Inspiring Conversations with Esther Hutchison of Woodsong Acres

Today we’d like to introduce you to Esther Hutchison.

Hi Esther, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself. 

Jay and I have been married for 11 years. Together, we have 7 children — a ‘his, hers, and ours’ situation. Jay is originally from Northeast Ohio, and I am originally from Haiti, growing up in Florida from the age of 12.

Moving to Ohio, a place with colder climate, scared me at first. Plus, moving meant leaving my family and friends behind. Jay brought me to Ohio during the fall season many times when we were living in Florida, and I fell in love with Northeast Ohio. Fall is my favorite season. I enjoy looking at the beautiful multi-colored leaves and feeling the crisp fall air. After those fall visits, I was more open to the idea of moving. As the years went by, we would continue to visit regularly and finally made the decision to move up when we felt the time was right.

After praying about it, we decided to start looking at some homes. The idea was to use it when we visited Ohio and use it as a vacation rental when we were not visiting ourselves. In March 2023, Jay showed me a picture of what would become our current bed and breakfast property. I fell in love with it at first sight. I loved everything about the house, including the large pond, big wrap-around front porch, hiking trails, and the gorgeous kitchen with the window above the sink that I always desired! I told Jay that we could possibly use the property for a bed and breakfast. Unbeknownst to us, it was already operating as Bear Creek Farm Bed and Breakfast.

Jay and I prayed about the timing and process, asking God to show us His will and direction for our lives. The realtor for the sellers (now our mentors), happened to be the same friend who was helping us find a property. We ended up finding out later that the sellers attend the same church as Jay’s parents. The house had been on the market for over a year, and the sellers were praying for the right buyer, and here we are! So many things were set in motion that one could say were coincidences, and since we don’t believe in coincidences, we knew it was God making provision for the adventure ahead.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far? It was far from being a smooth road. We moved here without a set closing date due to some additional steps that needed to be taken before we would be able to close on the property. While we were dealing with that challenge, we found out our moving pods were still in FL. We were able to close on May 18th, and sadly, still no moving pods. While Jay and I were out running errands, our boys decided to sneak our cat into the house and accidentally locked her in one of the rooms with the keys in the bedroom.  One-hundred and twenty dollars later, the locksmith person was able to open the door and got her out. My parents and uncle came up for two weeks to help us unpack and get things going as quickly as possible, but it did not work out that way.

On my way taking them to the airport, my alternator belt broke on the road, and I had to get the car towed to a mechanic. Thank God after a few hours they repaired it, and I was on my way home. While on the road, I saw a trailer with a pod on it, and sure enough, it was our pod heading to our house :). One month after we lived here, Jay got laid off from his job, and was able to use that time to focus on Woodsong Acres and making connections in the community.

With so many things going wrong after another, we reminded ourselves that we are where the Lord wanted us to be. Being in the center of God’s will for our lives does not mean there would not be struggles and challenges or fear and anxiety. We held on to our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ as we dealt with each challenges one day at a time. We are so grateful for friends and family that rallied around us as we navigated our way through relocating and starting a new business.

So grateful to our amazing friend and realtor Ben Drenik that helped us throughout the home buying process. Amy, Jay’s sister of Blossom Pod Photography, took amazing pictures, Rachel and Willie quickly produced our website in a short period of time. Laurie and Rick, Jay’s other sister and brother-in-law, created our road sign and of course our parents, siblings, and friends that have been so willing and ready to lend a hand and most importantly praying for us. So grateful for the team at NEO Fund, that supports small businesses in our area. Woodsong Acres would not be where it is today without our tribe.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know? Woodsong Acres is a unique lodging property designed especially for those who are looking for an experience, and not just a place to stay. Nestled in a picturesque setting, The Inn at Woodsong Acres and The Cottage at Woodsong Acres offer a prime location with easy access to nearby attractions, including award-winning wineries, quaint covered bridges, beautiful Lake Erie, and much more!

On-site activities include hiking trails, a nine-hole disc golf course, swimming, and fishing. Our goal is to offer our guests a truly unique experience. We understand everyday life can bring its share of stresses. Our hope is that we can provide a respite for them and their loved ones. We challenge our guests to ‘Connect & Unwind’ at Woodsong Acres. Connect with nature. Connect with loved ones. Connect with themselves in the peace and quiet Woodsong Acres offers. Unwind and recharge while experiencing our 46 acres of rolling Ohio woodland on the Ashtabula County Covered Bridge Tour, The Ohio Wines and Vines Trail, and the Barn Quilt Trail.

We are also a working farm. Currently, we are in the process of producing maple syrup. In the Spring, we will be planting 82 apple trees in hopes of someday offering hard cider to our patrons. We hope these first additions to the farm side of Woodsong Acres is only the beginning. Finally, we are planning on hosting weddings/events at our peaceful location. We are proud of all of the aforementioned. We feel that there are not many places in the area that offer what we can at Woodsong Acres. We most enjoy connecting with our guests and providing a space where they can make lasting memories and experiences!

We are always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
We have learned that the world can change rapidly during a crisis.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.woodsongacres.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodsongacres/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/woodsongacres

Image Credits
Amy Minor