There is a quietness in the heart of winter that invites us to pause. At Big Raven Farm, that quietness is everywhere, in the soft light over the fields, the gentle sway of bare branches, and the hush that settles across the farm at dawn. It is in these moments of stillness that clarity and inspiration begin to emerge.
I want to personally invite you to step into this stillness before the first hints of spring awaken the earth, and to explore it through two very special experiences at the farm this year: our cooking retreat from March 26 to 29 and our art retreat from April 9 to 12. Both offer a chance to reconnect with yourself, nourish your body and spirit, and embrace creativity in its many forms.
Why Pause in Winter Matters
Winter naturally slows life down. The days are shorter, the nights longer, and the landscape encourages reflection. Yet even in this quiet season, our minds and schedules can feel full. Work, obligations, and the constant hum of technology often leave little space for stillness.
This is where retreat experiences become invaluable. A retreat is more than just time away. It is a deliberate pause to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with what matters most. By stepping into this pause now, you give yourself the gift of clarity, calm, and energy that will carry you into spring.
Whether your creativity flows in the kitchen or on the page, taking this time to focus on what nourishes your body and your spirit can be life-changing.
Why Self-Care is More Important Than Ever
The pace of modern life continues to accelerate. Even as we step into a new year, many of us are carrying lingering stress from work, family, and the events of the past year. Constant notifications, endless tasks, and the pressure to do it all can leave our minds and bodies depleted.
Self-care is not a luxury. Taking intentional time for yourself allows you to recharge, reflect, and reconnect with what matters most. When you nurture yourself, you are better able to show up fully in your relationships, your work, and your creative pursuits.
This winter, giving yourself permission to slow down and prioritize your well-being is more important than ever.
With everything happening in the world today, it is easy to feel overwhelmed or disconnected. Retreats offer a structured way to step back, breathe, and restore balance. By immersing yourself in mindful practices, whether through cooking, art, or reflection, you strengthen your resilience, clarity, and creativity.
Our March Cooking Retreat: Nourish Your Body, Inspire Your Soul
From March 26 to 29, we will gather for a four-day cooking retreat designed to reconnect you with food, flavor, and mindful eating. This is more than just a cooking class. It is a chance to explore your relationship with food, develop skills that support your health, and immerse yourself in a mindful, creative environment.
Each day blends hands-on culinary instruction with reflective practices, gentle movement, and time in nature. You will learn to prepare nourishing meals using seasonal ingredients, discover techniques for mindful cooking, and enjoy the shared joy of eating together in community.
If you read our post about our cooking retreats, you know how nourishing and transformative it can feel to immerse yourself in mindful cooking. This upcoming retreat builds on that experience, offering the same intimacy and attention, with a fresh season’s ingredients and inspiration.
Participants often leave feeling inspired to cook with intention at home, carrying not only recipes but a deeper connection to how food can support well-being. For many, this retreat becomes a gentle reminder that nourishment is as much about presence and care as it is about ingredients.
Reserve your spot today for the March cooking retreat and give yourself the gift of mindful nourishment before spring arrives.
Our April Art Retreat: Reconnect With Your Creative Self
Following the cooking retreat, from April 9 to 12, we will gather for an art retreat designed to help you reconnect with your inner voice through creative expression. This retreat invites you to explore your creativity in a supportive, small-group setting, capped at sixteen participants, where each day blends guided art practices, reflection, and connection with nature.
You might spend the morning sketching the awakening landscape, the afternoon experimenting with color, texture, and storytelling, and the evening in quiet reflection or journaling. Every part of the retreat is designed to help you step fully into presence, ignite your imagination, and rediscover the joy of creating without pressure or expectation.
Even if you do not consider yourself an artist, this retreat offers a chance to explore process over product, mindfulness through creation, and the profound satisfaction of connecting with your inner voice. The intimacy of the retreat fosters a supportive environment where inspiration flows naturally, and each participant’s journey is honored.
Preparing Yourself for the Retreat Experience
Before attending either retreat, there are small ways to begin preparing yourself. You might set aside quiet time each day to sketch, journal, or simply notice the beauty around you. Even taking mindful walks outdoors or reducing screen time in the evenings helps tune your mind and spirit for the immersive retreat experience.
Arrive curious and open. You do not need to be an experienced cook or artist. These retreats are about process, presence, and connection. Every participant is welcome exactly as they are, and each journey is unique.
Why This Timing Matters
February is an ideal month to consider stepping away from your usual routine. It is far enough from the new year that the initial rush of resolutions has settled, yet close enough to spring that anticipation of growth and renewal is in the air. Choosing to engage in a retreat now allows you to enter spring with clarity, creativity, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Taking this time to nourish your body through cooking or reconnect with your creativity through art creates a ripple effect. You carry these practices home with you, supporting mindfulness, intention, and joy long after the retreat ends.
Stories From Past Retreat Participants
Participants in past retreats often share how transformative the experience is. One attendee from an art retreat wrote that she discovered “a new way to connect with myself through color and texture.” Another from a cooking retreat described how the experience helped her “see food as a creative and nourishing act, rather than just something to get through.”
These stories reflect the profound but gentle shifts that occur when you give yourself permission to pause, create, and nourish yourself.
Taking the First Step
The first step toward attending either retreat is deciding to prioritize yourself and your well-being. From that decision comes everything else: planning, arrival, and the deep satisfaction of reconnecting with your inner voice.
Even small acts at home, like journaling for ten minutes, experimenting in the kitchen, or sketching, help prepare you for the immersive experience. By reserving your spot now, you allow yourself the time to experience transformation before the busyness of spring sets in.
Reserve your place today for the March cooking retreat or the April art retreat and step into stillness, creativity, and mindful nourishment before spring arrives.
At Big Raven Farm, every retreat is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and reconnect, with yourself, your creativity, and the world in a mindful way. By stepping into this stillness now, through cooking or art, you give yourself clarity, inspiration, and energy that will last well beyond the retreat itself. I hope to welcome you to the farm and witness your journey toward renewal, creativity, and joy.