guidelines and Practicalities
Welcome to Tree of Life
Welcome to the Tree of Life Eco-Retreat Centre, a place where spirituality, nature, and people come together in harmony. Our guidelines are designed to help you make the most of your stay while respecting the space and those around you.
We ask all guests to embrace these values during their time here:
House Rules
Honouring ourselves and others
We foster interactions built on mutual respect, kindness, and understanding by honouring the individuality of others, by listening openly, and by communicating honestly. We believe that every person brings unique talents and perspectives to our shared experience.
Guests can balance participation in group activities with personal time for reflection and self-care.
Substance Policy
To support a healthy, spiritual environment, we discourage the use of recreational drugs, including alcohol and marijuana, during your stay. We believe that a clear mind and body enhance the spiritual practices and natural beauty that Tree of Life offers.
Bringing Pets
Pets are welcome at Tree of Life, but must be approved by staff prior to arrival. To ensure the safety and comfort of all guests, pets must be kept on a leash when outside. Please be mindful of others who may not be comfortable around animals, and always clean up after your pet.
We believe in nourishing the body with wholesome, natural foods. During your stay, we encourage the consumption of whole foods that are organic and locally sourced whenever possible. Meals provided will reflect these values, promoting health and well-being.
Tree of Life is a place to disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with yourself, nature, and the community. We encourage guests to scale down or eliminate smartphone and computer use during their stay. While WiFi is available in the main building, we suggest limiting its use to essential tasks. Enjoy the tranquility and presence that comes from being offline.
Need to know
To maintain a peaceful atmosphere, we observe quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM. This is a time for rest and reflection, allowing everyone to recharge in a serene environment.
Guests are encouraged to participate in communal activities, such as meal preparation or gardening, as a way to connect with others and contribute to the community. Please check with the staff upon arrival to see how you can help.
We are committed to living in harmony with nature. We are 100% off-the-grid, and generate electricity using micro-hydro and solar panels. We supply our water and plumbing needs using gravity, heat using wood, and drink from the sacred eternal spring. We compost food waste, manure & seaweeds for gardening; we use ‘reedbeds’ for bio-digestion of human waste; we repurpose and recycle used lumber and building products; we use locally-sourced natural building products; we operate our own bandsaw mill, and we exemplify ‘tiny house’ designs to minimize development footprint.
Practicalities
We are 100% off the grid and generate our electrical needs with solar panels and micro hydro. We have hot showers, and amazing waterfalls to bathe in. We have reedbeds and compost toilets, for waste disposal and 3 buildings with private rooms to accommodate you. We have some space for camping and we operate two glamping tents seasonally. Our crystal clear drinking water comes from a spring. We have internet service in our main building and phone network and signal is good everywhere on site.
We serve 3 vegetarian and vegan meals a day prepared with love. Ingredients are harvested from our gardens or bought locally.
If you have allergies or intolerances, please advise Johanne at: [email protected] before your arrival. We will do our best to accommodate you.
Accommodation is mainly in the bunkhouse which can accommodate 10 people in a semi dorm style featuring 8 private rooms. We also have accommodation in the meditation hut which has 3 beds, and facilitators often stay in the Cedar cabin which has 3 beds and is situated close to the yoga studio. You are welcome to bring your own bedding. If we provide bedding, there may be a nominal fee.
You are also welcome to pitch your own tent for additional private space. Some people do sleep in their camper van, so that is also possible.
We have a central building designed in the shape of the Kabbalah (aka the Tree Of Life). That is our central post and beam hub where all meals are served. This building also has a mezzanine sometimes used for yoga, meditation and sound bathing. It can also accommodate overflow accommodation.
What to bring?
- Your own bedding. If needed, bedding and linen are available at a nominal cost.
- If you choose to sleep in your own tent, bring your tent or camper van.
- Flashlight
- Insect repellent
- Warm clothing in May, June, September, October, November.
- Sturdy shoes or boots to walk on our trails.
- Swimming suits and water shoes (waterfalls)
- Rain gear for when it rains.
- Toiletries
What you can also bring?
- You may wish to bring your own decor for the retreat. We do have a good supply of yoga mats, cushions, shawls and some musical instruments.
- Meditation cushion
- Musical instruments
- A journal etc..
Arrival and getting to TOL
We appreciate when people arrive at the right time for the event. There is a time window and sometimes one group leaves as you arrive. Please double check your orientation material for your correct time of arrival.
When coming up the driveway, use low gear and do not accelerate up the steep hill. The staff will let you know at top where to park and show you where to find your room.
If you need additional instructions, please visit our contact page.
Thank You for Respecting Our Space
We are grateful for your cooperation in following these guidelines. By doing so, you help create a nurturing, peaceful environment for everyone at Tree of Life. We hope your stay is enriching and that you leave feeling more connected to yourself, others, and the natural world.