Lughnasadh (prn: LOO-nah-sah) - an ancient Gaelic festival celebrating the beginning of the harvest season at the midpoint between the Summer Solstice and Autumnal Equinox. Traditionally held on the 1st of August or 1st Sunday of the month, it involved great gatherings that included ceremonies, athletic contests, horse racing, feasting, matchmaking, and trading. According to folklorist Máire MacNeill, evidence suggests that the religious rites included an offering of the First Fruits, a feast of the new food, the sacrifice of a bull, and a ritual dance-play. In recent centuries, Lughnasadh gatherings have typically been held atop hills and mountains, including many of the same activities. Joining Samhain, Imbolc, and Beltane as one of the four Celtic Seasonal Holidays, Lughnasadh is a celebration of the Celtic god Lugh’s victory over the natural and supernatural forces that work to hinder our yearly harvest. As a holiday, it has stood the test of time in Ireland as a community’s celebration of the joint work required for a successful harvest, giving them an opportunity to join together in hospitality and merriment for the final days of summer.

What better holiday to begin the first in our series of Marigold Seasonal Getaways! Join us on Friday, August 1st for a 3 day weekend up in the mountains of Maine for a retreat away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. We’ve found the location, we’re planning the food, and we’ve planned the itinerary - all you need to do is get yourself there! We’ll begin the weekend on Friday evening where guests will be welcome anytime after 6PM to settle into their rooms and join us for a night of small bite appetizers/tapas and cocktails. Unwind from the travel in the hot tub, play some games in the game room, or take in the views from the deck with a glass of wine to complete your first night. On Saturday, enjoy a welcome brunch before jumping into your day in nature. Ania Gruca, our co-host this weekend, will be offering an interactive tea blending class and a plant identification walk through the local forest during the day Saturday, but feel empowered to make the day your own, with hiking, games, or even a good book with a view. Take advantage of the open kitchen to see Chris preparing your culinary offerings! A light lunch option will be available during the day for when guests are feeling hungry. Saturday evening, the climax of our weekend, will be capped off with a multi-course chef’s tasting menu inspired by the bounty of the seasonal harvest - a la Marigold Supper Club dinners. Saturday evening is another chance to unwind from a busy (or relaxing) day, play a little ping-pong, or get cozy with a book. Sunday morning enjoy a light breakfast to give you fuel for the road before heading back down the mountain to normal life.

Your Hosts:

Chris Malstrom

Chris is a Baltimore native living in Salem, MA and is a professionally trained chef, mixologist and maitre’d. With almost two decades of career experience working to make himself the “Swiss army knife of a restaurant,” Chris works to bring that wealth of food, beverage and hospitality experience to every event he hosts. Raised with a passion for food & hospitality, classically trained in French & Italian techniques, and possessing an innate desire to experiment with new flavors, Chris launched the Marigold Supper Club as a vehicle to celebrate and share his art with his community at large.
Chris seeks to blend his love of food, hospitality and travel to create unique, meaningful and memorable experiences for those he welcomes into his space. His goal is to build stronger community bonds through these shared moments and foster the creation of a broad family of individuals who share these loves and can find common cause through them. At his table, you may arrive a stranger, but you leave as family.

Ania Gruca

Welcoming Ania Gruca, an artist, herbalist, and holistic therapist based in Beverly, MA. Ania joins us for this retreat, bringing a rich tapestry of experiences, including teaching at various retreats and drawing inspiration from her diverse engagements with food and its profound power to nourish and connect. Her deep connection with the natural world, nurtured through foraging, gardening, and meditation, profoundly informs her creative practices and her insightful approach to well-being.
While she has been involved in projects such as her local herb-infused tea company, her focus here is on sharing the wisdom and practices that have emerged from her multifaceted journey. Ania's artistic spirit, coupled with her knowledge of plant medicine and holistic therapies, is fitting for cultivating the embodiment of the harvest. She is eager to cultivate a space of shared learning and appreciation for the beauty and power of the natural world during this retreat.

The Offerings:

Tea Blending: Crafting Herbal Infusions from the Harvest

As the bounty of the harvest surrounds us, what better way to capture its essence than in a cup of thoughtfully blended herbal infusion? Join us for a sensory journey into the world of tea blending, where you'll learn the fascinating art of combining dried herbs, fruits, and flowers to create your own unique and beneficial concoction to take home.

Discover the diverse flavor profiles and wellness properties of a variety of botanicals offered. Guided by our expert herbalist Ania, you'll explore the principles of blending, balancing aromas and tastes to craft personalized herbal infusions that evoke the spirit of the harvest and nourish your well-being.

Wild Walk + Harvest Wisdom

Join Ania for a plant ID hike around the property discovering the fascinating array of medicinal and edible plants that thrive around us. Learn to recognize plants at the height of the growing season and explore the potential benefits these green allies offer.

Beyond identification, we'll delve into the principles of mindful harvesting, ensuring we interact with the natural world in a respectful and sustainable way. This gentle exploration is an opportunity to connect with the plant kingdom on a deeper level, fostering a new appreciation for the wisdom and abundance that surrounds us.

The House:

Enjoy a weekend at Hazy Bear Outlook, a custom built HGTV designed luxe home offering long range mountain views! This 3 floor, 3,000 sqft chalet offers private rooms - including a top floor King Suite with private balcony, 2 more King Rooms with a shared bathroom and a bunk room perfect for a group of friends - as well as a 7 person hot tub, 6 person barrel sauna, game room with arcade games & ping pong/billiard table, and giant windows to showcase the mountain view.

Lughnasadh

Your Hosts:

The Offerings:

The House:

The Rooms: