A Postcard from

Harmony Gardens

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A vision I’m growing with my family — Daniel.

A Modern Christian Monastic Farm Stay — In Development

Concept artwork: an imagined future, not an existing property or a booking invitation.

FAITH · FAMILY · CREATION

A note from Daniel

My name is Daniel, and I have been helping my family imagine what Harmony Gardens could become.

I picture a place where you could go outside and see things growing. You could help in a garden, spend time with your family, share a meal, and have time to pray. I would like people to have room to learn about Jesus and enjoy what God has made.

We call the idea a modern Christian monastic farm stay. That is a long way of saying a place for a simpler rhythm: prayer, useful work, rest, and time together. Visitors would not be joining a monastery.

We want to begin with something manageable, rather than build the whole picture at once. Our first overnight phase would be no more than five cabins, and might be smaller. We are still working out the right location, permissions, costs, and how to keep it going.

My family helps with the planning and the responsibilities that need adults. I want to keep contributing ideas and sharing what we learn. The photos of our earlier gardens show some of the inspiration. Pictures of a possible future are ideas, not buildings that already exist.

For now, you can explore the vision and follow our progress. People who are interested in helping can also ask to see the more detailed plans. Advice, practical skills, introductions, prayer, and financial support when a properly prepared campaign is ready are different ways someone might help.

I hope Harmony Gardens can grow into a place where faith is part of how we welcome people and care for what we have been given.

Daniel

Grow and learn

We hope for gardens where families can learn together, care for growing things, and discover the patience of useful work.

Make room for faith

Time for Scripture, prayer, rest, and enjoying God’s creation. A simpler rhythm, with participation always invitational.

Share the table

Meals, conversation, and a warm welcome across Christian traditions. A place to listen and spend time together.

EARLIER FAMILY WORK

The gardens that helped us imagine.

These photographs show earlier family gardens, greenhouses, projects, and places for prayer and play. They are real sources of inspiration, not evidence that the future retreat is built or ready for guests.

Daniel’s gardening is part of the story. The earlier work belongs to the family members who did it; it is not presented as work Daniel completed on his own.

A shaded pond surrounded by mature trees from our family’s earlier garden work — Earlier family work: pond and wooded setting.

Young fruit trees growing from our family’s earlier garden work — Earlier family work: young fruit trees.

Grapevines growing on trellises from our family’s earlier garden work — Earlier family work: grapevines on hand-built trellises.

A small wooden greenhouse from our family’s earlier garden work — Earlier family work: one of two greenhouses.

A large greenhouse from our family’s earlier garden work — Earlier family work: the larger greenhouse.

Raised garden beds in Daniel’s garden from our family’s earlier garden work — Daniel’s garden: raised beds and hands-on stewardship.

Daniel tending plants in a sunlit garden from our family’s earlier garden work — Daniel tending the garden: patient, hands-on care for what is growing.

A trail-ride trailer used for rides around the property and in the mountains — Earlier family work: trailer for property and mountain rides.

A fenced chicken barn and outdoor run from our family’s earlier garden work — Earlier family work: chicken barn and outdoor run.

A children’s clubhouse among the trees from our family’s earlier garden work — Earlier family work: children’s clubhouse and play space.

A wood-built prayer and bath area with a cross and a prayerful setting — Earlier family work: prayer and bath area.

The exterior of a hand-built prayer and bath area — Earlier family work: hand-built prayer and bath space.

The Jesus Rocket, a hand-built faith-centered garden feature — Earlier family work: the Jesus Rocket.

A children’s outdoor play area with a ship-themed play structure — Earlier family work: children’s outdoor play area.

A Harmony Gardens welcome sign with a faith-centered message — Earlier family work: a welcome sign rooted in faith and hospitality.

The Harmony Gardens produce stand — Earlier family work: the Harmony Gardens produce stand.

The Harmony Gardens road sign among mature trees — Earlier family work: the Harmony Gardens road sign.

A Scripture sign encouraging people to open the Bible and pray — Earlier family work: a Scripture sign inviting people to open the Bible.

A young gardener watering a plant from our family’s earlier garden work — Earlier family work: a young gardener caring for a plant.

The Harmony Gardens meditation trail leading to a unity mural — Earlier family work: a meditation trail for prayerful reflection.

A unity mural showing Jesus seated with elephants and donkeys — Earlier family work: a call to unity across political differences.

FAMILY EXPERIENCE

Sandra’s Dog Haven

These photos of Sandra’s Dog Haven show hands-on experience with animal care and welcoming spaces. They are not facilities at a confirmed Harmony Gardens retreat site. Any future pet-care provision would need its own practical planning and approvals.

A fenced play yard with a dog and elevated play structure at Sandra’s Dog Haven — Fenced play yard and activity space.

A shaded outdoor dog activity yard at Sandra’s Dog Haven — Shaded outdoor activity and rest area.

The Dog Haven building beside its fenced outdoor space — The Dog Haven building beside the outdoor yard.

Outdoor play structures and the Dog Haven building — Outdoor play structures and open activity space.

A second Dog Haven building with a fenced grass yard — A second Dog Haven building and fenced grass yard.

ONE STEP AT A TIME

Starting small. Learning as we go.

Our current hands-on focus is greenhouse work and learning to grow well. It gives the family practical experience while the wider retreat remains in development.

The first overnight phase we are exploring is two to five cabins, with no more than five and possibly fewer. No property, opening date, or guest bookings are confirmed. Location, permissions, costs, and an affordable operating model still need to be worked through.

The larger concept artwork illustrates hopes, not a commitment to build everything shown. We will share progress as there is real progress to report.

INTERESTED IN HELPING?

There is more than one way to help.

Prayer, practical advice, skills, and introductions can all help us learn. Detailed business, financial, and grant materials are currently withheld while a separate supporter access area is prepared.

We are not taking bookings or collecting donations here. Any future financial arrangements will be handled by responsible adults after the necessary preparations.

Contact the project team · Return to Stay at the Table

Daniel shares this vision with support from his family. Project inquiries and financial arrangements are handled by responsible adults.