Writer's In Search of Retreats! PDF Print E-mail
Image Are you a writer?  Do you long for a place away-from-it all to write to your heart’s content?  Be able to, like Henry David Thoreau, write, ruminate and when the urge over- takes you just walk out your front door for a ten minute refresher in beautiful nature - or a longer one, two, three, four or five hour jaunt into pristine wilderness with your backpack, sandwich, thermos of tea or coffee, journal, notebook, (laptop?) so that you can ruminate, dance with and wrestle with the written word and your muse?  A place where you can stare out the window between great ideas or curl up in front of a woodstove or fireplace as you allow your unconscious to percolate undisturbed?  Then Eden Mountain Lodge could be your private writer’s haven away from the bustles and demands of home.

We know how hard it is to for writer’s to find space in their western, high-speed, over-seheduled lives to really write.  Vermont has the reputation for being the state with the most writers per capita in America.  Its pristine beauty affords a place in nature where the stress can unwind and a person can focus on their art – be it writing prose, poetry, copy, journaling, articles, and editing.  But not everyone can afford to move to Vermont or to maintain the costs of having a second home.  And the ideal spot in nature often means buying or renting (if you can find one to rent!) a remote location place that is accessible only sporadically, if at all, by car and usually by snowmobile or ATV.  In these remote places one needs to also put up with no phone service, including cell phones, for emergencies, no electric and the ravages of many of or woodland friends.   The alternative – a Writer’s colony – is often hard to get into, not available for a week or weekend that becomes spontaneously available and not the ideal of being out, away from others.

Image Eden Mountain Lodge may be your solution.  Our two country homes offer writers the modern conveniences, including satellite Internet for research, AND being out in nature on our 75-acre farm in the middle of 3000 acres of protected Vermont forest wilderness.  Our two-mile access road was specifically built by the former owners so that we can be accessed by car year round – even when other class four roads are impassable in winter or other seasons due to snow and washouts. (We do suggest four-wheel drive in the winter.) Vermont’s scenic Route 100 brings you to East Hill Road – and our Square road is just another 1 _ miles once you have turned off the well maintained, Route 100.    

Once here you can shut your door and write!  Or you can walk through our fields and forest paths with a mug of coffee and your journal.  Sit by the pond to watch the sunrise, take in the long-range views of the Lowell mountains as you write or ruminate and look at the stars at night.  Or sit on your porch during the heat of summer or a rainy day and watch the many species of birds that come to our feeders.  There are many places around the property that you can drag one of our Adirondack chairs for a different view and perspective as you write and reflect.  

Image In your more adventurous, clear-your-head moments you can bike, hike for miles, snowshoe, cross-country ski, and run.  We are pet friendly so if your dog or favorite friend has joined you on your retreat then they can join you in your meandering.  (Birds, parrots, Iguanas, hamsters, kitties, etc. should probably stay put in their traveling homes – we don’t say cage here! – as you ramble.)  Or you can book a massage, yoga class, spa relaxation, etc. in one of the many towns, including Stowe, which is a nearby drive.  You can also go off our mountain to browse through one of the many Vermont independent booksellers or used bookstores that help the writing juices to flow.  Or just drive the many lovely back roads, taking in the covered bridges, country stores, crafts studios and stores, ice cream and snacks at the Vermont Creamies or a wonderful gourmet meal for lunch or dinner at one of the fine dining spots nearby.  

Writers pack their cars with their notebooks, laptops (some have brought desktops!), typewriters, favorite pens and pencils, books, manuscripts, journals and groceries and gourmet treats for a week or two residencies – and drive into their own special retreat.  We are an easy drive from Boston or New York.  Or pack up your things, fly to Burlington International, grab a rental car, stock up on groceries and gourmet and/or healthy snacks at the many great stores in Burlington and drive the fifties minutes to your retreat.  Both homes have full kitchens including full ovens, microwaves and full size fridges – and their own individual charm depending on your individual preferences.  Larkspur – The Log Home – is a journey back into time with fieldstone fireplace, beamed ceiling, bedrooms tucked under-the-eaves, two story peaked porch with its own yard, views and second story deck.   Foxglove – The Guest Home – is all on one floor for easy access – filled with pine, antiques and yet modern with its kitchen/Dining and Great room combination and two bedrooms and bath – it is across from the barn, nearer the dog yard which some people find more comforting up here in the natural surroundings.

Image We respect your privacy and our own!  We know that writers need peace and quiet.  We know that often one single human interaction can cause the loss of a creative impulse for the day or the week.  So when you put your quiet hat on we know to seal our lips!  However what many artists and writers find is that although they have the beauty and gift of our remote location – they have the assurances of the award winning kennel of Alaskan Huskies on the property that seem to keep the moose, bear, deer and other pesky wildlife at an enjoy-by-viewing-only distance – Believe us when we say that in most remote locations you have to deal with possible Moose and Bear on the porches or in your retreat which is not a fun experience and can be very dangerous.  (Most Vermonters have been asked to take down their bird feeders because of the bears that now come into human areas for the garbage and wonderful treats of seeds.)  Here we are able to act as a feed station for numerous species of birds as the presence of our loving kennel of free-range (they have their own large pens and corals) doggies naturally signals the larger wild life to stay at a respectful distance.

 **** Regarding the dogs and noise  – Many writers enquire about the noise.  Our dogs have a burst of singing in the morning as we rise for the day – most folks find this very pleasant.  During the day they might start singing about four times.  They rarely bark unless there is a reason – unwelcome human or animal visitors.  When they are giving Discovery Channel type tours they will sing at the visitors and make “Welcoming” doggie noise until the tour goes out.  Most dog lovers find their joyful exuberance pleasant and joyful.  However Larkspur – The Log Home is removed and most writers and guests say they don’t even notice the noise, if hear it at all, as they read and write.  Foxglove – The Guest Home is right across the barnyard from the kennel and the dogs are more noticeable in non-winter seasons.  If you want absolute quiet and don’t like to listen to Alaskan Huskies’ occasional singing – then Larkspur – The Log Home is for you!  If you are dog lover, or worried about being so remote while you write,  you might be like our frequent returning guest and demand to be in Foxglove so you can enjoy our loving, exuberant, Free-range (non-chained) doggies!

Image Being on retreat here means that you have modern comforts and conveniences with the beauty, privacy, Vermont nature and support for writing that a remote location affords.  Although we don’t have cable internet in this remote location as it is not available – we have Satellite Internet for your research and a phone line as cell phones rarely work in much of Vermont.  You can be completely on your own and yet know that should you have questions (hopefully non-writing! We listen to National Public Radio, Classical music and support the arts – but we are not writers! We Mush!!!)  or emergencies – we are here!  We can suggest drives, walks, jogs, runs, hiking trails, places to snow shoe, dining and fine dining, book stores and other questions about Vermont experiences you might want to enjoy.  You can be totally alone and yet know that you are within a shout of support should you need it.  

Depending on your writing needs there are rental options.  Most of the writers and artists who come from all over North America, Europe and the Globe reserve one of the homes to retreat specifically in the pristine beauty of Vermont that we offer here – they come alone to be in nature with their thoughts and writing.   However, for writers and/or writing teams, writer’s workshops and writer’s with their own staff that they want with them but not in the same location – with advance booking and availability some people rent and reserve both homes.  We have had some writers who have rented Larkspur – The Log Home for themselves and have rented Foxglove – The Guest Home for their assistant or staff during times that they wanted to both have privacy to write and staff for editing, etc.  We have had corporate teams come in to work on projects that needed  Out-Of-Office time – the two bedroom homes and pull out couches and cots have afforded larger teams to be here to put in round-the-clock work while enjoying nature during breaks.  We have also had Writing Retreat Leaders bring their writing and/or journaling seminars here which has allowed them wonderful writing time in nature, their students staying here and/or for larger groups the teachers have stayed here with some of the students while other students stay in nearby B&Bs.  (There are meal options as well – our wonderful kitchens with full size refrigerators, stoves and dishwashers allow you to cook for yourself, staff and groups – OR there are local caterers who will work with you to provide meals – You can call ahead of time to determine your needs with them for one, two, three meals and/or snacks daily delivered to your door.)  ***** Although it rather defeats the purpose of a writer’s retreat – alone, away from family and day-to-day concerns – some of our writers have booked one home for their retreat and family, friends and children have stayed in the other home.  And because both homes have two bedrooms and pull-out couches – some writers grab a bedroom for their studio/retreat and while the family enjoys nature here and takes in all that Vermont has to offer in the way of outdoor activities, shopping and tourist attractions.  All writers have to decide for themselves what they need and whether they can combine a writing retreat with a family vacation.  


Whether you are a full time, employed writer who needs a different pace, a writer hoping to be published who needs to get in some quality writing time, a writer who just loves to write and wants the time in nature to pursue your passion, a poet in pursuit of your muse,  a team working on a project, a journal writer who needs time with nature, self and the page! – a Writing or Journal teacher who wants a good place for an intensive retreat for your students – we hope you will consider Eden Mountain Lodge or your writing retreat needs.  If you come for a retreat once you will see why many writers and fine artists return on a regular basis, considering our place their hide-a-way working retreat in nature.   Call us to reserve your writing retreat time!
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