Join Dr. Abby Paloma, chef Lauren Gerrie, and herbalist Susanna Raeven for a 5 day retreat at the one and only Raven Crest Farm in idyllic Berne, New York. Connect deeply in nature, nourish yourself with daily movement and seasonal local meals, and celebrate the bounty of summer in community! 

Living With the Seasons Summer Retreat is an invitation for anyone seeking a full immersion into the rhythms of wild nature-scapes and self-care practices. Practice nourishing movement, meditations, breathing exercises, restorative yoga, and receive acupuncture to attune yourself with the summer season. Nestled into the forested hills of upstate New York, Raven Crest Farm sits on 400 acres of wild and cultivated gardens. It is the perfect place to soak up summer’s sun while relaxing into a simpler way of life. Join Abby’s daily classes on yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and herbalism. Go on walks with Abby through the gardens to identify and harvest medicinal plants. Steep yourself in the profound yet simple ways of cooking seasonal, local and nourishing meals with Lauren. We welcome all levels of practitioners and no prior knowledge of yoga or herbs is required. This is a trip for anyone seeking connection with nature, one’s self and community. 

Opening circle begins 5pm Friday, July 29.

Retreat closes 12pm Tuesday, August 2.

Acupuncturist, Herbalist, Yoga and Meditation Teacher, Gardener, local food advocate, Cook, Artist, Dr. Abby Paloma is a compassionate practitioner with over a decade of experience in the wellness field. Abby is dedicated to orienting her patients and students towards choosing a life of health, harmony and integrity. Her teaching style reveres stillness and deep rest as antidotes to our fast-paced and dis-eased modern lifestyles. Abby is a healer who meets people exactly where they are on their path toward health. As a loyal student of the earth and her body, Abby approaches her healing practices with the utmost respect and honor for the work she loves. 

Lauren was born and raised in Southern California by two artists and  moved to New York City 20 years ago. During college, she began to explore her deep love of cooking and started to train and work as a  chef. Lauren started a creative culinary company called bigLITTLE Get Together, worked as private chef Marc Jacobs for 7 years, competed and won on CHOPPED and partnered with CERVO'S restaurant  in the Lower East Side. She continues to work as a freelance private chef and has written for Paper Magazine, Domino Magazine, Furthermore,  Counter Service, and other kick ass culinary & lifestyle  publications. When not cooking Lauren co-teaches an all levels adult  dance class called MOVES. Lauren has now taken her culinary skills on  the road and has been the executive chef for a month long Pop Up  Restaurant in Geneva, Switzerland with Antichambre,a private chef with The Sailing Collective as well as cooking for yoga retreats all over the world.

Community herbalist, wise woman, medicinal herb grower and owner of Raven Crest Botanicals, Susanna holds in her heart a deep connection to the plant world. She lives and breathes with the plants in her gardens and studies Earth centered spiritual ceremonies and cultures. Her prayers are for the Earth and the precious beings who flourish on her. While practicing Western herbalism, Susanna applies the concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine in her work and calls on the wisdom of healing master plants from the Amazon. She offers herbal consultations, leads plant walks, is a guest teacher at Arbor Vitae School of Traditional Herbalism and hosts herbal retreats.

Our first priority is to keep everyone safe and healthy on retreat. Due to the ongoing pandemic we require all instructors, chefs and guests to provide a negative COVID test (Antigen or PCR) taken within 72 hours before the start of the retreat. We are asking for proof of negative test results with the full name of each person before being admitted to the event. We are also asking participants, helpers and instructors to limit their contact with other people in the preceding days before the event and follow general covid safety guidelines. Summer 2022 is still a while away and these requirements are subject to change as our journey during these times continues.  

Raven Crest Botanicals 

842 Canaday Hill Road 

Berne, NY 12023 

347-866-0447

From New York City via car

The farm is a 3 and 1/2 hour drive from NYC. For the nicest route from the city take the George Washington Bridge, then Palisades Parkway North to 87-N. Take exit 21 Catskill and follow directions on Google Maps or GPS. Canaday Hill Road is a seasonal single lane dirt road. Keep going! We are the red house with green shutters up the driveway.

From New York City via public transport

We are a 45 minute car ride from Albany train and bus stations.

Amtrak offers a beautiful 2 1/2 hour ride from Penn Station along the Hudson, arriving in Albany-Rensselear. Greyhound and MegaBus take about 3 hours from NYC to Albany.  You will need to coordinate your own car service to the farm

Ride Share

We will share a google document for retreat guests to coordinate ride shares with one another.

Your non-refundable deposit will reserve your spot.