AMiracle Farm Bed and Breakfast Spa and Resort, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia, offers a unique experience. Owned and operated by wife/husband team Karen Osborne and Ed Cohn, it is located on the property of Miracle Farm – A Sustainable Living Center/Animal Sanctuary, a non-profit organization. Its mission is to promote sustaining ecological living practices and offer a refuge to homeless, unwanted, or abused domestic and farm animals. Guests are encouraged to tour the grounds, observe the activities and even get involved if they have the desire. Karen and Ed are eager to share their experience.
Karen and Ed feel strongly that the “spa experience” should be accessible to a large segment of the population, not just the wealthy. They can keep their prices low compared to “luxury spas” because of the small scale of their operation. This allows more personalized attention on every level. Also, spa services are available à la carte and no stay is required. Affordable packages that include accommodations, meals, workouts, massages and all other services are available for the complete Miracle Farm spa experience.
Health and nature appreciation are thematic at Miracle Farm Bed and Breakfast Spa and Resort. Though a small operation, it has much to offer. Karen, a certified Pilates instructor and massage therapist with 20+ years of experience, provides many styles of massage including soothing, therapeutic hot-rock. The fitness studio boasts a full compliment of Pilates equipment. But perhaps the greatest asset of Miracle Farm is the property itself. It has hiking/jogging paths throughout its 25 diverse acres of hills, meadows and woods bordering a clear mountain river that offers refreshing wading and Jacuzzi-like pools. When there is snow, guests can bring their sleds and cross-country skis for fun winter exercise as well.
In the pursuit of “getting healthy” customized meals are offered to meet any dietary need. The focus is on vegetarian cuisine while vegan and raw dishes are also available. Organic ingredients, including whole grains and produce from Miracle Farm’s gardens, are used as much as possible. But it doesn’t stop there. Karen and Ed feel strongly that their guests should be able to continue on their road to health after they leave, so they offer individualized cooking lessons to help guests learn how easy it is to make a delicious, healthy, nutritious meal from simple ingredients.
The bed and breakfast includes 4 unique, individual cottages complete with kitchens. A four course, vegetarian breakfast featuring high quality, organic ingredients is served to the door of the cottages every morning. Each cottage provides receptacles for composting all organic and recyclable waste. All soaps used and provided are environmentally friendly.
Karen’s background is rich in the study of health and fitness. She was a national champion in Tae Kwon Do and a nationally ranked bicyclist. Since childhood she has been fascinated by health, fitness and nutrition and has studied these fields extensively. Besides her vast knowledge in these subjects, what truly makes Karen’s training style all her own is her passion for making exercise fun and enjoyable. She firmly believes that learning to make exercise entertaining will inspire one to keep at it and look forward to it. As a chef Karen has a particular talent at creating healthy yet delicious alternatives to traditionally rich recipes. Guests are often surprised by how good the food tastes and makes them feel, especially when they learn of the ingredients. Requests for recipes are very common.
Karen is a “Dr. Doolittle” and St. Francis of Assisi rolled into one. Besides her interest in human health she is passionate about animal welfare as well. She has the utmost respect for all animals and is dedicated to protecting them. She attends to their health by means of naturopathic and homeopathic medicines and employs the help of local veterinarians that support these forms of health care. The animal sanctuary element of Miracle Farm is in the construction phase with the first shelter for goats currently being built.
If that isn’t enough, Karen, a graduate of One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in New York, is also an ordained multi-faith minister. She provides her services to perform wedding, commitment, funeral and other ceremonies. The grounds at Miracle Farm offer a lovely spot for small group affairs and the guests can also stay to take advantage of the B&B and spa.
Ed’s background is equally diverse. As a nature lover at a young age, he started his first organic garden in the backyard of his family home, spending hours lovingly tending the vegetables, and is equally excited about their preparation for the plate. His father had a wood shop where Ed got experience with carpentry, a skill that comes in very handy around the grounds. Art and music were also early, strong callings that resulted in a career in music, and after many years of performing he began teaching, which became a passion.
Recently Ed studied the art and science of permaculture, the principles of which he is eager to apply at Miracle Farm where he will also teach these principals. All of his interests come into play at Miracle Farm, from leading sing-alongs around the campfire to tending the gardens and cooking delicious, nutritious food.
At Miracle Farm Karen and Ed love helping people feel good and enjoy their stay while learning to make themselves and their environment healthy and vital.
