Perry Gabbert purchased Fern Bottom Farm in 1910. It has remained in the Gabbert family since that time, as an active farm, retreat and Frisbee golf course, among many other things. Located on 70 acres of retired farm and active forest in the Oregon coast range, it serves as a getaway from cell phones and city life. In addition to the original farmhouse and blacksmith shop, there are several other outbuildings, listed below, built and maintained by multiple generations of Gabberts.

THE LONGHOUSE

An ongoing eight-year project, the longhouse is an experiment in problem solving, creativity and patience. Originally constructed without any metal fasteners out of exclusively salvaged materials, the building is an expression of the environment it exists in, the people who built it and the process that brought it to fruition. Based on the Haida Longhouse found further North, the original construction sought to mimic the old assembly techniques, including notched connections and excluding the use of any metal fasteners.  Experimentation eventually gave way to practicality, as a salvaged tin roof was installed to ensure the longevity of the structure and a proper double wall chimney replaced a makeshift wood attempt, following a potentially disastrous fire. Over the course of the project, building materials came from a variety of sources, including an existing deteriorating shed on the property that was dismantled, the Enterprise Building, a warehouse that had recently been redeveloped, Aurora Mills Architectural Salvage and Craigslist.