There's a funny thing that happens on Sunday mornings at Big Raven Farm. Everyone knows it's time to go home, but nobody seems to be in much of a hurry to say goodbye.
Projects are being carefully packed away, suitcases are coming down the stairs, and there's usually someone making one last trip back to their room to be sure they haven't forgotten anything. We have one last breakfast together, people take a few more pictures, find each other on Facebook, and before long, the conversations turn to when everyone might be coming back.
Sometimes guests are already comparing retreat dates for next year. Other times, they're making plans to meet up somewhere closer to home. And quite often, someone asks if there's a way for everyone to stay connected after the weekend.
We've been hearing that question more and more, and after several conversations with our guests, Darin and I decided it was time to do something about it.
It All Starts Around the Table
When people first arrive at Big Raven Farm on Thursday evening, there's always a mix of familiar faces and new ones. Some guests have been coming for years and know exactly where everything is. Others are visiting for the first time, sometimes after a long drive, and are still getting their bearings.
I always enjoy watching how a group comes together over the course of a weekend. It starts with introductions and the usual conversations about where everyone is from and what brought them to the farm. Then we sit down for dinner, and things begin to change.
Darin has usually been busy in the kitchen, and by the time everyone gathers around the table, there's plenty to talk about. Someone wants to know what's in the soup. Someone else mentions a book they've been reading. Before long, we're talking about gardens, families, travels, and sometimes things that have absolutely nothing to do with the retreat.
The next morning, everyone gets busy with whatever brought them to the farm. During our art retreats, that might mean spreading out papers and paints, sharing supplies, and helping one another figure out a new technique. At our cooking retreats, everyone gathers around the kitchen for demonstrations, hands-on learning, and plenty of tasting along the way. Our yoga and tarot retreats bring their own conversations and experiences, too.
By Saturday, people who were strangers on Thursday are often sitting together at meals, sharing stories, and making plans for another visit. It's not something we organize or try to make happen. It just develops as everyone spends time together.
Sometimes those connections continue long after everyone has gone home.
We've had guests coordinate their schedules so they can return for another retreat together, and it's always fun to hear someone walk through the door and say, "Oh, you're here too!"
Of course, not every connection turns into a lasting friendship, and that's perfectly fine. Some people enjoy a few days of good company and then happily return to their regular routines. Others stay in touch throughout the year. There's room for both.
A Little More Big Raven Farm, Even When You're Back Home
I always enjoy hearing from guests after they've gone home, especially when they send us pictures of their finished projects or tell us about something they've tried since their retreat.
Not long after one of our cooking retreats, we received an email from a guest who had already made some of the recipes she'd learned at the farm for her family. She was excited to tell us they were a big hit! Darin and I loved hearing that. It's one thing to enjoy a dish while you're here, but knowing someone went home and made it for her family made us both happy.
We get that same enjoyment when someone shares a photograph of an art project they've finished at home. Sometimes all that's needed is one last coat of paint or a few finishing touches, and it's fun to see how everything turns out.
Those are exactly the kinds of things we'd love to see in our new alumni group.
Maybe you've tried a recipe from one of our cooking retreats, experimented with an art technique, discovered a good book, or found something you think your fellow retreat guests would enjoy. You can also reconnect with people you've met here or see if any familiar faces are planning to attend an upcoming retreat.
Darin and I will be there, too, sharing occasional updates, photographs, and little bits of life at the farm. But we don't want this to become another place where we're constantly talking about retreat dates and registrations. We'd much rather see it become a place where everyone feels comfortable joining the conversation.
If You've Been Here, You're One of Us
We decided to make the group private because we wanted it to be something special for the people who have actually spent time at Big Raven Farm.
And when we say alumni, we mean everyone who has attended a retreat here, whether you've visited once or have been coming back for years.
When you request membership, we'll ask a few simple questions so we can confirm that everyone in the group has attended a retreat. Nothing complicated.
And please don't feel like you have to become an active Facebook poster to belong. Some people love sharing pictures and joining conversations, while others would rather read along and see what everyone else is doing. Both are perfectly welcome.
If you've attended a Big Raven Farm retreat, we'd love for you to join us.
Join the Big Raven Farm Alumni Facebook Group
Once you're in, introduce yourself if you'd like. Tell us which retreat you attended, share something you've made or cooked, or just say hello to a few people you remember.
And if you haven't been to Big Raven Farm yet, you can always take a look at our upcoming retreats. We have some wonderful things planned for 2027, and we'd love to welcome you here someday.
To everyone who's spent a weekend with us, thank you. You've brought so much creativity, laughter, conversation, and friendship into this place, and we're grateful for every visit.
We're looking forward to seeing what everyone shares in the group and, of course, to welcoming you back to the farm whenever the stars align.