What’s New For 2026
We listened to what you loved this year and built more of it into next year’s lineup.
-
Cyanotype & Eco Printing
These were such a fan favorite that we’re offering them twice in 2026. Sun, botanicals, beautiful blues, and that magical reveal when you rinse your print. Beginner-friendly, wildly satisfying. -
Mixed Media Collage
Layers, texture, story. Think paint, paper, found materials, and a playful process that invites you to explore instead of overthink. -
Art Journaling
A portable, everyday practice for reflection and joy. You’ll build pages that feel personal, imperfect, and wonderfully yours.
-
Bookbinding for Beginners
New this year. Learn simple binding methods and leave with a handmade journal or keepsake you’ll actually use.
Our culinary weekends return as well — a delicious blend of creativity, conversation, and Chef Darin’s signature approach to food that nourishes body and spirit. You’ll chop, stir, taste, and plate your way through easy gourmet recipes while learning techniques you can take home and actually use. No professional skills required. Just curiosity, an appetite, and maybe a love of delicious cuisine.
Why People Love Retreating Here
Because it’s easy to breathe here. You arrive in Spring Grove, Minnesota, shake off the week, and settle into a rhythm that feels human again. You’ll make things with your hands. You’ll laugh with people you just met. You’ll eat ridiculously good food. Then you’ll sleep like a rock.
Chef Darin cooks the way you wish every weekend felt: seasonal, colorful, comforting. Fresh produce. Slow soups. Salads that crunch. Desserts you swear you’re only having one bite of and then… you know how that goes.
Who These Retreats Are For
-
Beginners who desire a welcoming place to start
-
Seasoned makers craving fresh inspiration
-
Yoga lovers who want a reset that lasts longer than a class
-
Friends, mother-daughter pairs, and solo travelers who want time to themselves without being alone
Come as you are. Leave with new skills, new pages, new energy.
What To Expect
-
A relaxed schedule with built-in breathing room
-
Most materials provided for the listed workshops
-
Cozy rooms, quiet corners, and good coffee
-
Thoughtful instruction that meets you at your level
-
Plenty of time to wander, write, stretch, or do nothing at all
Plan Your Creative Weekend Getaway
If you’re searching for 2026 retreats in Minnesota, an art retreat 2026 you’ll actually love, or a cooking retreat 2026 that feels doable and down-to-earth, you’re in the right place. Guests return to Big Raven Farm because it feels like coming home.
Explore our 2026 Retreat Calendar and choose the weekend that calls to you. Spots tend to disappear quickly — and we’d love to see your name on that guest list before they do.