Every year, I think I'll be ready for it. I'll notice the first signs of fall before anyone else, watching for the subtle shift in the flower beds, the quieter bees, and the crispness in the air even while the calendar insists it's still summer. But I never do. One morning I walk outside with my coffee, and suddenly it's just there, happening so gently that if you're busy, you could miss it completely.
I've always loved autumn for that exact reason. It doesn't demand our attention. It simply waits for us to notice. Maybe that's why this season has always felt like the true beginning of a new year to me. While we're conditioned to think fresh starts belong to January with its new calendars and rigid goals, September asks a completely different question: What would happen if you made a little room for yourself again?
Not because you've earned it, and not because you've finished everything on your to-do list. Simply because you're a person who needs time to breathe, create, and remember what brings you joy.
The Rhythm of the Farm
We all know how easy it is to forget this. We get remarkably good at caring for everyone else. We show up for work, answer emails, run errands, keep family traditions alive, and make dinner. Then one day, we realize we've become pros at tending to everything and everyone except ourselves. Life just gets loud.
If you read our earlier blog, Bring the Farm Home: How to Keep Your Retreat Glow Alive, you might remember how much we talk about the challenge of keeping that peaceful retreat mindset alive once Monday morning arrives. At Big Raven Farm in the scenic Driftless Region of southeast Minnesota, we see this happen in real time during our weekend retreats... At Big Raven Farm in the scenic Driftless Region of southeast Minnesota, we see this happen in real time during our weekend retreats. People sometimes imagine a retreat is all about making art, and yes, we certainly make beautiful things. But that's rarely what stays with me. What I remember are the quiet, human moments. Someone stands on the porch before breakfast watching the fog lift off the valley. A guest comes back from a morning walk thrilled to spot deer near the woods. Easy laughter bubbles up over dinner from one tiny, shared mistake while we gather around the farmhouse table for scratch-made meals.
These moments never appear on an itinerary. They're simply what happens when people finally have enough space to slow down.
Creativity isn't really about mastering a technique or crafting a masterpiece. It is about paying attention. Pay attention to the season you're in, the people around you, and ultimately, yourself. I've watched people completely lose track of time arranging leaves for an eco-print, or seen someone who insisted they are not creative happily fill an art journal for two hours. It has nothing to do with suddenly becoming an artist and everything to do with giving yourself permission to begin.
This Fall's Retreat Lineup at Big Raven Farm
No two retreats at our Minnesota farmhouse are ever quite the same because the people change, and that changes everything. If you've been searching for a restorative fall wellness getaway or a creative art retreat to step away from the rush, our lineup offers four unique ways to slow down, reconnect, and make something with your own hands.
1. The Wonders of Nature: Cyanotypes & Eco-Printing in the Great Outdoors
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Dates: September 10–13
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What to Expect: September holds a rich, transitional landscape that only exists for a few short weeks. During this retreat, nature becomes an active partner in the creative process. We'll spend time gathering leaves, grasses, and botanical treasures on morning walks before transforming them into stunning cyanotypes and eco-prints. It’s an exercise in seeing the extraordinary in a simple maple leaf, a fern curve, or a tiny wildflower, reminding you that nature has its own quiet wisdom to share.
2. Art Journaling: The Joy of Making
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Dates: October 1–4
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What to Expect: If there's one retreat where I wish people would completely let go of doing it right, it's this one. Art journals aren't meant to be perfect. They're meant to be lived in. By the second day of this retreat, paint ends up on fingers, scraps of paper litter the tables, and guests are happily trading ideas. There is an incredible, liberating freedom in creating something that doesn't need to match your home, be framed, or make sense to anyone but you. It becomes a personal sanctuary on paper, capturing thoughts and textures without pressure.
3. Pick Your Projects
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Dates: October 8–11 & October 15–18
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What to Expect: This weekend celebrates the fact that creativity looks different for everyone. Weeks before arrival, our inboxes fill up with indecisive, excited emails from guests choosing their paths. Some assemble bookboard art, others stitch embroidery, build a Lazy Susan, or try mixed media. No two tables look alike, and the encouragement in the room is palpable as ideas travel across the space. Our October 8th retreat was a recent addition to the calendar, offering the best availability for larger groups looking to book together.
4. Opening the Door to Watercolors
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Dates: October 22–25
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What to Expect: Watercolor intimidates more people than almost any other medium, usually accompanied by the phrase, "I've always wanted to try, but..." By October, the pace at the farm has settled, the leaves are putting on a show, and the cooler mornings pair beautifully with this medium. You quickly learn it isn't about controlling every brushstroke. It is about watching colors blend, letting the water work, and accepting that the unexpected often becomes your favorite part. Please note: at the date of post, we are down to just 3 spots left for our watercolor weekend, so if you want to grab one of the final brushes, now is the time!
Maybe This Is the Year
Every fall, I hear the same refrain from incoming guests: "I almost didn't come." Sometimes work felt too busy, or they worried they weren't creative enough, or a lingering sense of guilt tried to convince them that taking a few days for themselves was selfish. I understand every single one of those feelings. Life will always give us a reason to wait. There will always be another project at home, another email, another load of laundry, and another reason to slide yourself to the bottom of the priority list.
Choosing to come on a retreat isn't about escaping real life. It is about stepping away long enough to remember what you actually enjoy about it. Making things with your hands, laughing over a shared meal, watching deer move quietly through the pasture while your coffee is still hot, and feeling inspired instead of hurried.
If you've been thinking about joining us this fall, I'd love to welcome you to Big Raven Farm. Come by yourself, bring a friend, or grab your mom or sister and turn that long-standing someday into this season. Because we keep our retreat groups intentionally small to preserve that cozy, unhurried atmosphere, spaces do fill up.
Explore our available fall retreat dates, check remaining openings, and reserve your spot today!
After all, fall isn't the end of summer. It's the beginning of yourself again.