Seminars and Retreats

Come spend a weekend or a week at the Milkweed Mercantile, and return home with valuable skills and insights.

We are excited to present a variety of seminars which are focused on all aspects of living a sustainable life, including:

How to start and maintain an organic garden
Whole foods cooking and food preservation
Baking from scratch
Yoga and other flexibility and movement classes
Natural building and alternative construction, including strawbale and cob
Renewable energy systems, including solar and wind
Rainwater catchment and drip irrigation systems
Permaculture for urban, suburban and rural areas
The natural world – birding, astronomy, weather
Developing your writing and communication skills
Ecovillage experience – a little slice of life at Dancing Rabbit
Retreat and relaxation sessions

We have four comfortable rooms in our strawbale, solar and wind-powered inn, and also have camping and commuter options for all of our seminars.

Food for all seminars is included in your accommodation fee, and is prepared by our world-class chef. We happily accommodate and respect vegan, vegetarian and omnivore food choices. We serve primarily local and/or organic food. Wine, beer, organic tea and organic/ Fair Trade coffee are available through in our café, as are freshly baked bread, cookies and pastries.

Click here to view our seminars and events for the upcoming season. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter so that you'll be one of the first to know when we add new events. Space is limited, and seminars fill quickly – be part of the fun!

Private Retreats or Family Reunions
Reserve the Mercantile for the exclusive use of your family or work cohort. Included: exclusive use of the Mercantile building (porches and garden, too), all meals and snacks, and the peace and quiet of the prairie for walks and renewal. Our talented staffers can make most dreams come true – from special meals and displays of memorabilia to evening sing-alongs, campfires and child care, we’ve got it covered. Think of us as your home away from home, without the hassle of cooking, cleaning or hosting! We can accommodate up to 12 overnight guests, and will happily work with you to make this the most memorable event ever!