Nurture Through Nature

Nurture Through Nature is a woodsy getaway that I am delighted to now know about. I was the chef for a yoga retreat there this fall. We had a wonderful long weekend there and enjoyed the solitude, the amazing wood-​fired sauna and our helpful host, Jen. We were lucky to have local organic farms supply us with a bounty of produce to cook with. We picked the right time of year. The facility is run on solar power, and the various cabins are adorable! The next time I return to will be for a personal mini-​retreat, or better yet, to cook on one of the wood-​fired ovens there. I can’t wait to go back.

This place was amazing in so many ways. My husband I were looking for a special way to celebrate our first anniversary, and we found it. We stayed in the Robin’s Nest cabin, which was clean, comfortable, and well appointed. The wood stove was fabulous and kept us warm in the chilly but mild fall evenings, and I’m sure it would put out plenty of heat for a winter stay as well.
We were the only guests on the property, so it was QUIET and so, so serene. I’m sure if other guests were there it would still be both of those things. The cabins and yurts are spread out and hidden in the woods, so privacy is always possible. There was a yoga class on Saturday morning that we missed (we decided to sleep in, too cozy), but I’d love to try that when we return. And we couldn’t return too soon.
The caretaker Erica had just arrived to take over for the winter, and she was so gracious and friendly. She left us sweet notes and made every effort to make our stay as comfortable as possible.
On Saturday we got to use the sauna. The SAUNA. Oh lord, if this lifetime gives me one gift let it be a sauna like that one. Erica went early to get the fire going and we were welcomed to the most beautiful sanctuary with plenty of fresh water for drinking and bathing, some snacks, and flickering candles. We spent a couple of hours moving back and forth from the steamy cedar benches to the woods outside on a rainy evening. It was heaven.
Molly the resident cat came and hung out with us several times. She was so sweet and funny, and very polite. If you want her to leave just show her the door and she’ll waddle happily down the path.
We were sad to leave on Sunday but also so grateful for the time we had together in the Maine woods, and grateful to have found this wonderful spot.
A couple of small things… see 5 stars above, these are minor issues, but could be useful to future guests:
The grounds are perched onto the side of a mountain, and some of the buildings are separated by steep paths. This means that this place would not be a good option for people who have serious physical limitations (with exceptions). While the website does mention things like «a short climb by foot» it could be more clear about how rugged the site is. For people who live and work there these climbs are a piece of cake, but for others it might be a real challenge. For instance, the Harmony cabin is right next to the yoga studio and group space, so that would be ideal for those looking for accessibility. But if you wanted to take a shower, it’s a *steep* hike up to the Pioneer cabin where the showers are. Just something to keep in mind if you or someone in your party might need accommodations.
Also, one comfortable reading chair in the cabin would be a big bonus, especially for longer stays. The rocking chair in the cabin is TINY, neither my husband or I could sit in it comfortably.
Overall, Nurture though Nature is a wonderful place and you will feel blessed to spend some time there. We can’t wait to return!

We had an absolutely enchanting stay at the Nurture through Nature retreat! Everything was just so quiet and peaceful. We seemed to have perfectly time things as we woke up to the most beautiful snow on Sunday morning. We stayed for 2 nights, and every amenity was truly perfect. The warm stove was such an enjoyable experience to sit around during dinner and while hanging out, and the trails at the retreat are perfect for snow shoeing. The propane stove was just what we needed, and we packed in the perfect amount of home made food. The brook that runs behind the yurt is beautiful, and the benches to sit and watch wonderful natural «landscapes» are plenty throughout the property. The sauna was amazing, and every tiny detail was perfectly set including the fresh, cold water from the brook ready and waiting for us inside. We’ll be back very soon, to say the least! Thank you NTN!

I’ve stayed at Nurture through Nature several times over the past several years. In short, it’s amazing. I keep returning for several reasons:
1) unbeatable combination off-​the-​grid remoteness yet relatively short (1.25 hr) drive from Portland
2) friendly, warm and engaging hosts, who are as absent or as present as you’d like them to be
3) the amazing wood-​fired sauna and candlelit pathways to get there
4) the effortless access to some of the most beautiful country in New England.
5) Yoga classes on site!
6) An environmental ethos that aligns with my values and inspires me
7) Unbeatable value!!!
I always feel at home here, and always want to stay longer once Nurture through Nature has enabled me to wind down from my day-​to-​day.

Nurture Through Nature was a fantastique experience for my wife, myself and our dog. We stayed in the cabine in the woods (not the like the one in the recent film that just came out — so no comparisons here :))
The day would start early, I would walk my dog, walking in the forest along the meditation path — about 20 minutes walk up the river that takes you to a small pond where I would jump into after a short walk. Refreshing! Changes perspective on things when you are inside, maybe takes you millions of years back.
Off to yoga, with Jen, and she was awesome, patient, not forceful, that kind of yoga experience where in your spirit you swim inside of the same pond wondering if things around you are frozen in space and time, meditation session without a stop, going back to the cabin, on the way, small particles of water (it was raining all the time back then) would sit on my face waiting to evaporate into the air and join the river later on with the rainfall. The cabin is a gigantic drum, rain is a drum beat, and i am inside. counting drops. i think there were 10,000,345 drops on that roof, and by the time (346 drop would fall) we would take off to the sauna. Jen would let us make it hot and do it our way. We are russians, we love hot sauna. And so, the sauna has a name, don’t remember what it was, but it was a name of the spirit who lives in the sauna, so we were gentle with it, and the spirit of sauna was gentle on us. Drops of rain, still drumming, steam submerges with the rain fog, the body, hot from the sauna, runs towards the spring to integrate with it’s waters (you can run out of the sauna and drop into the river) and when it does you see indians! Indians (of course not real ones) but you see them anyway, because they lived there, millions of years ago, and perhaps took the water out of the river. I had a choice to say hello or to continue bathing in the river, and I had chosen later, feeling cold, ran back into the sauna, hot, hot, hot hands of the steam take your body in, but I could make it even hotter, adding water on to it’s hot stones, and the steam would expand the sauna cabin, and it would enlarge itself like a balloon and go up in the air. And than, from that air you see the river, forest, river, drums, stove, sauna. you float and gently descend to the ground to catch up with the next day. you need to sleep sometimes. and next day, it would repeat. although it was raining, and we didn’t hike, it was the most spiritual experience we have ever had. we are coming back :)

Stayed here for a weekend in May. If you are looking for a secluded place to relax, this is it. I prefer to call it «glamping» as everything you need for a comfortable yet rustic retreat is there.
I enjoyed sitting in the comfy chair as the sun popped into the yurt in the morning. It would crest over the trees and suddenly shine into the domed window above. The yurt itself was new, clean and comfortable. The wood stove kept the inside a great temp while the screened windows could be open during the day for breeze. The cots were supportive and clean. (BYO sleeping bag) The French press was super-​handy. There is a store not far away if you need to refill on ice.
There are lots of hikes to take right from the retreat center if you feel like exercise. A great skidder trail for some mountain biking. A yoga center on site for stretching and meditation. A cool mountain-​fed stream with lush green moss growing all around… which is perfect for a refreshing dip as you emerge from the wood-​fired sauna!
If you enjoy steam and detoxifying, you NEED to get out to NTN for a sauna. Enjoy the steam and then scrub down with peppermint soap… then hop into the stream! WOO! Chilly! The sauna is top-​notch. Beautiful. You will walk out feeling like a new person!
Looking forward to going back ASAP — have a long weekend at the yurt booked already! Now that I know my favorite spots, I look forward to returning and enjoying them even more than the first time.

Last July, my sister and I stayed here for a week and I loved it. We rented one of the eco-​cabins in the woods and quickly settled into our cozy home with wood burning stove and composting toilet! We tried both cabins and preferred the one by the main lodge because it got more light which is important when you’re running on solar power. It was the perfect place to explore and connect with nature, work on our writing and music and feel safe. We got our groceries at the local farmers market (Fryeburg) and cooked delicious, organic, meals on a propane stove. Jen, the owner, brought us fresh well water in nice big glass jugs every day. The retreat has a peaceful creek with dipping holes and a beautiful yoga studio that faces the woods. I was really inspired by Jen — she had the vision for this place and built it from scratch with the help of other women interested in creating a sustainable, green retreat. They have holistic canoe trips and workshops that I want to try next time! Totally reasonable rate.