Young Living Winter Harvest 2023

When you hear the word Farm, what do you think? For me, I imagine animals and dirt and primitive facilities. But I also think of how incredible the purpose of a farm is in that it provides resources for us from the land or animals.

In May 2022 I had the opportunity to go to Spring Planting at the Young Living Highland Flats and St. Marie’s farms in Idaho. I had NO IDEA what I was doing or getting myself into. I was nervous to host a retreat like this but I also knew I really wanted to and that people were craving the opportunity to go. Spring Planting was incredible! ( I will do a post on this later) A few big takeaways happened at Spring Planting for me. 1. People really wanted to be in person together again 2. I fell more in love with Young Living and their practices, products, and how they care for the Earth. 3. Winter Harvest kept being talked about as a must-see event.

So, while I was at the yearly Young Living Convention I saw our favorite Farm Managers and booked Winter Harvest! With the exception of a few people, everyone that was at Spring Planting in May said a resounding YES to coming to Winter Harvest in January! I was both excited and shocked so many said yes. That spokes volumes for the camaraderie and experience we all had together. But could Winter Harvest be as wonderful as Spring Planting?

The short answer is YES. Yes, it was even more wonderful. I didn’t think it was possible but it was!

Winter Harvest is held at the Young Living Highland Flats farm in Naples, Idaho.

Our accommodations are fancy camping style (Glamping). There are 4 bunk rooms for sleeping. The main building where the bathrooms are. Don’t worry, there is more than one bathroom and shower (LOL) and the best part is that they provide the shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, mouthwash, soap, laundry soap, NingXia Red, etc so you don’t have to bring any of that if you don’t want to. There is a main living room area with a fireplace and a kitchen and dining area.

We all took turns preparing pre-planned meals and cleaning up. This might not sound “fun” to you but being in the kitchen with friends preparing food is really fun!

Every day is planned out with activities. We harvested Grand Fir, filled the cookers with the wood chips, watched the oil being distilled, and took part in every process! We practiced and learned the Raindrop technique which is incredible! We had lots and lots of conversations. Went in the essential oil-infused hot tubs. Shopped in nearby Sandpoint. The late-night conversations we had were so life-giving. I will never forget them!

I never thought this would be my “thing”, being on a farm. But it is! So much so we are going back again for Spring Planting with a whole new group in April 2023! The Young Living farms are really life changing. Being able to take part in the entire process of a little bottle of oil makes you have so much more appreciation for the final product. And the community aspect of a retreat like this is truly unforgettable. I have a bond for life with each one of these people and I will never forget our time together!

If you ever have an opportunity to do a retreat with your team to a Young Living farm, DO IT!!!! You will never forget it!