There’s something sacred about welcoming animals onto the land. This past week, Katy and I introduced four new chickens to the retreat center, and I can honestly say—my heart is full. After weeks of preparation, cleanup, construction, painting, safeguarding, and dreaming... our little flock has finally arrived.
We’d been eyeing the empty chicken coop near the garden for a while. It had potential, but the surrounding area had become cluttered with tools, wood, and stray supplies. In a burst of motivation, I spent the past month transforming the space. We built two new sheds to neatly store all the tools, cleared debris, built a rack for spare wood and ladders, and gave the coop a new coat of paint. We even placed crystals in each of the chickens’ nesting boxes—hoping to bless them with calm energy and future fertility.
In many spiritual traditions, preparation is its own form of meditation. Whether you’re sweeping a temple floor or scrubbing down a chicken coop, there’s a mindfulness that comes from working with your hands. Just as a meditator returns to their breath, I found myself returning again and again to the details—fixing the latches, adding predator guards, screening the windows, walking the perimeter like a gentle sentry. There’s a spiritual satisfaction in making something safe, something sacred, something that says: “You are welcome here.”
Our four new hens were delivered by a woman from Backyard Chickies, who drove all the way up from San Diego and arrived after dark. She was calm, confident, and clearly experienced—at one point, she scooped all four chickens into her arms and gently lowered them into their new home. It felt ceremonial, in a way. We stood in the glow of the lamp light, quietly watching as the chickens settled into their coop for the first time.
Meet the Flock
Each of our hens has a name and a growing personality:
Silkie – Named after her breed, she’s as soft and cuddly as a plush toy. Gentle, affectionate, and easy to hold.
Goldie – A Buff Orpington with a calm demeanor and warm golden feathers. She’s our golden-hearted egg-layer in training.
Bluebell – A speedy little Ameraucana who lays blue eggs (eventually!) and is often the last one we catch at bedtime.
Rockstar – Our Cream Brabanter with wild, feathered hair and a big presence. The largest of the bunch and full of flair.
Right now, the chickens are still young—just 8 to 12 weeks old—so no eggs just yet.
But every morning at dawn, we open their coop and watch them explore the enclosure. Every evening at dusk, we coax them back in (sometimes with great effort!). Eventually, they’ll put themselves to bed. Until then, it’s a gentle routine—one that’s grounding, humorous, and honestly, really heartwarming.
Buzzing Into Balance
As if that weren’t enough new life for one week, bees also arrived on the land.
A local beekeeper, Eli’s Bees, came by to drop off pallets of buzzing bee boxes. He’ll be cultivating hives here on the property and harvesting honey, some of which will eventually be sold in the retreat’s gift shop.
There’s something beautiful about this layering of life—hens in the garden, bees in the hills, all moving together in rhythm. The chickens remind us to slow down, to stay grounded. The bees remind us to work in harmony, to serve something larger than ourselves. Together, they feel like tiny guides—each offering a different flavor of presence.