We have always believed that food is one of the most powerful ways to connect. At Big Raven Farm, cooking is how we gather, teach, laugh, and slow down together. It is not just about recipes or techniques. It is about paying attention, building confidence, and creating something meaningful with your hands.
We are excited to welcome guests back for the first retreat of 2026 and one of our most beloved experiences, the Big Raven Farm Cooking and Foodie Retreat. This four day, three night immersive retreat takes place March 26 through March 29, 2026, and is designed for people who love food and want to cook with more confidence, creativity, and intention at home.
We are Joleen and Darin, and together we host and lead this experience here at Big Raven Farm. Darin serves as Executive Chef, guiding the culinary instruction, while Joleen shapes the hospitality and rhythm of the retreat. Our goal is simple. We want you to feel welcomed, supported, and inspired from the moment you arrive until the moment you head home.
Whether you join us as an experienced home cook, a curious beginner, or someone who simply loves good food and meaningful experiences, this retreat is built to meet you where you are. We want you to leave feeling capable in your kitchen and excited to bring what you learned into your everyday life.
Cooking Skills You Will Actually Use at Home
This year’s cooking retreat focuses on practical, approachable techniques that elevate everyday meals. We are not interested in complicated restaurant tricks or overly technical processes that stay locked away in a notebook. Everything we teach is designed to be accessible, repeatable, and realistic for home kitchens.
Throughout the retreat, Darin guides guests through hands-on cooking projects that emphasize quality, flavor, and simplicity. You will learn how to make yogurt and mayonnaise that are fresher, better tasting, and less expensive than anything you can buy at the grocery store. These foundational skills give you more control over ingredients while improving both flavor and nutrition.
One of the highlights of the retreat is learning how to make tender, flavorful brisket using sous vide cooking. You never touch a grill. This technique allows you to achieve consistent, deeply satisfying results with minimal effort and a clear understanding of why it works.
We also show you how to make homemade coffee creamer that is quick, reliable, and endlessly customizable. Once you make it yourself, it becomes hard to justify buying it again. Salad dressings are another retreat favorite. We teach you how to build dressings from scratch that are balanced, versatile, and far superior to bottled versions.
And yes, we make butter. Using nothing more than a standard KitchenAid stand mixer, you will see firsthand how easy it is to turn cream into fresh butter at home. This project never fails to surprise people and often becomes one of the most talked about moments of the retreat.
These projects are just some of the ways we help guests build confidence and realize how small changes can transform the way they cook every day.
A Supportive, Hands On Learning Environment
One of the things we hear most often from guests is how comfortable they feel learning in our kitchen. We believe cooking should be joyful, not intimidating. No one is expected to know everything, and questions are always welcome.
Guests cook together, learning by doing and by watching one another. Darin breaks each process into clear, manageable steps and shares tips that come from years of professional kitchen experience. The atmosphere is collaborative, relaxed, and filled with laughter.
Many guests arrive unsure of their skill level. That hesitation usually fades quickly.
One past guest shared:
“I was nervous that I would be overwhelmed and under qualified to cook the meals, but Darin made the process fun and easy. In the weeks since the retreat, I have already made several of the meals we learned at home.”
That kind of confidence is exactly what we hope guests take with them. By the end of the retreat, people are often surprised by what they can do and how much they enjoyed the process.
More Than a Cooking Retreat
While cooking is at the heart of this experience, the retreat extends far beyond the kitchen. Big Raven Farm is a place designed for rest, reflection, and reconnection. From the moment you arrive, we invite you to slow down and settle into a different pace.
Our days are thoughtfully structured to balance instruction with free time. Mornings often begin with coffee and conversation, followed by hands-on cooking sessions. Afternoons may include time to relax, explore the farm, or simply enjoy being present. Evenings are spent sharing meals that reflect the work we have done together during the day.
We also offer optional excursions to a local brewery and distillery for those who want to explore the surrounding area and sample regional flavors. These outings are completely optional, and many guests choose instead to stay at the farm, read, nap, or take a quiet walk.
We encourage guests to unplug. Phones are welcome, but many people find they do not miss them.
As one guest put it:
“I used the opportunity to unplug and leave my phone in the room.”
That kind of presence is something we value deeply.
Hospitality That Feels Like Home
A cooking retreat at Big Raven Farm is shaped as much by hospitality as it is by instruction. From comfortable accommodations to thoughtfully prepared meals, every detail is designed to help you feel cared for.
We host the retreat together, creating an atmosphere that feels warm, inclusive, and genuine. Guests are welcomed like friends rather than attendees, and that tone carries through the entire experience.
One guest described it this way:
“What an amazing time from the warm greeting to the lovely accommodations to the beautifully orchestrated cooking classes. The meals were delicious, and the entire experience felt thoughtful and intentional. Joleen and Darin are warm, funny, and perfect retreat hosts.”
We are also grateful for the support of our team, who help everything run smoothly while keeping the experience relaxed and unhurried. And of course, Auggie, our beloved farm dog, is never far away, offering a friendly presence and earning his role as unofficial retreat mascot.
Community, Connection, and Shared Meals
One of the most meaningful parts of this retreat is the sense of connection that forms among guests. Cooking together naturally creates conversation and camaraderie. Shared meals often turn into long evenings filled with stories, laughter, and genuine connection.
Some guests arrive with friends or partners, while others come on their own. Regardless of how you arrive, you are quickly part of the group. Many guests leave with friendships that continue long after the retreat ends.
A past guest reflected:
“A group of friends and I met up for one of Darin’s first cooking retreats. None of us knew what to expect, but the camaraderie made the experience unforgettable. I am excited to go back for more retreats.”
That sense of belonging is something we intentionally nurture.
Why We Do This Work
There are many cooking classes and culinary retreats available, but Big Raven Farm is grounded in a particular philosophy. We believe good food should be accessible. We believe learning should feel encouraging. And we believe hospitality matters just as much as technique.
Rather than focusing on elaborate dishes that rarely get repeated, we teach foundational skills that empower home cooks. We emphasize understanding over memorization and adaptability over rigid rules.
The farm itself plays an important role in this experience. Being surrounded by open space, fresh air, and the rhythms of farm life makes it easier to focus, learn, and create. Guests often tell us how much lighter and more present they feel here.
Ready to Join Us
If this cooking retreat speaks to you, we invite you to take the next step. Space is intentionally limited to preserve the intimate, hands-on experience that makes Big Raven Farm special, and retreats tend to fill quickly once registration opens.
If you are looking to sharpen your cooking skills, reconnect with your creativity, or spend a few restorative days immersed in great food and thoughtful hospitality, we would love to have you with us.
Join us March 26 through March 29, 2026, for four days of learning, laughter, and unforgettable meals. Bring a friend, share the experience with a partner, or come on your own and become part of the Big Raven Farm community.
Visit our website to learn more, view full retreat details for March 26 through March 29, 2026, and reserve your place at the table. We cannot wait to welcome you to Big Raven Farm and cook together.