I still laugh to this day that I wanted to be a great scientist, only to find that dumping horse manure brought me more joy. Studying Jurassic crabs at a scientific institution in a big city was much more frustrating than I thought. And I didn't want to be one of those people who loves nature but has no clue about it. To understand it, you have to live with it. Be an integral part of your own microcosm—not observe it from afar.

My path to the microcosm on Zwora, though a dream, was long, and at times dark and stormy. After finding an old cabin in the forest seven years ago, unknown to any navigation system, I went to work in Iceland to earn money to renovate it. It was difficult at times, especially when the island was dark for two months. Returning and renovating it weren't a piece of cake either, as the house was in terrible condition when I bought it. With the help of my dad and brother, we replaced rotten boards, built a new stove, and built foundations for the floating corner of the barn. The adventures were endless: one summer I couldn't get rid of mice, which devoured everything from soap to jar labels. Another summer I ran out of water and spent a month hauling it from the stream in jugs on a wheelbarrow. Today, Zworna Chata is a new home: warm, cozy, and welcoming. I live in one part, and in the other, there's a comfortable apartment for you. Who will enjoy it here? Those who value the company of deer more than civilization. They don't mind the 700-meter walk to the cottage, unless they have an off-road vehicle. They don't need signal, and they're not afraid of mice. In return, they can become part of the Zworna Chata microcosm.

We have half of Zworna Chata for you to enjoy exclusively. The apartment features one double bed in a separate room and two in a shared space. There's a kitchen for cooking and reheating meals, equipped with a kettle, induction stove, and large refrigerator. The bathroom is spacious and comfortable, with a large shower and a separate toilet. The entire space is heated by a clay wood stove, which is also suitable for cooking.

A terrace with a beautiful view of the meadow is at your disposal, perfect for enjoying your morning coffee in the first rays of the sun. There's also a fireplace area under the stars.

We serve delicious breakfasts: scrambled eggs with chanterelles (if the forest allows), and oatmeal. We bake our own sourdough rye bread and make homemade vegetable spreads for sandwiches. Here, you'll find delicious pierogi with broad beans, ground elderberry, Russian cheese, or bryndza cheese. We also make creams of various vegetables. And of course, we have oscypek cheese! After all, Piwniczna is famous for its sheep! We also make our own kombucha and supposedly the best apple pie in the area.

There are those who find their daily wanderings between the grand terrace and the fire pit satisfying. They listen to the rustling of the trees and the babbling of the stream that flows beneath the cottage, and watch the deer grazing in the meadow. Their peace is disturbed only by the quarrels between jays and buzzards. We have such neighbors! For those who prefer to stay at home, we also have a library and warm blankets for reading.

For more active guests, there's no shortage of hiking trails. Leaving Zworna Chata, you can climb Radziejowa (the highest peak in the Sądecki Beskids) or Wysoka (the highest peak in the Pieniny Mountains). Just half an hour from the cottage is Eliaszówka, with its observation tower, and just beyond that, Slovakia. You can rent bikes in Piwniczna and explore the trails much more quickly. And in the winter, of course, skiing; there are several ski slopes and cross-country skiing trails nearby. Or simply follow your cross-country skis into the forest for a true Beskid adventure!

For those who have already conquered all the peaks, the forest offers countless trails prepared by deer. We ourselves choose this activity most often. We let ourselves be carried away by the paths and discover something new each time!

And of course, wool! Zworna Chata is full of wool! And not just any wool, though: wool from mountain sheep, dyed by the hostess with herbs and mushrooms gathered around the cottage. Under a blanket, with the sound of the crackling fire outside the kitchen, you can knit or crochet to your heart's content. The hostess will show you, teach you, and share the secrets of natural dyeing.

We believe that children don't need much to be happy in a place like ours. We live in the forest, on the edge of a clearing that holds so many attractions! A stream flows beneath the cottage, where you can build dams and swim safely, as it's not deep (but very cold!). There are strawberries, blueberries, beechnuts to snack on, grasshoppers, butterflies, and throngs of birds to observe. Children's imaginations will do the rest; you just have to let them have their way!