Dying to Escape the Excitement?

Some of us just can’t get enough of the whirling, colorful international spectacle that will roll into southwestern British Columbia this month–but others would just as soon crawl under a rock until it’s all over. For the latter crowd, we’re offering a special “Escape The Excitement” Eco-Shed weekend.

We’re offering a special three-night package — the evenings of February 12, 13, and 14 only — at our usual $150/night off-season rate, but with the third night at half-price. You get three days of forest walks and lake sojourns, three days spent skipping stones on deserted beaches, three days of reading novels by the fire, three days of in general, not dealing with anything, for $375 — all within easy striking distance of Vancouver.

Bowen Island is not expected to be seriously impacted by traffic or crowds this month. Our authentic island community offers no surveillance cameras, no roving mascots, no official sponsor showcases in official party districts. There is no television in the Eco-Shed, just a wood-burning stove, luxurious linens, and a few good books, and utter peace and quiet.

Offer available to local residents only. Please note that we will not be serving our usual light-breakfast basket during the month of February, though there are multiple excellent cafes and dining options close by. This one won’t last, folks. Enquiries go to reservations@eco-shed.ca.

Thumbs-Up From NBC

NBCOlympics.com today includes The Eco-Shed in a roundup of things to see and do, and places to eat and sleep out here on the island, which the outlet describes as “hidden in plain view, right in the midst of the 2010 Winter Games arena.”

We’re not exactly in the middle of the Olympics arena, we are a 30 minute jaunt by water taxi, or a 20-minute ride on the car ferry. Here’s what they had to say about us:

Healthy and sustainable are the watch words at the Eco-Shed. This free standing cottage, with room for two, is a model of green building techniques.

We really appreciate the love, NBC, but for the record, we can’t guarantee our famous jumbo-sized berry-packed breakfast muffins are exactly “healthy.” Delicious, yes. Healthy? Well, that depends on how you look at it.

Go Green For the Games!

The Eco-Shed is a freestanding luxury guest suite on Bowen Island–a small and authentic West Coast community just a 20-minute car ferry ride from West Vancouver. The one-room studio includes a kitchenette with sink and mini-fridge, queen-sized bed, three-quarter bath, desk, and modern Danish wood stove. Firewood and plush linens included.

If you like green, you’ll like us. We built The Eco-Shed from the ground up as a sustainability showcase. Its features include passive solar design, extensive use of reclaimed and certified lumber, zero-VOC finishes, active ventilation, on-demand hot water, rainwater harvesting, and high-efficiency windows. Polished concrete floors with radiant heat keep things toasty underfoot.

With multiple transportation links to downtown Vancouver and West Vancouver, Bowen Island serves as an ideal base for those attending skating, curling, hockey, snowboarding and freestyle skiing events—as well as the opening and closing ceremonies. It is possible to get to Whistler from Bowen by taking B.C. Ferries to Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver, then transferring to a Greyhound bus (reservations required, please enquire). Private vehicles may not be driven to Whistler.

Between February 12 and 28, we are offering the The Eco-Shed for $229/night, with a three-night minimum stay. The space is suitable for one person or a couple only; sorry, we cannot accommodate pets or additional persons. During this Olympics period, we regret we will not be offering the breakfast we usually provide our guests, however we are happy to recommend nearby restaurants, delis, cafes, and pub options in Snug Cove village just down the hill.

Please email reservations@eco-shed.ca with “Olympics” in the subject line if you are interested in our 2010 Olympics offering.

Thumbs Up from Granville Magazine!

Granville Online—the popular blog of Vancouver’s leading green-living magazine—finds much to like just inside our front gate in a new review just posted.

“This tiny gem, perched atop the side of an island floating in the middle of Howe Sound, has European charm in a stunning natural setting. But that’s not what hooked us: the Eco-Shed, besides being quaint, offered an eco-friendly retreat—with passive solar heating, reclaimed materials and a roof that feeds a rainwater cistern for the edible organic garden that surrounds it.

”

Paula Gradsal wrote the review after spending a weekend here over the summer. There’s even a nifty slideshow from Granville Online Editor Hilary Henegar that offers a peek inside our legendary continental-breakfast basket!

Come and see what the buzz is all about. Our off-season rates kick in at the end of the month, and the wood stove is ready to roar.

Bowen’s Restaurants, Sliced and Diced

The Globe and Mail newspaper today reviews a number of Bowen’s restaurants and finds much to like. Check out “A Day Trip to Pulled Pork and Madelines,” by Alexandra Gill.

The Ultimate “Staycation” Station

Songbirds… Quiet beaches…. Forest trails… Eagles… Deer… ocean swims… wine… We’re a world apart from the city, but only a half-hour boat ride. If you’re looking to escape, skip the airport and head for the dock at Granville Island….

Got 90 Seconds? Peek Inside Our Door..

Join Our BowFEAST!

We’re proud to be organizing BowFEAST, an annual farmer’s market and festival of island agriculture, set for Snug Cove village on August 15. Shop for fruit, berries, and veg, visit the bee display, learn about soil production in the kid’s tent, and much more.

BowFEAST is a production of OneDayBowen, a grassroots group supporting local solutions to global challenges. It’s sponsored by the Bowen Island Parks and Recreation Department, with further support provided by a community grant from Bowen Island Municipality.

Calling All Locavores!

We’re proud to be organizing BowFEAST–a one-day farmer’s market, celebration of Bowen agriculture and food gardening, and festival of local eating. It will be held in Snug Cove August 15, between 9am and noon.

Now in its third year, BowFEAST is becoming a bit of an island tradition, timed to the peak of the summer harvest.

Note that we’re planning something special for that night. Please drop us a line for details if you are interested in booking on the August 14-15 weekend.

10-Meter Diet, Anyone?

The strawberries are going nuts in the bed just steps from the Eco-Shed’s front door. The gorgeous fruits shown here, harvested earlier this evening, tasted intense and sublime. Next up will be tayberries, raspberries, and blueberries–provided we can keep them away from the birds. We’re encouraging our guests to browse the coming bounty as the crops come into season, and we’ll be rolling this fruit into our baked goods and breakfast baskets.