Overview & Site Info
Knowing Our True Nature: An earth-based meditation yoga retreat is a silent, nature-based Buddhist Insight meditation and Hatha yoga retreat led by Kirsten Rudestam & Mary Paffard. This second annual gathering invites participants to deepen their connection with body, community, and the living earth through meditation instruction, yoga practice, and deep listening to the earth body—both inwardly and outwardly.
We will be camping and glamping at Pomo Tierra, an 80-acre apple farm and intentional community nestled in the hills of Mendocino County. The land includes oak groves, a pond, hiking trails, and natural waters.
The retreat is open to practitioners of all levels. Our days will include silent and guided sitting meditation, walking practice, yoga sessions, and Dharma talks. Weather permitting, all activities will be held outdoors.
Founded in 1971, Pomo Tierra has long been a place of shared cultivation and celebration. Today, its community continues to welcome guests into its central gathering spaces, orchards, and shaded groves. Facilities include bathrooms near the main house, cold water, and regular showers. Walking options range from gentle orchard paths (5–20 minutes), to a meadow loop (30 minutes), and an option for a steeper up hill climb.
Your retreat fee includes three locally sourced, mostly organic vegetarian meals daily, with simple substitutions available for those with dietary restrictions.
Accommodations are offered on a sliding scale, with a variety of camping and glamping options.
Participants are asked to bring their own yoga equipment (mat, pillow, blanket), and, if possible, a meditation cushion. On arrival, each person will also be invited to take on a simple yogi job—such as food preparation or cleanup—as an opportunity to integrate practice and contribute to the well-being of the Sangha.
Retreat Cost
Our retreat fees only cover basic costs: food, cook, site fee, administration costs, and other incidental expenses. These fees are priced on a sliding scale (based on the lodging you choose) to allow each participant to pay for what is most appropriate for themselves. We also provide a scholarship option for those who are unable to pay our lowest sliding scale fee. Visit our registration webpage for more.
Retreat fees do NOT include compensation for Kirsten & Mary (time spent planning & teaching) or for Off-Grid Retreats (time spent organizing). On the final retreat day, you will be invited to share dana (AKA to donate) to the Retreat Teachers and to Off-Grid Retreats.
Dana, the Pali word for generosity, has supported Buddhist cultures for 2500 years. In Asia, monks & nuns offer teaching and lay people fill their begging bowls each morning as they walk through the village on alms rounds. It is a beautiful exchange in which the hearts of both giver and receiver are opened in joy and gratitude.
Cancellation Policy
If you request a refund before November 1, 2025, we're able to provide you a full refund minus a $100 admin fee. If you request a refund between November 1, 2025 and February 1, 2026, we'll provide you with a 50% refund minus a $100 admin fee. If you request a refund after February 1, 2026, we're not able to provide you with any refund.
To keep the retreat as affordable as possible, our retreat fees are set to simply cover the expenses of putting on the retreat—renting the venue, compensating retreat staff, etc. When someone drops out, we still incur all of those expenses. For this reason, we are unable to make exceptions to our cancellation and refund policy—even when you have a very good reason for canceling. Thank you for your understanding.
Retreat Teachers
Kirsten Rudestam works as a meditation teacher, environmental educator and wilderness guide. She has been practicing Buddhist meditation since 2001 and teaching contemplative practices since 2006. She completed IMC’s 4 year Meditation Teacher Training Program along with several other extensive dharma and ecodharma trainings. And she’s led 3 retreats with OGR now. She has a PhD in Environmental Sociology from UC Santa Cruz and has taught for 15+ years in colleges and universities. She also offers individual mentoring and programs in meditation, deep nature connection, ceremony, and radical resilience.
Mary Paffard has been teaching yoga and training teachers worldwide since 1985. She co-founded Yoga Mendocino, a non profit yoga center and was Director of Teacher Training 2000-2010. She completed Spirit Rock’s Dedicated Practitioners Program in 2007 and is currently part of a Buddhist Ecology Chaplaincy program at the Sati Center. She taught gentle movement at many meditation retreats for teachers such as Ajahn Amaro, Christina Feldman and Narayan Liebenson. Over the last 20+ years, she has been part of a cross-cultural exchange with Cuban yogis and meditators.
Mary lives at Pomo Tierra with her partner and family, blending outdoor life, caring for grandkids, and continuing this meandering, humbling and inspiring path in the yoga, eco and meditation worlds.
Kirsten & Mary may lead an abbreviated retreat teaching. Email asha@offgridretreats.org for Zoom info.