Who is this Retreat for?

This retreat is for women who are interested in creating a beautiful edible forest garden in their urban backyard, at their lifestyle block or farm, or in a community space like a school, community garden or ECE.

No gardening, permaculture or food forest experience necessary, the more experienced women will hold space for those who are just starting out. Bring an open mind and your gorgeous self 💛

WHAT AWAITS YOU OCTOBER 10-12, 2025

🌿 Food Forest Magic - time in the ngāhere to renew, restore and gain the skills to create your dream edible forest garden. Beginner gardeners are welcome and will be well- supported by the more seasoned gardenesses

🥘 Healthy, Local Kai - Enjoy rustic camp food lovingly prepared in the outdoor kitchen and around the fire from fresh, locally grown ingredients.

🌳 Immerse Yourself in the Taiao - Indulge in the gentle sway of a hammock, hit the beach 4 for a surf, sleep under the night sky, take in a sunset swim or walk to the famous Castlepoint lighthouse.

💛 Grow Together, Thrive Together - In a world that often feels rushed and disconnected, gather with like-minded women ready to hit the pause button & reconnect.

Come for the knowledge, stay for the manaakitanga!

Space is limited to 8 women. 
✨️ Come on your own (others will too!) or with a friend.

What’s Included

Your ticket includes:
• Syntropic Food Forest Workshops - Saturday and Sunday
• 2 nights accommodation
• Nourishing meals (Friday dinner – Sunday lunch)
• Full access to our retreat facilities and forest

We keep this retreat small – only 8 spaces available ✨

Pricing & Payment

Tree or Forest Tent: $440
BYO Tent/Camper: $400
✨ Secure your spot with a $100 deposit and pay the rest in 6 fortnightly instalments.

You can either:
• Pay in Full, OR
• Pay a $100 Deposit and we’ll follow up via email to set up your 6 fortnightly payments via Stripe.

Payment Plans:
• Tree or Forest Tent – $100 deposit + 6 x $56.67
• BYO Tent/Camper – $100 deposit + 6 x $50.00

Accommodation Options

Camping with us is part of the magic! Choose your preferred stay (first-in, first-served):

🌳 Tree Tent ($60/night)
For the more adventurous camper! We have two tree tents available in different locations. There are 2 berths in each tent, so you’ll be sharing with 1 other wonderful human. A stunning way to experience a night out in the ngāhere. These tents are fully waterproof and wind-proof. Just bring your sleeping bag, pillow & torch (no mattress required).

⛺ Forest Tent ($60/night)
A spacious 3-room tent with proper mattresses (not stretchers). We only book 2 people into this tent – one in each end room for privacy and comfort. BYO sleeping bag, pillow & torch.

🚐 BYO Tent or Camper ($40/night)
Bring your own tent or van. Campervans may need to park at the bottom of our steep driveway. Tent spaces are near the hut with full access to facilities.

Have mobility needs or not a camper? Get in touch to chat about alternatives.

Small, intimate weekend together - only 4 spots available in the tree tents and 2 in the forest tent. Grab them early!

✨️ Questions? Email Janine at kiaora@samluddenceramics.com ✨️

How to Book Your Spot

Choose your accommodation type in the drop-down box above (Tree Tent, Forest Tent, or BYO).

Select either “Pay in Full” or “Deposit.”

Complete checkout.

✔ If you paid in full — you're all set!

✔ If you paid a deposit — we’ll email you within 24 hours to set up your 6-part payment plan (starting 7 days later).

We’ll send retreat details and arrival info closer to the date. 🌿✨

Your support empowers us to re-invest in the whenua - plants, predator-control traps and gravel for the access road. The birds and critters thank-you 🙏

FAQ

Who is Your Host?

Ko Beinn Mac Duibh te maunga, ko Deathan (river don) te awa, ko Kōtarani te iwi, ko Ogg raua ko Ross na whānau tipuna. I tipu ana ahau ki Whakaoriori, kei konei tōku turangawaewae. Kei Whakataki ngā pito whenua ō oku tamariki. Ko Hamuera (Sam) Ludden taku hoa rangatira, ko Janine taku ingoa.

Kia ora :) I'm a local Masterton girl with family connections to Danniverke and Otautahi/Christchurch and before that Scotland, through grandparents on both sides. The small hamlet of Towie near Aberdeen is one of the places our ancestors came from, a charming but barren land of granite and celtic stone circles 🪨🪨🪨 One ancestor was a gamekeeper, perhaps a connection to my love of the ngāhere, and another a green grocer, though I suck at gardening annuals (working on it 😂) .

When it comes to syntropy and food forests I don’t see myself as an expert, more an enthusiastic early adopter with a passion for sharing what I’m learning, warts and all. I have completed courses in Permaculture Farm Design and Syntropic Food Forestry and spend the last few years applying learnings to the land we care for here at Rangiwhakaoma/Castlepoint. I may not have the answers to all your questions, but I can share my mistakes and learnings so far and connect you to the resources you need to get started or deepen your own journey.

Together with Sam and our two girls Bella and Molly, we have a vision to support and accelerate the regeneration of our 43 hectare bush block near Castlepoint, and to share the learning journey with as many people as we can along the way.

What is a Syntropic Food Forest and Why Grow One?

A food forest is a way of growing kai that mimics natural forests, with diverse planting of edible plants and patterns found in nature. We’ll learn more on the day, but here’s a few of my favourite reasons to give food forests a go:

• it’s good for the soul to design and plant a food forest ✨️ It takes you outside and connects you deeply to your environment, an everyday reminder that we are not separate from nature but part of it.

• You don’t need heaps of space to get started - a small syntropic ‘nest’ will fit into most NZ backyards. If you have plenty of room, you can go BIG!

• Biomimicry is at the heart of syntropy and it’s super cool - there’s something about learning how to mimic natural eco-systems that just sings for me. Our ancestors did it and so can we.

• A syntropic food forest is like a regular food forest on steroids. Biodiversity, food production, soil health and fungal networks accelerate at an incredible rate in a in a syntropic system - it’s hard to believe at first how quickly it can regenerate the soil. Abundance at its best

• This way of growing is more resilient to the challenges of climate change - syntropic systems require less water, little to no external inputs, are more resilient to pests and as a forest system, are far more resilient to extreme weather events.

• You’re not just creating a vegetable garden, you’re creating a wildlife habitat! Better still, your design can easily and successfully incorporate NZ native trees and plants

What is a tree tent and what are they like to stay in?

A "tree tent" is a new and exciting way to camp. Tree tents are designed to be suspended above the ground and supported by surrounding trees, essentially combining the comfort of a hammock with the protection and capacity of a standard tent, allowing you to sleep elevated off the ground in a forested environment. Our tents sleep 2 people, and you can climb into it from underneath using a small step, or you can slide in from the door on the side (we’ve situated our tent next to a terrace so it’s easy to access). These tents are fully enclosed with a high quality water-proof fly and protection from insects - if the weather is good we recommend removing the fly so you can sleep under the night sky 🌟

What to Expect - Daily Flow

*Friday* - arrive from 4pm onwards for opening circle, a relaxing shared meal & an evening surrounded by native bush. Dinner 6pm.

*Saturday* - Introductory Syntropic Food Forest workshop 10am - 1pm, then a free afternoon to chill out and relax in the beautiful forest setting or hit the beach for a walk/swim/surf 🏄🏽 🏊🏻‍♀️🏖️
Dinner at 6pm.

*Sunday* - Getting Started with Food Forest Design & Installation 10am - 1pm. Practical hands-on play and planting in the food forest. Followed by lunch and closing circle/chill time. Depart by 3pm.

What if we get bad weather?

Part of spending time in nature is embracing the elements, for better or for worse! All our accommodation options are waterproof and safe to stay in during rainy weather and we have a fire in the hut if we need to snuggle up and get warm. We’ll keep an eye on the weather forecast and let you know if you need to bring your gumboots! The only situation we may consider cancelling is in the event of dangerously high winds.

What is the Location of the Retreat?

Our block of land is located on Masterton-Castlepoint Road - 50 mins drive from Masterton, 2 hours 20 mins from Wellington. 8 mins to Castlepoint Beach. Directions and a map will be emailed to you after registration.

Ready to join us?

Choose your accommodation above to book your spot, or email Janine with any questions.
We can’t wait to welcome you beneath the canopy 🌿✨

~ Ko ahau te taiao ko te taiao ko ahau - I am the environment and the environment is me ~