumn; a magical wonderful weekend in a delightful place
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts
Peggy, Pamela, Paula and June - Florida
October 10, 2001
Thank you both for making our family weekend so special. You lead an inspirational lifestyle and we are lucky to have met you. We so look forward to our next visit with you.
With our deepest thanks,
Bahare, Ali, George, Ben and Farima -
Centereach, NY
September 18, 2011
What a lovely long weekend we have had on RoseBarb Farm. The cottage provided us with a perfect space for all 3 generations. We enjoyed meeting the young turkeys, the pony, the hens and loved the land itself. The view from every window was lovely and peaceful.
Thank you for sharing your farm with us.
Kristen, Jake, Anne and Jada - New Britain CT
September 3, 2011
Dear Don and Rita,
Once again we had a wonderful time at the farm! Nate has tons of new facts to share and Michele loved directing the horses (and everything else!) Thanks so much for the fabulous hospitality on the farm and for all the suggestions of things to do around Ithaca. We already have a list for next summer!
Fondly,
Jose, Jen, Nate and Michele - Larchmont, NY
August 30, 2011
Dear Rita and Don,
Wow! What an amazing weekend we’ve had. As a girl who is obsessed with local, healthy food (and who has petitioned for her own chicken in vain), RoseBarb was a perfect place. We all loved helping dig for potatoes and the baby turkeys and chickens were so great! (Never did catch that baby turkey like I planned to) The breakfast in your home was truly spectacular (your eggs are among the best I’ve had) and we want to thank you and Rubia for the warmth we received. By the end of the stay we felt like family, not guests. Thank you for everything. If I return here for college, I am glad to know there will be a few friendly faces when I arrive.
Love,
Julia, Dawn, Jack and Jim - Bellmore NY
PS: Thanks for the wonderful work you do on the farm and in the political arena. I’ll be on the lookout for a book by Don someday.
August 12, 2001
Dearest Rita and Don,
Thank you, as ever, for such a rich and lovely home away from home experience on the farm.
Your heartfelt hospitality is so deeply appreciated by us all. This visit was way too brief and we intend to make up for it next year!
With all love and gratitude,
Jack, Lia and Shoshana
August 2011
Dear Rita and Don,
Thank you for welcoming us so wholeheartedly into your idyllic farm, it has certainly confirmed that this is the life we would like one day when the kids are off and we can get out of the ‘rat race’!
Our two nights here have certainly enabled us to recharge our batteries after a hectic “road trip’ around the NE America and Canada before we hit NYC.
Breakfast in your wonderful farmhouse was “Awesome”! And the fresh eggs you provided for breakfast made the most amazing scrambled eggs. If we return to this part of the world again I’m sure we will come and spend a longer period of time exploring this delightful area.
Many thanks,
Kevin, Wendy, Cassie and Daniel - Kent, UK
August 7, 2011
Dear Rita and Don,
Thank you for sharing RoseBarb with us- it is a truly magical place.
We can’t wait to return next summer and experience ita ll again for even longer!
Lisa, Keith, Olivia and Leo -Ridgewood., NJ
PS The kids especially want me to thank you for the chickens, the pony rides the apples, the pool, the books, the toys, the clovers and Rubia and Tarah’s puppy!
August 2, 2011
Dear Rita and Don,
Thank you so much for letting us stay at your beautiful farm! We had a great breakfast and your vegetables were much better than the ones at the supermarket. Thanks for your great hospitality and advice. We had a great time and would recommend this farm to all our friends.
Thanks,
Frank, Mariel, Vera and Max - Velp, The
Netherlands
July 2011
Dear Rita and Don,
We loved our stay at your farm. The kids enjoyed feeding the horses and chickens and their highlight was to collect the eggs. We had to make sure to be back in time. Thank you for your precious advice on which hiking trail to go to. It was one of our most beautiful hikes ever done.
Merci Beaucoup!
Joelle, Eric, Etienne, and Simon - Quebec
July 30, 2011
Dear Rita and Don,
We have so enjoyed our stay at your beautiful farm. Lucy and Oliver both had such a wonderful time being outside, playing with the animals, and having picnics almost every night. Your hospitality, your delicious vegetables, your yummy jam, your oprness with our children- made this a truly special vacation. We hope to come back in the future
Love, The Reymonds,
Robin, Eric Lucy and Oliver - Hamden, CT
July 19, 2011
Don and Rita,
My girls (ages 5 and 7) were so excited about
coming to stay on the farm. Our stay exceeded
their and our expectations with a pony ride,
meeting Rubia and collecting eggs. And, while
here they gained an appreciation for the
beautiful waterfall in and around Ithaca! Thanks
so much for your hospitality and making this
feel like home.
Best wishes,
Pam, Corey, Jacqui and Samantha -Martinsville NJ
July 15, 2011
We had a great time. The farm is charming and the pool was great fun for the kids. Rita and Don are the perfect hosts.
Warm regards for Israel,
Nitzan Shahid, Noa, Maytal, Dolly and Ezer Farhi.
June 12, 2011
We leave with renewed spirits, souls and remarkable memories. Rita and Don, you both showered our family with kindness, grace and valuable information about this beautiful area and land. Moosewood restaurant was great as well as the waterfalls and trails. We will be back some day. Thank you for everything.
The Harrington Family - Newark, Delaware
July 10, 2011
We enjoyed our stay so much we are coming back with friends next month! We lounged by the pool while our son swam. We had morning coffee in the gazebo, we picked berries, gathered eggs, enjoyed a hayride and generally relaxed in the beautiful environment that is RoseBarb farm. We also had dinner twice at the Antlers – a very pleasant local family restaurant. Everything about our time here exceeded our expectations- can hardly wait to return.
Tran Family - Harding, NJ
July 5 2011
Dear Rita and Don,
Thank you so very much for hosting us. Maya did not want to leave those chickens and Jonah never slept better You have a very special place here- perfect for families. We look forward to coming back many times!
Best wishes,
Rebecca, Jeff, Maya and Jonah - Brooklyn, NY
June 30, 2011
Dear Don and Rita,
This was the best! We are so thankful to had this wonderful time of exploration, relaxation, learning , socializing and ice cream.
We loved the trip to Buttermilk Fall- a great hike with a huge reward at the top. And, of course, a dip in the pool was a great way to end the day. We are taking so many fin memories of adventures and new friends and experiences home with us. Than you for sharing RoseBarb and we will hopefully see you again very soon!
Juliana and Laszlo - NYC
June 13, 2011
Dear Rita and Don,
Thank you very much for opening up the cottage, home, farm and hearts to us during our stay. We truly enjoyed being here- Emma just loves horses and we now know Cameron loves chickens! We will be back and we will cherish the wonderful memories we’ve made until then.
The Nichols Family - Carmel, IN
June 2, 2011
RoseBarb Farm is truly an idyllic setting. Perfect to get away from “city life” and enjoy the beauty and tranquility of nature. Don and Rita were nice hosts, provided a scrumptious breakfast. The cottage is very comfortable with loads of windows to enjoy the beautiful views. Grounds are safe and friendly for small children to roam. My little girl loved the chickens and her pony ride. Thank you, Don and Rita for a nice stay. We really hate to leave!
The Rico Family - Royal Oak, MI
May 29, 2011
Rita and Don,
Thank you for your generous and warm hospitality. Your caring attentiveness to showing William and Henry the chicks, how to gather the fresh eggs (10 eggs!) and to feed the horses was a great experience for all of us. This was a a great Cornell weekend for our cousin Chris enhanced by sharing your home.
Thanks!
Greg, Hilary, William and Henry -Westport, CT
May 21, 2011
Dear Rita and Don,
Thank you for a beautiful stay! We really enjoyed watching Jude raking the grass with your family, gathering eggs and just enjoying the beauty of your farm. Jude especially loved the farm toy! We hope we can visit again.
Love,
Marco Jo, Joe, Jude and Wyatt - Brooklyn, NY
April 17,2011
We’re completely happy here at your farm- warm, happy, comfortable and well-fed! This is our new Go-To place when we’re in Ithaca.
Thanks Rita and Don for your hospitality and sharing your beautiful farm with us.
Your new friends,
Jill and Mike - Henrico, VA
December 25, 2010
Dear Rita and Don,
Thank you so much for sharing yourselves and your home with our family. We truly had a magical visit and hope we can make the magic happen again! It was such a pleasure to meet your family, too and to chat with Bill- what a wonderful, loving family you are! Thank you so much-you’ve blessed us richly.
Gbemi, Joe, Adedayo and Kike - Brooklyn, NY
September 26, 2010
Dearest Rita and Don,
We have found many gems in our 3 days with you- the crispy air, spectacular foliage, evening walk with zealous pet, hayride with macho draft horses, farm fresh delicious breakfast, self-pick raspberries at their sweetest, coyote neighbors howling at full moon- made possible with your ultimate hospitality and pursuit of a simple, peaceful life- with- the- land lifestyle. Thank you so much for everything. We are leaving with fulfilled stomachs, soul and memorable dreams come true!
Siew Mee, KC, Tan and Lee
Manhattan and Singapore
September 11, 2010
A lovely home and warm friendly people. Great food too! Thank you so much.
Gary, Marilyn and Cathy
Calgary, AB
Canada
September 7, 2010
Once again it’s been great staying at your farm. Jada has already been talking about “when we come back” for several days and was sad when we told her that we were leaving tomorrow. She loved the pony ride and is very proud of herself for riding Brinny “all by myself”. The rooster was the source of endless amusement. And of course she always wanted to go see Rubia and the baby turkeys.-when she wasn’t gobbling down raspberries as fast as she could pick them. We enjoyed the breakfast on the first day, the corn and eggs, the fresh vegetables, learning about organic and sustainable farming, swimming in the pool, and meeting your daughters. We definitely hope to come back again next year.
Jeff, Joy and Jada
Jackson Heights NY
August 30, 2010
Dear Rita and Don,
What a wonderful experience yet again, it has been to with you at RoseBarb. Jack and Lia will cherish the enriching- egg collecting, long Rubia walks, preparing breakfast and much more. You are both so very inspirational to us all and most of all we will truly treasure time we had with both of you. We will be back soon enough and greatly look forward to more, more, more at RoseBarb.
Shoshana, Lia and Jack
Brooklyn NY
August 27, 2010
RoseBarb is a perfect home away from home! Fiona loves it and you Rita. Thanks for the warm welcome, perfect place and being you.
Warmly,
Jennifer
Westcliff, Colorado
August 2, 2010
Thank you to Rita and Don for sharing with us a little piece of heaven. You made this such a wonderful experience for us; one we will not forget. We’ll be seeing you next year!
Jackie, Jason, Steve and Michelle
Pittsburgh, PA
Miss Rita and Don.
Thank you for all the stuff you did for us. We liked that you let us feed the chickens and horse. We really liked the pool. Thank you for letting us play with Rubia We really liked being here. We will miss you.
Eliot and Lucy
5 and 2 years old
August 2, 2010
Dear Rita and Don,
Thank you for a wonderful, relaxing weekend at
your cottage. What a talent you both have for
making us feel so comfortable.
We hope many blessings come your way. Enjoy the
return of your daughter and son in law to the
Ithaca area.
Thanks for everything!!
Fondly,
Sean, Lisa, Andrew, Corinne and Daniel
Glens Mills, PA
July 31, 2010
We had a wonderful vacation and the cottage was
perfect. What a find! It was such a treat for
the kids to pick their own vegetables, collect
the eggs and ride Brin. Your farm is absolutely
beautiful and you are wonderful hosts. We look
forward to seeing you next year.
Fondly,
Jennifer, Jose, Nate and Michele
Dear Rita and Don,
I love the farm so much. I hope I come back next
year to have more fun.
Love, Nate and Michele
7 years old
PS
I love the pony ride.
Love, Michele
5 Years old
Larchmont, NY
July
17, 2010
What to write? Previous guests have said it all…
Our stay with you was just perfect. Thank you
for having us around. The boys (and we) will
remember their stay at “de boerdery” (the farm)
and especially Rubia, as very special.
Kind regards,
Jesper, Lars , Sabine, and Erik
Zeist, the Netherlands
June
14, 2010
Don
and Rita
We had a lovely time here at the cottage. The cottage is cozy, the views picturesque, everything peaceful, and your hospitality made our stay perfect. Mia had a lot of fun with the chickens, horses and especially Rubia! Thank you for making our stay a memorable one!
Best wishes,
Molly, Bryan, Ellen & Mia
Austin, Texas
June 17, 2010
Don & Rita
I had a wonderful time. Thank you for showing me around, letting me ride the pony and get the chicken eggs. It was all very exciting and lots of fun! I hope I can come again soon!
Christopher, 9 years old
Coral Gables, Florida
June 17, 2010
Don and Rita:
Thanks so much for sharing not only your cottage but also a bit of yourselves. From the warm welcome to the looks of amazement on Christopher and Melanie’s faces gathering eggs to their joy at riding the pony, we enjoyed being here – the whole family. You have a special place and a special gift!
Tim,
Tanya, Maxi, Christopher and Melanie
Coral Gables, Florida and
Westchester, New York
May 15, 2010
Don and Rita
We have enjoyed this weekend so much – we felt more like family that “guests” I know we wouldn’t have enjoyed this as much if we hadn’t had your friendship and wonderful guidance to where to go and what to do! Hope to come back soon!!
Anastasia and Quovaunda
aka: “Q & A”
Alexandria, Virginia
October 11, 2009
Peace and Quiet- Priceless. Lovely area, nice people. Thank you for the horse drawn wagon ride.
Bob and Jennifer, Westcliff, Colorado
June 27, 2010
Dear Rita and Don!
To say RoseBarb Farm is “just what the doctor ordered” would be an understatement! Thanks so much for providing us with such a wonderful girls’ getaway- hopefully we didn’t create too much disturbance with our laughter.
As you know, we so appreciated the cottage; considered it our home away from home. Loved the great touches; fresh flowers, fabulous breakfast and super suggestions for hiking, wineries and sight seeing.
The pool…was awesome! We certainly hope to see you again.
Thanks,
Cindi, Casey, Wanda, Deb, Twila
Oberlin, Ohio
July 7, 2010
Dear Rita and Don,
Oh my where to begin? I feel I need to
echo every wonderful sentence from the guests,
who have come before us.
The week has been beyond our expectations. Thanks you for this idyllic spot with us. We will miss RoseBarb and truly miss you too.
We certainly tried to make the most of our stay and I think we succeeded. We loved the cottage, the chickens (and eggs!) the garden, the pool, the hiking, the market, the birds, the views the food…everything.
You are such generous people. Thank you for giving so much of yourselves.
We will stay in touch!
Nancy, Olin, Mackenzie and Derby Tampa, Florida
November 1, 2009
Thanks for making us feel like we’ve always known you. What a gift for a great weekend! You couldn’t have the Phillies win? We’ll be back soon!
Valerie, Rick and Andrew, Pennsylvania
November 27, 2009
You made our Thanksgiving stay wonderful! The beds were warm and soft and we love the little kitchen!
Thanks so much,
The Lawsons, New Jersey
July 12, 2009
"What a fantastic
escape. We loved the farm cottage; spacious,
light and had every amenity that made our stay a
pleasure. The kids loved the chickens, the
horses and watching Don “tedding” the hay with
his draft horses. The pool was pristine and set
perfectly for appreciating the beautiful views.
Thank you for your guidance on the best spot to explore some of the magnificent Ithaca gorges.
Walking around your block I was able to breathe deep and be inspired by the wildflowers, the rushing streams and the beauty of farm country.
You two are not only living the dream but are able to educate your guests on how it is possible to help save the environment, stay in shape and make a difference in your community.
Best of luck for a prosperous harvest,"
Helene, Peter, Ross and Elise.
7/18/09 How wonderful it’s been to share your beautiful and restful farm. We all enjoyed our stay, but especially Lucia. She adored the horses, chickens and of course Rubia.
We loved viewing all the farm’s pleasures through the eyes for a 3 years old. We will be back-I am sure of it! Thanks for your wonderful hospitality! Rita, Brad and Lucia NY
7/23/09 - Thank
you for such a relaxing stay. We enjoyed being
outside and walking to the market. The 2 girls
especially loved your cat, dog (Rubia), and the
chickens and horses. Amanda loved helping get
the eggs.
Karen, Ed, Amanda, and Lilliana and Virginia
7/26/09 - Thanks for
the lovely place- perfectly relaxed and calm -
Hollie and Michael NY
5/10/09 - "Thank you so much for such a lovely stay. We had such a nice weekend at our friend’s wedding, and it was made all the better by having such a beautiful place to stay.
Thank you again for the wonderful breakfast and the hospitality." Peter and Barrett
August 6, 2009
We have had a “truly”
wonderful stay at the RoseBarb Farm! Thanks you
for sharing your farm with us. We feel inspired
to grow our own food when we do figure out where
we want to live.
Lily had an amazing experience. She absolutely loved the pony ride on Brin. She also loved feeding the chickens and giving the horses apples.
The farm is so relaxing and convenient to Ithaca sites. Your pool is also a great way to enjoy the sunshine.
We had a lovely stay at the cottage.
James, Laura, Lily UK
August 18, 2009
RoseBarb Farm has been perfect, peaceful, comfortable and is a great place for walking and generally relaxing. And at the same time we have been able to work, taking occasional or frequent dips in the pool. David gets the credit for finding you and we thank you for your hospitality and friendship. The first corn from your farm was so delicious.
Very best wishes,
Alison and David
UK
August 21, 2009
You have set a new
precedent for Hospitality!
We have been delighted by our visit and the many farm adventures for my children; egg gathering, berry picking, apple and corn picking, the late afternoon plunges into the swimming pool, the lovely misty morning stroll, pony riding and more.
But it is truly your generous spirit that has been the inspiration of this visit. Your walks with Rubia and my children, your general embracing and enjoying of Jack and Lia has been a wonderful way to experience a home away from home. We ill certainly be returning this fall- my kids wouldn’t have it any other way.
Shoshana Brooklyn NY
To Don and Rita,
I enjoyed the time on your farm! I loved picking berries and doing everything with you. But the most thing I loved was being with you two.
Love, Lia 6 years old
Dear Don, Rita and Ruby,
I enjoyed doing everything with you!!!!
Love, Jack 8 years old
August 30, 2009
Dear Rita and Don,
Thank you so much for your hospitality and our stay at your beautiful farm! All of us had a great time and had a chance to get in touch with a side of life that we unfortunately miss in the city. For Jada especially it was a wonderful experience-gathering eggs, feeding the chickens, riding the pony (which she talked about every day since the ride), eating berries right off the bush, seeing that fruits and vegetables don’t come from the supermarket and going out at night to look for deer and coyote. I’m hoping some of this will be some of Jada’s first long term memories. And of course Rubia was her favorite- she always wanted to go “look for the doggie” first thing in the morning and last thing at night. We also had a great time in the pool and enjoyed learning about sustainable farming- something I’m interested in but know almost nothing about., well now I know a little something after both of you answered my million of questions.) Most of all thank you for creating a comfortable place where our 2- year- old could be a 2 -year -old and feel at home and enjoy the wonders of being on a farm.
Can’t wait to come back!
Jeff, Joy and Jada
Jackson Heights NY
September 7, 2009
Rita and Don,
Thank you for sharing your farm with us over the weekend. We enjoyed the garden the horses, the chickens the pony ride and breakfast with the two of you. Phoenix will always remember the fun with the chickens and being in the coop with them. Thank you again…this has been a holiday to remember.
See you again soon!
Warmest regards,
Freedom, Peter and Phoenix
Emmaus PA
September
10, 2009
Dear Rita and Don,
RoseBarb Farm is the embodiment of harmony in nature. The “the coop” is lovely, the setting perfection but Rita and Don you raise it all up to the sublime. Your warmth, your generosity, your sensitivity, your intelligence and your passion bring us, your guests instantly into a community.
We don’t want to leave.
Much love,
Sheri and Andy
NYC
September
13, 2009
Rita and Don,
We loved it –the cottage, the farm, your hospitality. The comfort and design of the cottage, the attention to details, the delicious fruit and eggs and muffins and especially the generous and lively hospitality. The only downside of the RoseBarb Farm is that its secret is out and reservations will be at a premium.
Success in your ventures,
Judy and Judy
P.S. The best omelet I’ve ever had!!
Buffalo,
NY
Flemington, NJ