Welcome to the Hostel in the Forest
The Hostel is a membership organization, please browse through our website before calling us to make a reservation. If you have further questions, we would be happy to answer them over the phone any day between
10am and 8pm, 912-264-9738. We can not accept reservations, cancellations or provide availability by email.
IF VISITING FOR THE FIRST TIME PLEASE READ THIS
We are always looking for skilled instructors willing to share their knowledge on a variety of subjects that support our vision. If you have some ideas or suggestions, or would like give a suitable presentation or workshop, please
contact us..
If you are interested in working at the Hostel please review the applications page.*
Gift Certificates are available for purchase for future reservations. Payment of cash or check is accepted, and a gift certificate will be mailed to you or a person of your choosing. Expiration date will be one year from date of purchase.
Our Vision
The world would be a much healthier and better place if all its inhabitants advocated sustainability instead of unlimited growth. Rather than trying to control nature and use it as a resource for development, we should revere it, respect it, and work with it. The Hostel in the Forest is taking steps to manifest this vision. We see that nature’s creatures, including humans, animals, birds and insects share the same land in a unique manner. Inspired by the creativity found in the natural environment, we have transformed our ideas into actions by having an organic vegetable garden used in our dinners each night, recycling our wastes, having a cutting-edge gray-water system, watering plants with a solar powered irrigation system, and using a worm box that composts our table scraps into fertilizer for the garden. Hostel members sleep in tree houses, hike the T-trails through the 133 acre forest, swim and paddle canoes in the lake, take part in the healing process of walking our labyrinth, participate in the sweat lodges held on the nights of the full moon, eat a healthy vegetarian or vegan meal each night, and attend the many educational retreats and lectures designed to teach us how to move toward a wholesome and more sustainable future. We invite you to visit us and be a part of our work in progress; even participate in helping us with our projects, if you so desire. If you are financially able to do so, we would also be most appreciative of any gifts to our 501 C 3 tax-deductible organization in order to encourage and further our goals.
OWN A PIECE OF HOSTEL HISTORY
Posted December 8th, 2013
Learn To grow your own edible gourmet mushrooms! In this workshop you will make your own Shiitake log to take home. This log could reward you with blooms of shiitake for up to five years. We will also discuss other edible, easy to grow mushrooms and touch on local wild edible mushrooms. We will take time to discuss, inspect and enhance the hostels mushroom habitat.
The Instructor: Tim Armstrong owns Eatyouryardjax, www.eatyouryardjax.com and manages several urban farm sites in the North Florida area. He is a graduate of Will Allen’s, Commercial Urban Agriculture Program 2011, http://growingpower.org He is also co-creator of Berry Good Farms.
He has taken training in mushroom production at growing power and at Tradd Cotter’s Mushroom mountain in Liberty South Carolina and also at University of Florida’s research station at Live Oak Florida. At his 40 acre farm on the west side of Jacksonville he has grown mushrooms for the last four years and operates a licensed Plant Nursery and Aquaculture Facility. He has spent a lifetime exploring the woods and waterways of North Florida and South Georgia and has a keen respect for nature and loves to share that passion with others.
Event takes place Saturday 1/25/14 1-3pm $35 per person.
May the Forest Be With You
The Hostel Staff
Posted by Hostel Admin
Filed in Events
Posted November 15th, 2013
The last few weeks have been very busy at the hostel. The last weekend in October and the first weekend in November the Hostel hosted yoga fundraisers. The staff and other guests were welcome to join in learning from exceptional teachers. This past weekend a gathering of handpan musicians filled the forest with angelic sounds. The winter garden is planted and thriving. We hope to have a salad of greens from the garden at dinner every night throughout the winter. There have been a couple of projects that are being wrapped up as well. Elmos has a new staircase, and the floor of the Glass House is being painted with a beautiful mural.
As always, the Hostel continues to attract international travellers. We have hosted guests from Sweden, Columbia, France, and Canada. The Hostel also has been home to a few new adorable baby chicks, which appeared just a couple of days ago.
Coming up is our November Sweat Lodge and not too far away is Thanksgiving. The circle of gratitude and the meal for Thanksgiving are going to be very special here at the Hostel. Firewood is stocked up for both inside and outside fires, so we will all be warm and cozy. We look forward to hugging you all and sharing stories fireside.
May the Forest Be With You
The Hostel Staff
