When Adam Weinstein and his wife, Mariana Leung-Weinstein, inherited a country property 75 miles north of their New York City home, they took advantage of the windfall. Once owned by the noted actor Ben Gazzara, it had all the attributes of a bucolic country home and potential to be much more. The transformation began with an Airbnb they christened Wicked Finch Farm, and continued with a by-chance jam business.

The seven-acre property, located in Pawling, New York, now accommodates 12 guests and is open year round. Besides the peaceful rural location, the proprietors eagerly promote neighbors and friends who make and grow things in the region. “When guests book with us,” Leung-Weinstein says, “I always ask what plans they have. Then I put together a casual itinerary for their stay. This time of year there are local ski resorts, ice rinks, great restaurants, a cheesemaker, and a couple of wineries and breweries. I have a guidebook and our website is filled with suggestions.”

Wicked Finch Farm

The freelance fashion consultant, specializing in technical design and fashion photography, still resides in the City during the week. Her husband, a facilities director running real estate properties, is splitting his time, too. Both are looking forward to spending more time upstate as their burgeoning retreat grows.

The farm has wetlands, a barn, a potting shed, a cottage and a stream with a wooden bridge. “We set up a video cam there that can keep guests mesmerized for hours,” the co-owner added. “I’m amazed at the diversity of birds — ducks, cranes, herons, egrets. We’ve also seen foxes and bobcats down there. My husband loves the baby bunnies. When you’re in the city most of the time, it’s a beautiful culture shock to see all that wildlife.”

While the owners had originally expected the New York City area to be their prime source of guests, they've found that the majority of their bookings come from other states and even Europe. Area attractions include theater and arts events, concerts (Daryl’s House is nearby) and outdoor events like the Sheep & Wool Festival at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds. Their rooms are also convenient to nearby professional conferences — another unexpected source of business.

Wicked Finch Prosecco Strawberry Jam, served with cheese and crackers at cocktail hour

Which brings us to the aforementioned jam. “When we first came up here, I’d spend the weekend making jams from berries grown on the property,” Leung-Weinstein explained. “My husband is a big, big jam fan. I, on the other hand, am a big cocktail fan. So I started adding different liquors to each batch and testing them on our friends.” Eventually, an enterprising local newspaper reporter saw Mariana’s Instagram postings and wrote a story about her “boozy jams.” The result was — in a word — demand.

The boozy jam, now available in Prosecco Strawberry, Bourbon Blueberry, Cognac Apricot, and Whiskey Fig, were a hit with guests at breakfast and at cocktail hour, where the jam is served with cheese. “We wanted to give the place some special personality and the distinctive jams helped with that,” she said. Eventually that led to boozy jam workshops and boozy marshmallows, which are available on their Etsy site.

For this coming spring, the couple anticipates adding classes. They’re organizing boozy jam and cocktail-inspired candy workshops as well as tastings in cooperation with local makers/growers. There are also the beginnings of plans for a writer’s workshop or two, and elsewhere on the property, glamping.

There are long-range plans, too. They’d like to create a site for weddings, reunions, business retreats and other special occasions. The picturesque 100+ year-old barn can be outfitted to accommodate almost any request, from an elegant reception to a birthday party for children to location photography.

Mariana Leung-Weinstein prepares for the cocktail candymaking workshop.

As if all this isn’t keeping the owners busy enough, they're hoping to add to their berry patch by planting elderberries — for both the flowers and the berries, and setting up at the Pawling Farmer’s market during the summer.

And those wicked finches? When Adam and Mariana first took possession of the farm, they were amazed at the number of goldfinches that would attack the feeders. Finding them to be both beautiful and tenacious, the couple thought it a perfect mix of what their new endeavor would entail. Three years later, as the couple continues establishing their retreat as a fixture in the region, Wicked Finch Farm has come to firmly reflect their tenacity at work.

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Written by
Betsy Miller