We have found that place. It includes a simple barn, the birth of modest gardens, and a farmhouse all situated on over 4 acres in one of New York's oldest farming communities, Accord (accent on the first syllable).

In 150 years, people have interacted with this land in different ways -- farm, camp, home, sanctuary.  Originally the Osterhoudt's farm in the 1800s and early 1900s, we suspect the Dutch family laid out the stone walls, farmed what used to be the back meadows, and built the pond.  At least by the 1930s to 1970s, kids and teens found respite and summer love here as Camp Shangri-La.  During the last twenty years, two retired teachers & local activists from New York City found peace here.  From hay in the 1800s to sleeping bags in the 1900s to yoga mats & zafus now, the barn has served a rich history of people seeking deep connection to the land. Now, we hope that 21st-century teachers, artists, & practitioners of all kinds will relate to the earth in ways fitting for our times.   

Day by day, we have cleared debris & garbage, planted seeds, turned walls into paths, and listened.

We call the barn & gardens WEN.

In Chinese history, WEN absorbs many concepts & phenomenon--nature, constellations, animal tracks, bird flight patterns, weather patterns, writing. WEN includes a series of ancient ways of reading nature's languages so that we might live more deeply connected to the way life flows and unfolds.

WEN Barn & Gardens is not a school of thought or religion.  We have years of complementary training, education, experience, reflection, and study without dogma.  We have traditions without rigidity.  We have teachers without gurus.

We have a safe, simple place to study, to explore, to expand.  We open this place to anyone interested in how creativity, earth, and spirit interrelate.