joy
farm
Est. 2026
there is virtually no limit to
what we can do together...
JOY FARM currently offers two ways to cultivate joy: community events and private programs.
COMMUNITY events
Community events are scheduled daily, weekly, and monthly. Think of these as an "open house" with super powers! All are welcome to join. These events are made possible by generosity. Click here to see the current schedule.
Open Studio
Join Dechen for a casual day of creativity. Bring your own supplies or use what’s on hand in the JOY FARM studio.
Each day at JOY FARM begins with fresh bread from the oven and hand-ground coffee, shared in easy company to ease into the day.
Pull up a cushion—or get comfortable in any way that calls to you—for a simple, spacious practice of reflection and contemplation.
Daily | 8AM
Daily Bread
Daily | 10AM
Morning Meditation
see schedule
see schedule
JOY FARM Work Days
Family Dinner
Game Night
see schedule
Help around the farm in the Buddhist tradition of collective labor: gardening, building, stacking firewood or whatever the land and season call for.
Gather around and share a meal and a conversation. Topics from philosophy and community pair perfectly with Dechen's personal pizza recipe.
Learn to play dice, or bring a favorite game of your own. Low-pressure fun, laughter, and connection are the only goals.
Personal Meditation (Silent or Guided)
Customized retreats using tried-and-true mindfulness techniques. Each retreat is tailored to the practitioner, including support to develop personal routines and rituals that can be taken home.
private Programs
Art Studio Residency
Two to five day studio residencies for artists. Guests may join any active JOY FARM programming during their stay while also having protected private studio time. Current offerings include basic music production and acrylic painting, with options for collage and other crafts. Future improvements will add space for ceramics and a variety of sculptural practices.
coaching &
Personal Counseling*
Personal coaching is currently available, and mindfulness-based transpersonal counseling will open after completion of studies.
*Dechen is a graduate student at Naropa University, expecting to earn his Master's Degree in 2028.
Benefits
Mindfulness with Measurable Impact
Mindfulness and intentional practices aren't just a feeling. They are linked to specific, measurable psychological benefits -- supporting mood, focus, and reslience over time. JOY FARM programs weave these tools into everyday life, so you can bring the benefits home.
Creativity as a Healing Practice
Art-making and creative play have their own proven mental health benefits. At JOY FARM, studio time is an invitation to explore sound, color, texture, and form as a way to process, integrate, and reconnect with your sense of possibility.
Accessible, Sliding-Scale Pricing
All JOY FARM programs are offered on a pay-what-you-can basis. Sliding-scale contributions and labor trade options make retreats and residencies more accessible, while honoring the real costs of running a small working farm and creative space.
Island Slow time & Local Life
JOY FARM is located on Islesford, a hardworking lobstering community off the coast of Maine. Guests can expect a sense of leaving it all behind and slowing down -- plus optional day trips to places like Acadia National Park, the Maine Botanical Gardens, and Portland's vibrant art and dining scenes.