Field Notes
a writing retreat at Bloom Farm

Tuesday, August 11 – Thursday, August 20, 2026
All-inclusive stay

Field Notes is a multi-day writing retreat for a small group of writers, editors, and creative thinkers. Set on a 60-acre working farm in Pennsylvania's Oley Valley, about an hour from Philadelphia and two and a half hours from New York, it's designed to offer what most writers rarely get: uninterrupted time to think, write, and share ideas in a genuinely beautiful and quiet place.

The retreat brings together a small cohort of Substack writers across fashion, culture, design, food, and lifestyle. The days are yours. We'll provide the space, the meals, and a few thoughtful touchpoints throughout your stay, but the retreat is built around your work at your pace. Expect communal meals made from what's growing here, informal workshops and idea exchanges with fellow writers, time on the land, and the kind of quiet that's hard to find anywhere near a city.

The property includes a historic stone farmhouse, cedar cottages, walking trails, forests, orchards, and a collection of converted stone barns used for everything from yoga to art residencies. Writers will also have access to Cabin ANNA a modular cabin designed to blur the line between indoors and outdoors. It's a place built for the kind of thinking and writing that needs room to breathe.

  • We are currently accepting applicants from writers that publish regularly on Substack.

    Click here to apply

    • Accommodations in our historic farmhouse

    • All meals, prepared by our in-house and guest chefs: continental breakfast, lunch, and farm-to-table dinners

    • Unlimited coffee and tea

    • Informal writing workshops and idea exchanges with fellow writers

    • A guided tour of the farm and grounds

    • Access to outdoor sauna and cold plunges

    • Full access to all our spaces

    • A curated welcome package from our partners

    • Connection with our vibrant community

  • The full schedule will be shared closer to the retreat. Programming is light by design. Here's a sense of what the days look like:

    Morning
    Breakfast, coffee, open writing time

    Midday
    Lunch, farm tour, or informal writing workshop

    Afternoon
    Free time to write, explore the grounds, or use the sauna and cold plunges

    Evening
    Farm-to-table dinner and conversation

  • This retreat is completely free of charge to selected applicants.

    • When is the retreat?

      • August 11-20, 2026. Writers are invited for a two- to three-night stay within that window.

    • How do I get there?

      • Bloom Farm is located in Oley, Pennsylvania, about an hour from Philadelphia and two and a half hours from New York City. The exact address and transportation details will be shared upon acceptance.

    • Is the retreat free?

      • Yes. Accommodations, meals, and programming are all included.

    • Is the farmhouse pet-friendly?

      • Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate pets in the farmhouse.

    • Can I bring a guest?

      • Space is limited, so we ask that applications be submitted individually. If you'd like to recommend someone, please have them apply separately.

Farmhouse Spaces

  • Cozy bedroom with a large bed covered in a colorful quilt, two white pillows, and bedside tables with lamps, in a room with wood ceiling beams and two windows.

    Goat Room

    Features a King-size bed, deep-soaking bathtub, steam shower, and double vanity. Perfect for couples. 

    Learn More
  • A cozy bedroom with a white bed, two wall-mounted lamps, and three framed art pieces on the wall. The room has light-colored walls, wooden trim, and a window with floral curtains letting in natural light.

    Swan Suite

    Available as a room for two or as a suite for up to four guests. Features one king bed and two twin-size beds in the adjoining room, a deep-soaking bathtub, and a separate shower. Perfect for small families.

    Learn More
  • Cozy attic bedroom with sloped ceiling, single bed with white bedding, small window, vintage dresser with a vase of dried flowers, potted plant, and built-in white cabinets.

    Alpaca Room

    Three twin beds accommodate guests in our spacious attic. Perfect for group getaways. 

    Learn More
  • Two wooden outdoor handwashing stations with small shelves and metal faucets are placed on a stone patio in a garden setting. In the background, pink-flowering trees and an old stone building with a wooden door and a rusted metal roof are visible, surrounded by lush greenery and blooming flowers.

    Spring House

    Tucked into the hillside, the Spring House is a healing indoor-outdoor space for private massage sessions, an outdoor sauna, and two cold plunge tubs filled with limestone-filtered water from our natural spring. Guests can also explore our thoughtfully curated boutique of wellness goods.

  • Yoga Barn

    Originally a livestock barn, our wellness studio is now a blank canvas for somatic and creative practices spanning yoga, meditation, art therapy, and breathwork. This recently renovated space is steps from the main house and fully outfitted with best-in-class props & tools.

  • A woman and a man sitting in chairs having a conversation in a cozy, rustic wooden room. The woman is gesturing towards a large flowering branch in front of her, while the man is attentively listening. There are bookshelves filled with books behind them.

    Art Barn

    This multi-level stone barn is our largest and most versatile building. From studio space for our artists-in-residency to large format dinners, photo shoots and workshops, we work with guests to outfit this space as needed.

  • A small wooden shed with black door and outdoor lighting, surrounded by trees and bushes, along a gravel pathway.

    Cottages

    An enclave of four cedar cottages has been meticulously integrated into the farm without disrupting the land or its waterways. Each slightly different, they feature closet space, desks, and locally-sourced vintage quilts.

  • Wooden platform in a forest with tall trees, green foliage, and a stacked pile of logs in the background, leaves scattered on the platform.

    The Grounds

    Our grounds include 3 miles of walking trails, 60 acres of forests, fruit and nut orchards, and wildflowers for foraging. We encourage guests to spend quality time in nature and explore freely while on-site.

FAQ

    • A deposit equal to one night’s stay (or 50% for stays longer than 2 nights) is required at the time of booking.

    • A valid credit card authorization is required to confirm your reservation.

    • Cancel with full refund within 48 hours of booking

    • Cancel with 50% refund until 7 days before arrival and none thereafter

    • If you book within 7 days of arrival, the full cost of your stay will be charged at the time of booking.

    • For all other reservations, the remaining balance will be charged 7 days prior to check-in.

    • Check in is at 3pm.

    • Check out is at 11am.

    • Early Check In and Late Check Out options are available to our guests for an additional fee. If you plan to utilize either of those upgrades to your stay, please let our staff know the approximate time you'd like to check in or out.

  • Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate pets in the farmhouse.

    • Generally, yes! However, this experience has been curated with adults in mind. Please reach out to stay@bloomfarm.com with any questions.

    • We are unable to provide cribs.

  • Most of the farmhouse dates back to the 1800s. The oldest part of the house, including our special wood-fired oven, dates back to 1760! Some additions were completed in 2007 and were constructed to blend seamlessly into the existing architecture. You may encounter some creaky floor boards during your stay – we consider this part of the charm of a historic farmhouse.

  • Bloom Farm is located in historic Oley, Pennsylvania, about 1 hour from Philadelphia and about 2.5 hours from New York City. The exact address will be provided upon booking.

  • Yes! Kindly provide your dietary restrictions upon booking. You can learn more about our dining program here.