Below are some of the questions that are asked by retreat guests and visitors to the farm. We hope the answers are informative and leave you with a better sense of who we are and what we do. If you have other questions not answered below please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Could you please detail your Covid policies for overnight guests? (All of this is being updated as conditions with the pandemic change.)

Knoll Farm & Refuge adheres to Vermont’s strict health protocols for our staff and guests. We take seriously your health, our health, and the health of this land. Upon your arrival to Knoll Farm, each person in your group will need to complete a self-certification form indicating that you meet at least one of the following conditions:

• You are fully vaccinated (it has been at least 14 days since you received your final vaccine dose)
• You are not vaccinated, but have received a negative COVID test within 3 days of your arrival.
• You have had COVID within the last 3 months, and you have recovered and have no symptoms. 

As our guests, we ask that you please practice good hygiene and make use of our wash and sanitize stations placed throughout the property, practice social distancing of 6 feet, and please do not visit if you have symptoms or illness or have been around someone who has. 

Mask wearing at Knoll Farm is highly encouraged, but not mandatory, when interacting with others outdoors, or inside any indoor space. 

Yurts may be shared between guests that are fully vaccinated or are from the same family.

What are the accommodations like?

The Refuge is a cluster of small and medium-sized yurts set in a forest glade at the top of a large meadow overlooking the farm. The yurts have double beds, no bunk beds. Each yurt has a desk and chair, and 2 or 3 windows plus a skylight. They are light and airy. Beds are made up with sheets, pillow and blanket.

The yurts are comfortable, have doors, and decks surrounding them for relaxing and a beautiful fire pit for campfires at night. You will have the experience of being in nature, with birdsong, stars, weather and, yes, the occasional spider or mouse.

Our beautiful cob bathhouse, centrally located to the yurts, has three sinks, 3 hot showers with private changing rooms, and 2 bathrooms. Just outside the bath house is a hot tub which we will prepare for you in the evenings.

Is there power in the yurts/yurt village?

Six of our yurts and our bathhouse are equipped with electric lights and outlets. The other six yurts are lit with solar lanterns.  The walking path from the barn to the village is lit at night by solar lanterns. There is full electricity in the main barn where you will be dining and having meeting space, yoga, etc.

Are rooms shared or private?

We have 11 yurts. Five of them are private with one double bed in each. Four of them are shared, with two double beds in each and two are for groups, with four single beds each.

Do I need to bring my own linens and blankets?

Our yurts are equipped with sheets, pillows, towels and blankets. During the early season (mid-May – June) and late season (mid-September – October) we encourage you to bring a sleeping bag if possible for chilly nights.

How far are the yurts from the barn?

The yurt village where you sleep is about a 5-8 minute walk from the farm where you have meals and meeting spaces. This keeps it peaceful, and views are stunning, and it also means you will be active during your time here. The walk is either on a gravel road, or through a meadow. Both walks are on a hill, so it is necessary to be comfortable and able to walk on uneven ground, up and down hills. We do have a solar-powered vehicle to take people up and down the road whenever needed. We encourage you to bring good walking shoes, and a daypack in order to carry essentials with you and minimize the number of times you need to go back to your yurt during the day.

What is at the farm?

Meeting, work and hang-out areas at the farm include: a beautiful renovated office in our small barn with full internet and cell service, a large historic barn with yoga floors, couches, library and music room, and a large yurt in the forest with meditation cushions and wood stove.  All meals are served in the barn at one large, long table. The farm also has a small swimming pond, spaces for campfires and story circles and meditation, an outdoor bread oven for pizza nights, and hiking trails.

Will I be served meals during my stay at the farm?

Yes, we provide three meals a day served family style in our barn. Meals are locally sourced, organic and mostly vegetarian, with options for gluten-free and dairy-free. Our chefs are happy to cater to food allergies and dietary restrictions as needed, so long as we know ahead of time. We will be coordinating all of that with your group before you arrive. We also provide coffee and tea all day, and have a guest fridge where you can store your own snacks. You can learn more on our Food page.

Is there wifi/cell service?

There is reliable cell service throughout the property and high-speed wifi in our barn and office building, and accessible outdoors.

Is there an office space where I can get work done while I’m there?

Our office has a beautiful shared conference room with wireless internet and good cell service for a quiet work environment should you need one. It is comfortable for up to 14 people for presentations or a break-out session. Our barn also has work space for writing and reading, a bigger gathering space for presentations with a large screen, and decent wifi.

How many people can the retreat center accommodate?

We can sleep 22 people. However, we can easily accommodate much larger groups during the day, and we are located very close to dozens of inns and bnbs. We can host your training, conference, or wedding here – for up to 150 people – and help you find accommodations in the village.

I would like to book a retreat. How do I do that?

Please contact us by phone (802) 496-5686 or email  to book your event or retreat. It’s helpful if you can answer the questions on our retreats application page so that we can best serve your vision. You are also welcome to check our availability calendar, which shows dates we still have available.

I am coming to the farm for a retreat. What should I bring with me?

We suggest that guests bring the following:

Reusable water bottle

Flashlight or headlamp and extra batteries

Bathroom kit

Sunscreen and bug repellant

Comfortable, casual clothing and sneakers or lightweight hiking boots

Rain gear (waterproof jacket or poncho; waterproof pants and boots are helpful)

Swimsuit

Sleeping bag or extra blanket (in spring and fall)

Day pack

Are you open in the winter?

Our retreat center is open from May 15 to October 15.

The farm is open year round. We have a meeting space in the office building for use by nonprofits, and a farm store selling our farm produce like frozen blueberries, lamb, eggs and gifts. Our trails are also open to walkers.

Do you provide catering for weddings, rehearsal dinners, celebrations?

We cater events up to 50 people, and beyond that we can partner with excellent local caterers, many of whom specialize in local farm-fresh food.

Can I serve alcohol at my event?

Yes. However, we do not have a liquor license so you must hire a caterer or bartender who does.

How can I get to the farm?

We are located at 700 Bragg Hill Road in Waitsfield, VT.

The closest airport is Burlington International Airport, 45 minutes away.

The closest train stations are in Waterbury and Montpelier, 30 minutes away.

Can I get a tour of the farm?

We are happy to show people our farm with some advance notice. Please contact us in advance so that we can be sure to have time for you.

Are there restaurants nearby?

Yes, we are located less than 1 mile from Waitsfield village where there are plenty of excellent dining options, groceries, brew pub and theater/cafe.

What can I do in the Mad River Valley?

The Mad River Valley is a popular destination year-round. Our location is central to gorgeous swimming holes and waterfalls, mountain bike paths and hiking trails. There is a local farmer’s market held on Saturdays in the summer and the valley is home to many events and concerts. For more information about the area please take a look at the Chamber of Commerce Web Site.

How do I know when you are open for blueberry picking?

We usually open for picking the second weekend in July, depending on ripening and weather. You can check our Facebook page for updates, or call 802-496-5685 to get a message about picking conditions all season long. Once we open in July, we stay open every day, 8 am to 6 pm, until berry season is over, usually late August.

Thank you for your interest in us, and be well!