THE VENUE

Is food becoming increasingly unaffordable? Is it tiring finding time to cook healthy meals? Are you disappointed with the quality of produce in the grocery stores? Are you feeling lonely and isolated from your neighbours? Are you concerned about climate change but not sure how to help? Are you craving fun and connection? 

\Join the Kootenay Cook Off and participate in canning and cooking workshops with David Havemann (a professional cook and instructor at Selkirk College), make herbal elixers with Althaea Herbals, bake pies with Solita Work (co-owner of Bear Spring Eco Retreat), play team building games (kid friendly), go on plant themed scavenger hunt, swap your excess garden harvest with neighbours, listen to local musicians in the barn (music jam hosted by Moonflower Collective), share food in the giant potluck and compete in our friendly peoples choice taste contest and win prizes.

Join herbalist Travis Cartwright & Marie Zak of Althaea Herbals for a three hour plant walk hosted right here at our retreat on September 28th from 1 pm to 4 pm.

During this three hour plant walk participants will be given tools to deepen their personal relationship with the natural world while getting to know a variety of locally growing medicinal herbs. You'll learn how to safely identify the plants discussed, and learn how you can incorporate their medicine in your daily life.

Book a walking adventure with Rob Macrae, a local lichen and fungi expert, on the lush forest trails at our retreat. On this tour, you will learn how to identify a variety of lichens and mushrooms, where to find them and the environments in which they are most likely to grow. The walking trail route is easy with some steep terrain. Be prepared to walk 4 to 5 kilometres. Dress for the weather and bring a water bottle. Practise leaving no trace. Be prepared to carry out any garbage you carry in. 

Participants will receive a beautiful printed lichen and mushroom identification poster as a keepsake.

"Emily has been singing festivals, clubs and coffee houses and has become known as an established singer songwriter. The Great Escape should only further Triggs’ reputation as one of the city's best songsmiths, which was already made evident in her first two solo records — 2014’s When Guinevere Went Under and 2019’s Middletown — and her time spent with the traditional folk outfit Magnolia Buckskin."  - Calgary Herald

Emily Triggs will take the stage in the barn at Bear Spring Eco Retreat on August 25th.

Experience a night of enchanting folk music with Magnolia Buckskin on July 20th! Enjoy the rich acoustics and breathtaking views at the picturesque venue at Bear Spring Eco retreat, just 10 minutes from town. Magnolia Buckskin is an all-female trio delivering beautiful harmonies and original arrangements in a blend of indie bluegrass, folk, and acoustic pop music on guitar, banjo, mandolin, accordion and bass. They bring their years of friendship, humour and love of music to the stage, telling stories that evoke a panorama of human experiences. Kathy Cook, Natasha Sayer and Corry Ulan draw upon their prairie roots. Don’t miss out on this musical treat! Get you tickets now.    

We're stoked to be a "Host Accommodation Partner" for the TransRockies 2024 Singletrack 6 race series! We've reserved all of our accommodations for Singletrack 6 participants. Participants are strongly encouraged to seize this opportunity and select our retreat as their home base for the first 3 stages (with convenient access to stages 1 and 2 and serving as the stage 3 start/finish line) of this year's ST6. Book a 4-night stay from July 10th to 13th by email. 

A celebration of sustainable action with local waste reduction solutions, live demonstrations, inspiring learning opportunities, regional food tasting and live music. Bat cave tours, wildcrafting, mushroom log inoculation workshops, repair cafe, 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) market and more!

All happening on our beautiful property in Beasley, BC.