My group and I stayed in mid February for a birthday celebration, and everyone left New Tree Ranch feeling more connected: to each other, to the earth, to themselves. It was an incredibly restorative, inspiring, and relaxing weekend.
We were greeted by David, who is the farm manager. He was incredibly generous, hospitable, and an inspirational, centered person to talk to. It was a treat to get to know the beautiful story of how he found his way to the ranch. His nut milk is a must try; we were all begging for more. And, the canned goods fermented directly from the farm were such an incredible accompaniment to our meals. We all left basking in his glow!
The description, Forbes article and pictures don’t do the experience justice. It’s priced the way it is for a good reason; think a Ventana-like experience but personalized and private. So, here’s what I wish I knew:
- Food. You don’t need to worry about menu planning. There is intensely fresh and delicious produce from the farm that you can create the most beautiful menu, whether it’s a salad or sauté or roast. There is a big John’s market nearby, where you can pick up some delicious proteins, if you wish to cook at home. It’s a 10 minute drive door to door. No need to stop by Costco or bring your own ingredients.
- House. There is a full size sofa bed in the attached yes sweet. Everything in the house is room and board, so you know it will be comfortable, and high-quality. The entire house has state of the art technology: from an Apple TV with fast internet, to a full indoor, and outdoor, Bose surround sound system
- Cooking. The kitchen has two dishwashers, three sinks, two ovens, and an indoor grill. There’s even a charcoal grill provided upon request. There is a fully stocked pantry of dried goods, like rice, popcorn, and legumes. There are plenty of fresh garden herbs, spices, and cooking oils.
- Activities. Most of the activities advertised on the website are self guided, like farm animal therapy, or forest walks. The only guided activities we had were yoga, a farm tour with David, and an incredibly restorative sound bath, all of which were included in the price of the stay. Working with David was easy to adjust times. There’s no stress making activities. You can freely walk the farm, interact with animals, pick produce.
- Amenities. There is an outdoor Glamping tent, and there is no longer a hot tub. It had been replaced bt two soaking tubs. There’s a gym and pool