There’s a certain kind of quiet you can only find when you're surrounded by tall trees, wildflowers, and people who are open to simply connecting with each other. That’s what we experienced during A Vegan Adventure in Vermont this July.
We gathered together on land that seemed to breathe with us. As we recreate it with our memory, it was soft, green, and alive with birdsong and breeze. Mornings began with gentle yoga in the barn and afternoon meditations in a wooden gazebo that overlooked a vast stretch of open field and forest. As we sat together in stillness, the noise of everyday life softened. The mind settled. And the heart, so often guarded, began to open. There was something about sky meadow in that open-air space that invited a fuller presence. A deeper exhale.
The days unfolded slowly, with nowhere to be but here. Our time was unhurried: walking through the garden paths, listening to the rhythm of the rain, lounging on weathered benches while the farm cat (Shadow) stretched into sunlight. Even the meals felt sacred colorful, lovingly prepared vegan dishes sourced straight from the land by Chef Justine. Each bite was a reminder of how simple and profound nourishment can be.
One of my favorite moments came at night. We circled around a fire inside a rustic wood-and-canvas yurt, the glow from the flames flickering on smiling faces. People shared stories, some light and funny, others tender and true. Something about the fire draws it out of you…the truth, the memory, the ache, the laughter. It felt like family. Like remembering what community can feel like when it’s rooted in presence. We heard wolves at a distance, howling at the moon or maybe hunting. Their howls were primal and sacred, slightly unnerving and also awe-inspiring.
The staff, too, carried a grounded ease. We could feel that they lived in rhythm with the land. Their relaxed energy became contagious—it gave the whole retreat and us, a sense of exhale.
As we said goodbye, there was a shared softness in the air. Not the high of a weekend escape, but the quiet peace of having been restored. Of having remembered something essential….our love and longing for nature.
I’m so grateful to everyone who joined us, and to the land that held us. May the stillness we touched continue to echo through our lives in subtle, beautiful ways.
Until next time,
Prachi
Ahimsa Travel Club