ON-SITE in Vermont (Goshen, VT) - October 16-21 Blueberry Inn

In this on site workshop, we will spend 5 days together, learning, hiking and cooking together.

Health is a multidimensional state that contains a variety of biochemical, mental, and spiritual components or pathways. I prefer pathways because the word does a much better job of describing the dynamic nature of each versus the static image that most individuals have in their minds. We are always changing, and this requires ongoing efforts to maintain some sort of homeostasis on all fronts. The clearest examples of this are how blood pressure changes when potassium intake increases and how triglycerides drop when insulin levels fall. In each case, the body adjusts relatively quickly. With the increased ratio of potassium to sodium, less water is retained, and our systolic blood pressure drops. As our insulin levels decrease, the liver has a decreased role in LDL cholesterol and triglyceride synthesis. As a result, both small dense LDLs and triglycerides are reduced rapidly. Similarly, there are physiological reactions occurring for every action in the ecosystem that is the microbiome or within the inflammatory cascade as it relates to the types of fatty acids present in our diet. The mental balance that is essential to wellness is also sensitive to change. Understanding and appreciating the power that we hold and the influence that our lifestyle has on our health is critical, while acknowledging that events frequently occur outside of our control is equally important. When it comes to health, being able to determine which is which may be the single most important skill.

We will circle back on the pathways to our health as we take in potassium and fatty acids in our diets. Yes ! It will be delicious and Yes! It will be fun!

There will be time around the campfires, lectures and cooking classes each day. We will begin with looking at personal health challenges.You will be paired with a partner to touch base to support one another in working through your challenges. We will journal and keep track of foods and take notes on how we feel. We’ll also explore how you nourish your health through spirit. This is a community centered approach to finding balance both in foods and our way to health. (Note: Virtual participation is possible - see pricing below)

There are many dimensions to health that require a regular commitment to become a habit. It can be challenging to find balance with respect to how much attention or time we allow for each on a daily basis. Our intent and interest in different areas of health often change over time and we shift our energy accordingly. What if there was a synergistic effect where multiple components of health accompanied each other in one experience and their benefits were greater than the sum of the parts?

Getting outdoors and moving, in nature, is the best model of integrated self care possible. The movement, natural light, meditative aspect, and importance of sustaining, nourishing foods are intertwined and part of the overall intention.

In addition to losing our way with both the foods that serve as our molecular foundation and the physical movement that builds cardiovascular and skeletal muscular health, so too have we had an increasing absence of nature in our lives. Spending time outdoors provides clarity by bringing us to the present. So many philosophers, poets, and authors discovered the power of nature as an avenue to reach elevated thought and creativity. Hiking and moving outdoors can also give us a great sense of whether our nutrition is working for us or against us.

Join us for this journey that will establish a new set of standards for your self care. Body, mind, and spirit will be nourished by a combination of the amazing, delicious organic meals, a wonderful, caring community of friends, and the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont.

A typical day schedule looks like this:

5:00 - 6:00 Hot Lightly Roasted Coffee with Vermont Grass Fed Cream or Black
6:00 -7:30 Hike and Explore
7:30 Cooking Demonstrations: Chard Soup and Poached Eggs
8:00 Breakfast:
9:00-11:00 Lecture, Stretching and Journaling
11:30 Question and Answer
12:00 Cooking Demonstration
1:00 Ginger and Chicken Soup & Fall Salad
2:00 Hike
3:30-4:30 Lecture
4:30-6:00 Free Time
6:00 Dinner served
Fresh Wild Fish with Lemon Potatoes and Arugula and Tarragon Yogurt Sauce Fermented Slaw and Green salad
Warm Fall Soups, Curried Carrots, and Campfire Pizza is on the menu too!

Attend Retreat

Recipe: Braised Veggies with a Salmon topper .

What’s on the Menu?

Besides early morning Hikes and French Press Shade Grown Coffee?

Fall Soups, Warm Cabbage with Feta and Nuts ,Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Rosemary, Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Gremolata? Wild Salmon with Ginger Rice, Braised 100% Grass Fed Beef Short Ribs with Broccoli Raabe and Leeks…oh and so much more as we bring nature and nourishment together in 14 meals, 8 cooking classes, 8 lectures. The daily hikes and campfires and stargazing are optional.

We have 10 private rooms with private bath available

Cost: 5 day course tuition is $1198/person + $1625 ($325 per room/night includes roomtax - some rooms offer 2-3 beds and most are queen). You can book your own accommodations and take the course only for $1198. Room share is an additional $250 per room share. Additional state taxes may apply.

Note: You can also take this class virtually for $449 and join via Zoom*

Includes all meals, cooking classes, lectures, hand outs, and recipes and access to the online workshop for up to three months. This includes a 5 day program (Sunday night- Friday at 11 AM ) includes all meals , hikes, and handouts.

**Upon sign up, we require a 50% down deposit. All deposits are non refundable however they are transferrable to another person**

Also full access to the online recorded course available up to three months following the course.

/

Room Descriptions: Please provide three preferred room choices:

Four upstairs rooms in the original Inn, Hogback, Romance, White Rocks, and Dutton, are named after local geographical features. These rooms are part of the Inn that was built in 1813. Located right next to our library, as well as right next to the cookie jar, they are a favorite of history buffs and dessert-lovers alike! Hogback and White Rocks each have queen beds, Romance now features a new queen bed, and Dutton has two twin/single beds that can be transformed into a king. Each room is equipped with a private bathroom (shower and built-in tub) complete with local artisan soap and soft, fluffy towels.

Two Loft Rooms, Carlisle, and Polly Allen are located right off of our ‘greenhouse,’ a year-round indoor garden brimming with a wide selection of flowers and plants. These rooms were originally the attached barn to the farmhouse and are named after early Goshen settlers. An ideal space for families; each room has a queen bed as well as two twin beds upstairs in a loft. Each room is equipped with a private bathroom (shower and built-in tub) complete with local artisan soap and soft, fluffy towels.

Four Pond-side rooms, Bluetta, Orniblue, Erlibue, and Northsky are each named after a variety of blueberry common in our blueberry patch, right outside the door. Overflowing with natural light and the soft tones of the nearby brook and pond, each room features a queen bed, and Vermont-inspired artwork and decor. Orniblue is our ‘dog room,’ and we welcome your furry friends! Each room is equipped with a private bathroom (shower and built-in tub) complete with local artisan soap and soft, fluffy towels.

The Moosalamoo Cottage, a building separate from the main Inn, houses a queen bed, two twin beds upstairs in a loft, and a small sitting area. The full bath has a walk-in shower, soft fluffy towels, and locally made amenities. In addition, this is “room” has a microwave and small fridge/freezer. Perfect for families, the cottage is ‘pet friendly”. Add $500.

Cooking Classes

Easy One Pot Meals will be the focus