Situated in central Massachusetts apple country - 30 miles west of Boston - this former traditional New England farm has been a special place for retreats, seminars, conferences, and workshops since 1947.
Century-old barn and carriage house has been renovated to accommodate up to 70 people in a combination of dormitory and private rooms.
Large and small meeting places, and a big kitchen.
Groups can make communal cooking and clean-up part of their conference activities, or we can provide healthy, family-style meals with organic fruit, vegetables and honey from our own orchard, gardens and bees.
Large meeting spaces: the 24' x 48' dining hall with banquet seating for 72, with a fireplace; and a 24' x 36' conference room furnished with comfortable couches and overstuffed chairs.
Two “breakout” rooms. Wi-fi throughout.
Kitchen is fully equipped with 2 stoves, ovens, sinks and refrigerators, and pots, pan, tableware to serve 70. Day and overnight rates include use of the kitchen.
The main dorm can sleep up to 25; a sleeping loft has 4 twin and 3 bunk beds. 13 private and family bedrooms with one to four beds. Blankets, pillows and hand-made quilts are provided. Linens and towels may be rented, or bring your own. (Sleeping bags are not allowed in hostels for health and sanitation reasons).
The facility is situated on four acres of lawn with a wedding glade and fire circle, surrounded by 40 acres of gardens, forest, corn fields.
Faith
Open to All:
Open to All
Average Cost: $ - $$
We provide a range of rates for our nonprofit clients.
A completely DIY retreat individual or group who use our fabulous kitchen, stay in the dorms, bring their own linens and towels and do the final cleaning will pay $39/person/24 hours.
Groups that use all our optional meals/snacks/linen rental/cleaning services and stay in double occupancy lodging can pay up to $110/person/24 hours.
Work Exchange:
Yes!
We are willing to provide lodging in return for appropriate labor. We have found that when we have a specific need, someone with the skills to meet that need will come along. And we can meet that person's lodging needs. What blesses one blesses all.
Environment: Rural, Woods
Gay Friendly: Yes!
Special Needs: Wheelchair Access
Restrictions: No Drugs, No Smoking
Environmentally Sustainable:
Yes!
We were green before green was in. Friendly Crossways was accredited as a Sustainable Living Center by Hostelling International in 1982.
We feed folks using produce, fruit and honey from our backyard gardens and hives. We use low flow toilets and shower heads, compact fluorescent bulbs, and energy efficient appliances.
In mid-2012 we're installing a 5kW solar electricity generating system. Oh, and we also compost and recycle.
Language: English, French
Retreat Type (definitions):
Personal
Features
Art:
Crafts / Quilting / Sewing, Music / Song / Drumming, Theater, Writing / Poetry
Counseling:
Counseling
Health / Wellness:
Addiction / Recovery, Alternative Health Services, Healing, Organic
Meditation:
Meditation
Mens Retreats:
Mens Retreats
Nature / Wildlife:
Environmental / Ecological
Personal Development:
Personal Development
Relationship:
Relationship
Special Facility Features:
Gardens / Outdoor Space
Special Topics:
Special Topics
Spiritual Direction:
Spiritual Direction
Spiritual Studies:
Spiritual Studies
Womens Retreats:
Womens Retreats
Yoga Asana:
Yoga Asana
Room Types: B&B, Dorm
Total Number of Rooms:
15
Some or all housing is single sex only.
Children OK: Yes!
Housing: We have 15 rooms and 65 beds! The main dorm can sleep up to 25; a sleeping loft has 4 twin and 3 bunk beds. The dorm and loft are gender separate. There are 13 private and family bedrooms with one to four beds, including four rooms with full size beds. There are seven showers and seven toilets "down the hall and around the corner" and they are all knock and lock.
Food: Organic / Locally Grown, Restricted Diet Options, Vegetarian Options
Meal Availability: Kitchen - Shared, Provided - Some Meals
Location of this Retreat:
247 Littleton County Road
Harvard, MA 01451-1445
United States
Travel Info: We're 45 minutes from Boston's Logan Airport BOS, 55 minutes from Manchester NH Airport MHT, 1 hour+ from Providence RI Airport PVD and 1.5 hours from Hartford CT Airport BDL. From BOS you can get Littletown Limo door to door service (call ahead for reservations.) Public transport by train from North Station in Boston or Porter Square in Cambridge: call us for free pick up at local 495/Littleton stop.