STAY AT METTA EARTH
Welcome to Metta Earth with its magical beauty of mountains, forests, fields. Metta Earth is a farm and educational retreat center integrating contemplative practice, deep ecology, regenerative food systems, and social activism to create resilient community. Your visit here is an opportunity to rest, relax, and benefit from the rich nourishment of this place.
Your stay will be extra nourishing with our full commitment to offering you organically grown food, most of which is grown right here on the farm.
Our organic dedication extends to the sourcing of all our linens, pillows, towels, beds, and more. We heat with wood harvested in the forests here, and source all our electricity from renewables…solar and offsite investments in wind. The spaces here are natural wood, natural and soft lighting with rustic, farm decor. We make our beeswax candles, homemade kombucha, gluten free bread, and many other products you can purchase from the farm.
Whether you come for one of our programs or for a private retreat, you can visit the sheep, cows, chickens, and cats and see the heritage barn. The fields and forests are great for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and walking. The Green Mountain National Forest trails are all nearby, and the headwaters of the New Haven River with its pure waters are a short walk down the dirt road.
METTA MEALS
Meals can be vegan or vegetarian (or may include our grass-fed meat, as desired) and are lovingly prepared with seasonal, local and 100% organic foods. A large amount of the vegetables, fruits, herbs, eggs, milk, and meats come from our organic gardens, greenhouses, and farmstead, while the rest is mostly sourced from local organic farmers in our bioregion. We are happy to co-create menus, if desired, and are able to accommodate for many special dietary needs.
The Community Plan:
Three meals a day at cost of $55/person/day
Breakfast ~ $15 Lunch ~ $20 Dinner ~ $20
Meals will be delivered to a designated spot, and we will ring a bell to let you know the meal is ready. Meals are at approximately at the following times, so it’s helpful if you are nearby during those times to hear the bell, so that your food is still a good temperature. You can decide which meals you would like, give us quantity feedback, and dietary preferences.
• Breakfast 8:30am
• Lunch 12:30pm
• Dinner 6:30pm
Accommodations
During the growing season for 2022, we are able to offer private spaces in several of our yurts, camping, and wall tents. Please return to this page and stay in touch with us, as our main house sleeping spaces open up again.
Yurts
Yurts are available for individuals, couples, or small groups.
All of our four yurts are nestled on the East Knoll among maples, beeches, balsam, and other trees. They each are positioned for a sense of privacy from the others and have little paths connecting them. They all are beautiful, light filled circular spaces with a round dome skylight, lattice siding, windows with screens for summer use and in winter extra insulation provided by window quilts.
Each can be set up for a variety of guest needs, and can be outfitted with a cotton and wool futon double or single mattress, handmade pillows filled with sheep fleece, and organic sheets and towels. Each space also can be provided with meditation cushions, eco-yoga mat, wicker chairs, and beeswax candles.
The 20’ yurts provide shared space for up to 4 people and the 16’ yurts provide space for 1-2 people. Organic cotton and natural latex 3” mattresses are provided with organic linens including a pillow and pillow case, set of sheets, wool blanket, and a set of organic towels. Participants need to bring a sleeping bag for extra warmth. If need be, Metta Earth has a few extras available.
The 20’ yurts can also be set up as a group dorm-style sleeping space for larger groups up to 8 people using sleeping pads and sleeping bags, which in this case we ask participants to provide.
At night the yurt paths are lit with solar lamps, but it is wise to bring a flashlight as well. One outhouse is available, but the Metta Earth main house is only a few minutes walk for regular bathrooms.
Each yurt is winterized with insulation and a wood stove and two of them have a view of the fire. When tended carefully the stoves create a warm haven. Bring slippers or indoor shoes for added comfort.
Owl Yurt: This yurt is a 16’ yurt on the northern most section of our East Knoll. It has a wood floor and a small Jotul stove.
Peregrine Yurt: This yurt is a 20’ yurt nestled in the forest glade with a view of the mountains. It has a wood floor and a large Jotul stove with glass doors to see the fire.
Hummingbird Yurt: This yurt is a slightly smaller 16’ yurt nestled into the edge of the woods. It is a bit more rustic with a small wood stove.
Sparrow Yurt: Sparrow Yurt is a 20’ yurt with a freshly painted barn red floor and a large wood stove.
Wall Tents
Metta Earth’s organic, cotton, canvas wall tents offer a lovely option for those looking for a more intimate connection with nature. Each tent sleeps up to two people and is outfitted with a small shelf and oaken pallets as a bedding frame.
You will need to bring a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and any additional bedding. The tents are white canvas draped over a wooden frame on a wooden platform, and they have a canvas rain fly, a screen entry, and a screen window.
Solar lamps light the paths, but it’s wise to bring a flashlight. Wall tents include access to composting toilets and/or bathrooms with hot showers, a washing machine, wireless Internet, and phones in the Metta Earth House.
Camping
If you have a tent and sleeping gear, we have many inspiring sites in the surrounding forest glades, meadows, and fields. Many people prefer camping for extra solitude. Couples also might want to choose this option.
Camping is available late spring to fall. Late spring and early fall require a certain hardiness and adequate gear. The weather during these times in the mountains of Vermont is unpredictable. Temperatures range from freezing temperatures at night to gloriously warm days and even hot days.
Those who choose to camp have access to outdoor composting toilets, as well as bathrooms with hot showers, a washing machine, wireless Internet connection and phones available for guest use all in the Metta Earth House.
Other Notes
We also offer the option to be supported with individual sessions in, yoga/meditation, art making fasting or whole foods wellness, deepening connection to nature, or many other ways of guiding, mentoring, or facilitating your experience…always honoring the pure, bare minimum of just being in sanctuary space. For more information about these options, see our Guided Offerings page.
Let us know of any other interests for yurt retreats, and we will be happy to respond further. We enjoy customizing spaces to suit specific needs.
This area of the Green Mountains has limited cell phone access. Check with us for the latest update on this. Our Metta Earth phone line will be available for pre-arranged use. The main house has wireless internet connection, which is available for all guests, if need be.
We ask that dogs stay in their home territory.
Metta Earth is a sanctuary free from smoking, recreational drugs, and generally alcohol. On some occasions we serve organically grown wine, mead, and such things for some festive events.
SITE HOSTING
We are able to team with you to support private retreats or other events in our gardens, wild lands, yurts, wall tents, or indoor spaces. In helping you design your time at Metta Earth, we are committed to providing a host of ecologically sustainable choices.
THE LAND
Metta Earth land includes 158 acres of stunningly beautiful fields, forests, small streams, and variety of ecosystems offering bountiful opportunities for teaching. Accessibility to the land is included in rental of the indoor spaces. Otherwise if you are just coming to the land, we request donations based on mutual attunement.