Welcome to the Berbo Homestead
You are invited to the Berbo Homestead—forty acres on the edge of the desert and mountains—for a private ecologically immersive natural dye workshop. Come for a weekend of one-on-one guided learning (with plenty of time to unwind in nature) including foraging and creating with the property’s abundant dye and medicinal plants, or plan a gathering of your own with up to six guests. Enjoy a comfortable stay in one of our rustic outbuildings, or pitch a tent to camp on our private land with expansive, breathtaking views. You’ll be welcomed with dark sky stargazing, glorious sunrises and sunsets, nature trails, seasonal campfires, outdoor soaking tubs, and the quiet, wild beauty of this land. Read more below and contact us with any questions or to book your private guided event.
About the homestead
On forty acres in California’s Eastern Sierra, on the edge of the Great Basin and Mojave Deserts and at the feet of the great Sierra Nevada, sits a swath of wild, open land—with gentle rolling hills, springs and ravines, seasonal arroyos, sagebrush scrub, Joshua trees, and spring wildflowers—and the home of Berbo Studio.
Less than three hours from Los Angeles, yet in an entirely different world, the Homestead’s closest neighbors are countless rabbits, coveys of quail, solitary nighthawks and owls, and distant coyotes. The quaint but vibrant town of Lone Pine is twenty-five miles to the north, and trails to some of the Sierra’s most scenic mountains, lakes, rivers, and meadows are within a short drive.
Accommodations
Five buildings dot the property: a humble ranch house (Erin’s home), a historic homesteader cabin and water tower, and two guest quarters—the Lodge and the Cottage—along with countless comfortable spots for tent camping. The Lodge, a converted studio/garage, is outfitted as the Berbo Studio workspace, with a library of natural dye materials, equipment, literature, samples, and more. With high ceilings, a wood-burning stove, French doors, Persian rugs, and rustic leather furniture, it is a comfortable workspace, with modest sleeping accommodations for 2-4 people. The Cottage, a boiler room converted into a cozy one-room dwelling, is lit by a skylight and warmed by a wood-burning stove. With a double bed and small closet space, it sleeps 1-2 people. Other property features include a seasonal six-person cowboy tub, one-person soaking tub, nature trails, scenic outdoor seating areas, a fire pit, camp “kitchen,” and more.
Gatherings
You are invited to plan your next small gathering or private one-on-one workshop at the Homestead with Erin of Berbo Studio, a seasoned naturalist and natural dyer who can guide you through myriad natural dye processes, creating with medicinal plants, learning local and wider Californian ecology, and more. Together we can wander the property to harvest a variety of wild and cultivated plants, working with their colorful dyes and medicine on-site. Erin can host you (and your party of up to 6 people) in exploring a variety of natural dye processes, coloring silk or cotton pieces of your choosing, and in crafting medicinal oils, salves, teas, and more from plants harvested at the Homestead. You may bring your own camp-style food to prepare, or with prior arrangement, a chef may be available.
Get in touch below to learn more and book your private workshop and time at the Homestead.