We once again celebrated the end of summer at Dragonfly Farms. Krissy Shipley of Fit with Krissy got us moving with Dance Fitness, Julie Schrieber got us laughing with Laughter Yoga, and jean mann again brought us her music and storytelling. We enjoyed local artisanal foods including homemade caramels and sourdough bread from Christina Doerfel of Thistle and Ember, cheeses and butter from Cherry Valley Dairy and a special Dragonfly Farms craft cocktail. This capped off our year as we moved towards some exciting major construction and landscaping projects at Dragonfly Farms.

We cozied up inside in front of the fire as snow fell outside while Hannah Rose gave us introductory lessons in knitting and basic breadmaking. We all left with a bit of knitting knowledge, a mini loaf of crusty bread, and full hearts.

Seattle artist/musician jean mann presented a delightful mini-retreat to celebrate the autumnal equinox. We learned about her practice of art journaling and each did a sketch. We watched her prepare a delightful culinary treat which we then got to enjoy while jean entertained us with her music and storytelling. A feast for all our senses!

We welcomed our friends and neighbors for a weekend of summer abundance. Guests were able to wander and relax on the farm, pick blueberries, make soap with Eric Wittenmyer of DoReMiFaSoap, and make dill pickles according to an old family (though there is some debate as to WHOSE family…) recipe. We capped off the weekend with a delightful backyard concert featuring Katie Dahl.

We were delighted to welcome back Chef Lindsey Stillian of Thriving Bite to help us celebrate the summer season. We had a tour of the farm and were able to sample strawberries and fresh herbs from the garden. Chef treated us to a feast for our eyes as well as our taste buds, prepared various teas and infusions blended to balance our chakras, and learned ways to harness this abundant solstice energy. We can’t wait for her to come back!

We partnered once again with Rabbi Yohanna Kinberg and Kol Ami. After a communal meal, we learned about Jewish earth-based traditions, explored the history of Jewish healers, and met many of the plants used in Ashkenazi herbalism which are growing right here on Dragonfly Farms!

We were fortunate to host Claudia Russell and Bruce Kaplan on their Pacific Northwest tour.

The weather was beautiful, we shared a delicious potluck, made new friends, and enjoyed awesome music (and stories)!

Marge Eiseman has been traveling around the country for the past several months on a “Tour de Force for Good”, facilitating discussions about how we can do better in our present world. We were fortunate to host her at Dragonfly Farms during a brief stop at “home” for this workshop in which we shared stories of love and loss. We created symbols which we appliqued onto a shawl, which we then blessed and gifted to Dragonfly Farms, to carry healing to all who are embraced by it. Particularly meaningful to me, we used borders from a set of pillowcases which my grandmother embroidered decades ago.

Christine Lehman and Joanne Gartenberg led participants in a 4 day intensive of self-discovery through journaling, singing and mindfulness meditation practices. At the end of the offering, participants shared an arc of their life story through narrative and song. We hope to offer this at Dragonfly Farms again next summer, and at Chris’s studio in Encinitas, California next winter!

Katie Vincent of Tending Alive and Joanne Gartenberg of Dragonfly Farms offered a retreat of radical rest and play to find pathways into ecological belonging in our challenging times. We engaged in mindfulness and embodiment practices, and explored our relationships to ourselves, each other, and the Land. We learned about ecological gardening, planted a food forest, and nourished ourselves with locally-grown foods and herbal teas.

Chef Lindsey Stillian of Thriving Bite prepared a beautiful and delicious seasonal tasting menu for us, and we discussed ways of eating in keeping with the change of season. We explored the bounty of Dragonfly Farms, and guests went home with full tummies, yummy recipes, and apples they harvested themselves!

Dragonfly Farms welcomed Congregation Kol Ami for a day of reflection and learning in preparation for the Days of Awe/High Holidays. Rabbi Yohanna Kinberg, Marge Eiseman, and Joanne Gartenberg led us in prayer and Torah study. Following a tasty lunch we explored Elul through music, mindfulness, and creation of an Elul journal.

“Five to Thrive” was a wellness workshop with Drs. Lorin Boynton and Joanne Gartenberg, where we explored the 5 domains of health (nutrition, relaxation, sleep, exercise and connectedness/purpose) through teaching and direct experience.

“Revealing Your Still Small Voice” was Dragonfly Farms’ inaugural offering. During a four-day meditation and writing retreat held over the Jewish Holiday of Shavuot, Joanne Gartenberg and Judy Fisher took participants on a journey from slavery to freedom through meditation, writing, prayer and song.