Writing Into the Mountains
September 29th-October 4th 2025
Lundy Farms in Hudson Valley, New York
Join Mark Doty, Gaby Calvocoressi, & Emily Hyland for a five night retreat at the gorgeous Lundy Farm in the Hudson Valley. Spend your days immersed in poetry workshops, yoga classes, & group hikes as part of our warm, mindful, heart-centered community.
On this retreat, in the depth of autumn in the Catskill Mountains, we’ll tap into our surroundings to open doors into our inner life. We’ll work together to begin & develop new poems. Expect challenge, support, & good company. We’ll make use of writing exercises, talks, observation, walks & hikes, & mindful yoga movement to help further open doors toward the poems that are yours to write.
Our retreat group will stay at Lundy Farm, a lovingly restored luxury estate nestled in the heart of the Hudson Valley. The 62-acre property is situated within 30,000 acres of state forest, & is traversed by the Vernooy Kill River.
Guests stay in two distinct houses that feature comfortable common rooms, reading nooks, fireplaces, stone patios, dining rooms, a game room with a video projector, a gym, & a laundry room. A modern greenhouse, 3-acre regenerative organic farm, & chefs kitchen complement the estate. The property is the home of an apple, peach, and pear orchard, a compost site, laying hens, & bees.
The expansive landscape set in a mountainous valley caters to long walks, bike rides, & hiking. The restored horse stables were thoughtfully remodeled into a movement studio with a small gym. A large spring-fed pond—complete with rope swings—& the newly resurfaced tennis courts, basketball hoop & acres of lawn for croquet provide plenty of opportunities for fun & relaxation!
Starting at $2495
RETREAT INCLUDES
ACCOMODATIONS:
5 nights (Monday-Saturday) at Lundy Farm
DAILY MEALS:
Breakfast & Lunch: Self-serve “make your own” with pantry provisions provided (eggs, yogurt, granola, & fruit, sandwich & salad fixings, etc.)
Tea + coffee, & light snacks available throughout the day (Emily will be baking her famous cookies & brownies again!)
Dinner: Family style dinner, buffet-style prepared nightly
DAILY PROGRAMMING:
Poetry sessions led by Mark & Gaby to spark your writing process.
(*Please note, Gaby will join our group on Wednesday 10/1)
Optional early morning movement sessions to start your day
Yoga Classes with Emily, designed to awaken awareness & support the writing process (all props available on site)
Guided hikes from nearby trailheads into the mountains! (bring hiking shoes & poles please!
*Please note all movement & hiking sessions are totally optional! If you want to skip these, walk the grounds, sip some tea by the fire, & write instead, that’s totally welcome!
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:
FLIGHTS: Airfare is not included
TRANSPORTATION to & from Lundy Farm is the responsibility of participants
Alcoholic beverages
Retreat Details
DAILY PROGRAMMING
Poetry Sessions:
This generative workshop is designed to help poets at any level open doors: to new work, to poems you haven't imagined yet, to challenge your craft to make poems that hold more, make use of multiple forms of knowledge, & travel deeper into emotion & intuition. You'll go home with new poems-in-the-works, tools for inquiry & exploration, & new friends. We'll be joined on Wednesday (& for the remainder of the retreat) by Gaby Calvocoressi, an innovative, compassionate poet & teacher, whose brilliant new book we'll be celebrating.
Movement Sessions:
Whether in the yoga studio or taking a guided morning hike from a nearby trailhead, you’ll have your journal in tow for prompt-based writing, which is interwoven into our movement experiences. The physical portion of this retreat is designed to support your generative process. You’ll be encouraged to meet these activities as meditations-in-action, wherein you’ll compose one step at a time on the trail & one breath at a time on the yoga mat. Veered off trail just like you veered off topic? Mind distracted when you’re trying to focus? We’ll observe ourselves & train to turn our attention back & back again to being present with the central chord of energy within our bodies & our poems. There will be options for everyone, & all movement activities are totally optional!
*We ask folks to honor the needs & limitations of their bodies, injuries, & abilities & opt into appropriate movement experiences. There are many walking trails on our campus, which will be suitable options for more gentle walking!
We will offer an array of yoga experiences so everyone has a chance to participate!
Accommodations and Pricing
Comfortable, light-filled rooms with wood floors are split between the main house & the carriage house. All rooms have en suite bathrooms.
High-Speed 1GB Fiber Internet/WiFi
100% Organic Avocado Green Mattresses
High thread count, organic cotton sheets
Organic, plush pillows and duvets
Luxurious, organic bath amenities
Large windows that open to fresh air
We’re pleased to offer 3 tiers of accommodations in a range of price points. All prices include accommodations, meals, workshops, & retreat activities. Rooms are split between the main house & the carriage house. All rooms have en suite bathrooms.
OPTION 1: Single Room, $3,375 per person SOLD OUT
ROOMS AVAILABLE:
Main, 2
Main, 7
Carriage, 9
OPTION 2: Double Room, $2,795 per person
ROOMS AVAILABLE:
Main, 1
Bed A
Bed B
Main, 3
Bed A
Bed B
Main, 6
Bed A
Bed B
Carriage, 8
Bed A
Bed B
Carriage, 11
Bed A
Bed B
OPTION 3: Triple Room, $2,495 per person SOLD OUT
ROOMS AVAILABLE:
Carriage, 10
Bed A
Bed B
Bed C
Carriage, 12
Bed A
Bed B
Bed C
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FLYING IN:
Fly into Albany, Stewart, or Newark (or any major NYC airport)
Lundy Farm is about a 2 hour drive from either Albany or Newark
Lundy Farm is about an hour drive from Stewart Regional
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS:
Car Rentals: Both major airports offer car rental services.
Rideshare: Uber and Lyft are available from all airports.
It is recommended you either rent a car or share a car rental with retreat peers.
Emily can connect folks interested in sharing a rental.
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE TIMES:
Check-in: 4:00pm on Monday, September 29th
Retreat Begins: 5:00pm on Monday with Opening Circle & Welcome Dinner
Check out: 10:00am on Saturday, October 4th, post-retreat closing circle
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Upstate NY weather will range from chilly and damp to surprisingly warm, so pack fall layers! (if it’s unseasonably warm, throw in a bathing suit)
If you’ll be hiking, bring appropriate hiking shoes, outerwear, & optionally poles
Comfortable clothing for movement classes
Laptop, journal, & pens for writing workshops
Pack casual, comfortable clothing to drop into ease; no need to be fancy!
An open heart and spirit!
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CONTACT:
If you have questions or are ready to book,
email Emily: echyland@gmail.com
DEPOSIT:
A $1,000 non-refundable deposit
is required at the time of booking.
BALANCE DUE:
Remaining balance is due by July 31st, 2025.
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Please note that your deposit is Non-Refundable. If you need to cancel and we are able to rebook your room, your balance will be reimbursed. If we cannot rebook your room then all monies received up until cancellation will be retained. We appreciate your understanding.