It’s almost time for your Flowers, Yoga & Horses Retreat on Stowel Lake Farm!
Here is some helpful information to enhance your retreat experience.
We look forward to having you here. Please read over it carefully.
Arrival and Departure
Check In
Check in is from 3 - 4:30 pm PST on July 15th, 2026. All guests need to check in even those staying offsite. Please do not arrive on the farm before check-in time.
Travel
If you haven’t signed up for ferry or float plane pick up yet, please let us know. We ONLY pick up from the Fulford Ferry Terminal Please note that the Farm team will pick you up approximately 10 - 15 minutes after the ferry unloads to avoid traffic.
Check Out
Check out is after lunch on the last day of the retreat. Guests need to be checked out of their rooms by 10:00 am PST and must depart the farm no later than 1:30 pm PST.
Communication & Telephones
There is WiFi throughout the farm but limited cellular service. This means that you will not be able to make calls on your cell phone without a WiFi connection. If you need to receive or take a call while on retreat, be sure to enable Wifi calling on your phone. To preserve the sanctity of the retreat, please minimize cell phone use during your stay.
Smoking
While most of the Farm is a non-smoking/vaping environment, and not permitted in any of our buildings, there is space set aside for this purpose on site.
Candles & Incense
Open flames are not permitted in any of the accommodations. Please do not burn candles or incense in your room during your stay.
Scents
To prevent the discomfort of others, please ensure you do not wear strong scents during your stay with us.
Animals & Pets
There are many domestic and wild animals on the farm - please leave pets at home.
Valuables
While having things go missing is rare, the Farm is not liable for any lost or stolen items. If you have concerns about any items, please leave them at home.
Rooms and Housekeeping
To support guests in having a true respite there are no telephones or televisions in any of the guest rooms.
All of the rooms have down bedding and towels. If you are allergic to down please inform your retreat leader so that hypoallergenic bedding can be prepared.
For retreats longer than 5 days fresh towels will be provided and garbage cans will be emptied half way through your stay.
Camping
The retreat camping areas are open, flat and grassy. Campers have access to indoor bathrooms complete with showers, toilets, and sinks. Indoor common areas are also available to campers for relaxing or socializing. Retreat campers can stay in tents or vehicles. Seasonally, small vehicle campers can park on our grassy lawn. If the ground is wet or a guest is bringing a trailer, they will stay in the parking lot.
Packing
Please come prepared for an outdoor environment and for the weather, as appropriate. Some suggestions are provided below:
Comfortable clothing, warm layers, rain jacket, sun protection
Slip on shoes are nice for going in and out of buildings
Closed toe shoes to be at the horses
Slippers or indoor shoes - no shoes in indoor spaces
Flashlight or phone light
Water bottle
Bath towel only if you’re camping
Ear plugs
Body wash, shampoo & conditioner
Cash for gratuities
A few other notes:
Please take all of your belongings with you when you leave.
There are no laundry facilities available to guests.
There are hairdryers in all the bathrooms.
Meals
We provide exceptional vegetarian cuisine featuring our farm grown organic produce and organic sourced ingredients. All of our meals are served buffet style, so you can choose what you want to eat. We provide gluten free, dairy free and vegan options at all meals.
Between meals there is a tea bar and fruit bowl. Often times there is baking from the morning.
There is a tea table in the Barn and available at all times throughout the retreat.
Coffee is served at breakfast only.
There is a fridge available for any snacks, supplements or drinks you would like to bring to the Farm. If you are used to including protein powder in your diet, please bring your own.
Please ensure your retreat host is informed of any dietary restrictions or allergies.
Animal protein is an add-on for the whole group when organized by the host.
Allergies
Anaphylactic Allergies
If you have noted a severe anaphylactic allergy on your intake form, our kitchen will contact you directly by email. You must bring your own medicine/EpiPen to the retreat.
Celiacs
We do use gluten in moderation in our kitchen and therefore we can not guarantee zero cross contamination for anyone with gluten allergies like celiac. We do not use certified gluten free ingredients.
Nut and Seed Allergies
We use tree nuts, peanut butter and seeds including sesame seeds and tahini in our kitchen. We can not guarantee zero cross contamination of these allergens. Our kitchen cannot serve anyone who is anaphylactic to sesame and certain nuts.
Hazards
Please be careful around the Farm and come prepared for an outdoor environment. As could be expected, there are areas that are uneven or slippery.
Darkness
Some areas of the Farm may not be as well lit as others and there are occasional power outages. Please ensure you bring your own flashlight. The light on your phone is fine.
Emergencies
In the event of an emergency, please advise any SLF employee and/or your retreat leader. There is also the house phone available in the Barn 24 hours a day. First aid kits are available if needed and fire extinguishers are in all buildings.
Nature & Hiking
During your stay, you can walk the public part of the farm, which includes the large perennial garden and farming operations. Longer walks and hikes are off-site and some require the use of a vehicle to get to the trailhead. Hiking maps of Salt Spring Island are available, including walks to swimming lakes near the Farm.
Gratuities
The SLF team accepts gratuities on behalf of housekeeping, kitchen and facility staff. All gratuities are pooled amongst the staff but if you would like to leave a message for a particular staff member, we will be sure to pass that on. Please ask your retreat leader for details.
More About The Farm
