Flower Hill Farm Retreat
CELEBRATING TWENTY YEARS!! 2001 – 2021 . . .
. . . for those longing to be close to nature. A unique retreat surrounded by organic gardens, fields, and forest and a large changing sky. Birds and butterflies abound in our wildlife sanctuary! Nature nurtures. Give yourself and those you love a special way of life . . . for awhile. We are a place in a unique landscape that invites one to be still, to listen and explore. We welcome artists, writers and others interested in learning from and connecting more deeply with nature, with trees and wildlife, and with the mystery and wild within.
In honor of our 20th Anniversary ~
We are reserving the Upstairs part of our retreat as a long term Artist/Writer-in-Residence space. We are thrilled to welcome *Lindsay Whiting as our second Artist/Writer-in-Resident.
We especially recommend the studio for solo self-catered writing retreats and for those seeking a quiet getaway surrounded by nature. The Writer’s Studio, is a private, quiet, large, open room, between the house and barn, with stunning views of the hills, landscape and sky. You are invited to come and stay alone for a week or more for peaceful solitude.
There is a one-week minimum stay and the option to stay longer depending on availability.
Who We Are
Carol Duke
Flower Hill Farm Retreat Founder
“For the last thirty-eight years, my life has truly been formed by the dirt on this hillside. It is hard to absorb, to fully determine if I am creating the garden or if the garden is creating me and the way my life has unfolded. The land is my muse, my guiding light giving me a sense of place and purpose, of connectedness to a deeply cultivated part of my being ever entwining with the intricacies and marvels of the natural world surrounding me. It is my passion, my duty and life work to be a wise and caring steward and dear friend to the many trees and plants living here. Some I planted and have grown old alongside and others are centuries old sages I continue to seek counsel and succor. I carried these friendships and responsibilities a decade before I was blessed to buy the farm. I continue to work from a place of awe, love and reciprocity. The land is ever giving and inspiring.” Carol speaking about Flower Hill Farm Retreat.
Photo by Jutta Ittner
Carol Duke is an artist and farmer, who, when not working on her twenty-one acre hillside, can be found raising butterflies, writing, painting or out in the gardens, fields and forest photographing nature and wildlife.
Her greatest joy in working with the land has been to see how her farm has become home to a diverse community of wildlife.
This website holds over fifty-six pages of photographs featuring Flower Hill Farm’s wildlife, gardens, sky and landscapes. There is a page of Carol’s paintings and a little shop offering notecards illustrated with Carol’s photographs of the flora and fauna of Flower Hill Farm.
Carol’s writing can be found on her Blog and Focusing on Wildlife. She is working on a book about raising butterflies and gardening for wildlife here at Flower Hill Farm Retreat. The working title is A Bestiary — Tales from a Wildlife Garden.
We have enjoyed having Vanessa Chakour as our first Artist/Writer in Residence. She will be missed when she moves on in April. Congratulations are due for the completion of her beautiful book – “Awakening Artemis”! You can buy your own copy at your local bookstores or click on Vanessa’s name above to visit her website. “This has been such a special, magical place for me. I will miss it. Very grateful to have found you, the land and the Artist’s Residency.”
Now we are happy to welcome Lindsay Whiting to Flower Hill Farm Retreat!
Lindsay Whiting
Writer, award-winning author, and book coach to those who want to write and publish their own non-fiction books, Lindsay Whiting is a staunch advocate for independent publishing.
A native of Massachusetts, Lindsay graduated from UMass, Amherst with a BA in Women’s Studies and Journalism through BDIC (Bachelor’s Degree with Individual Concentration) before heading to California. Lindsay returns to her home state as an experienced print and publishing professional—and as a book coach who helps others to plan, prepare, publish and promote their own books.
Along with her publishing skills, Lindsay is an accomplished collage artist. Her first book, Living into Art, Journeys Through Collage is the story of her journey alongside nine other studio artists. Living into Art was named a Finalist in ForeWord’s Book of the Year, and also chosen as Honorable Mention in the inspirational category of the Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards.
Lindsay started coaching and working with other writers when they saw her book. The quality blew them away. When they learned it was self-published, many wanted to learn how to publish their own books. In 2012, Lindsay wrote and published the Self-Publisher’s Book Plan to systemize the framework and to help educate other writers to best practices in book publishing. She now consults online with writers who want to make a plan and get support publishing their own books.
Lindsay has been a member of the American Booksellers Association, the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association, Publishing Professionals Network, and the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors.
Learn more here:
https://www.selfpublishersbookplan.com
Email Lindsay here:
Lindsay@selfpublishersbookplan.com
Flower Hill Farm has become a favorite retreat for hundreds of guests from around the world.
