This past week, the retreat property came alive with the energy of a group called School of Lunch—an upbeat, food-loving community that knows how to make themselves at home. Based out of a local elementary school kitchen, their mission is to empower school staff and food service workers with holistic cooking methodologies. They do this through immersive retreats, and we were lucky to host one of them right here on the land.
From what I observed, their time here was equal parts learning and laughter. Throughout the day, they held outdoor cooking classes in front of our kitchen windows, where participants could see the inner workings of whole-food preparation.
Their days were structured around cooking classes and educational sessions, but they also had full access to the property’s wellness spaces and took full advantage of the sauna and cold plunges. They brought along a breathwork facilitator and a primal movement instructor who offered sessions beneath the trees and on the grass. It felt like a perfect merging of nourishment—body, mind, and spirit.
Pots, Pans, and Raw Milk
One moment in particular stands out. On their first evening here, I walked into the house to find the entire group—at least 20 people—gathered in the kitchen, drumming rhythmically on pots and pans with wooden spoons and spatulas. They were chanting, laughing, and egging each other on as person after person chugged straight from a gallon of raw milk. As the chorus of “chug, chug, chug!” echoed through the house, I had to laugh. Normally I’d ask guests to keep noise down for the neighbors—but in that moment, their joy was too infectious to silence.
The Ceremony of Eating
On the final day, they hosted a “graduation” ceremony. It was playfully tacky and deeply heartwarming. Participants were called up one by one, handed a certificate, and cheered on with exuberant applause and exaggerated pomp. Afterward, they gathered for a large communal meal, a true celebration of the week they had spent together.
Watching the whole experience unfold, I found myself reflecting on the power of food. Before I was managing this retreat property, I helped run a coliving space in Venice Beach. I used to lead meditation sessions each week, but you know what drew the most people? Family dinners. Food brings people together in a way few other things can. It breaks down barriers. It creates rhythm. It reminds us that we all belong.
Food as Medicine, Food as Energy
For many people, “healthy food” conjures images of bland salads or restrictive diets. But for the School of Lunch team, healthy food means something richer. It’s rooted in traditional practices, local sourcing, and meals made from scratch. They prioritize organic ingredients, bone broth, pasture-raised meat, and healthy fats—foods that nourish deeply, not just fuel the body.
Their work is rooted in the belief that food isn’t just nutrition—it’s energy. And I agree. The energy of our food—how it was grown, how it was raised, how it was prepared—gets transferred to us. A meal that was made with joy, care, and connection feels different. You taste it. You feel it. And when that energy is aligned with nature, the whole body responds.
Meditation and Nourishment
It might seem like a stretch to connect this all back to meditation—but to me, it isn’t. Meditation is the art of presence. And eating, when done consciously, becomes a kind of meditation in its own right. Every part of the retreat—sitting down together, chopping vegetables, washing dishes, sipping broth under the trees—was filled with mindfulness. They weren’t rushing through meals. They were revering the act of eating.
If we treat food with the same attention we bring to our breath, our practice deepens. And when we eat in silence, savoring each bite, we begin to notice that food isn’t just something we consume—it’s something that connects us. To our bodies. To each other. To the land that provided it.
Closing Thoughts
The School of Lunch retreat was a joyful reminder of the power of communal care. Of what it looks like to honor food—not just for its nutrition, but for the way it can build connection, ignite curiosity, and inspire health from the inside out.
As someone who holds space for meditation and wellness, it meant a lot to host a group whose mission so deeply aligns with the values of this land: slow living, intentional nourishment, community rooted in love, and a return to the wisdom of nature.
We nourish not just through breath and stillness, but through the meals we share. And this week, that nourishment came with raw milk, drumming on pans, and the sound of laughter echoing through the hills.