A New Chapter: Slowing Down & Learning New Things
There are seasons in life when you can start to feel something shift before you fully understand what it is.
Lately, that’s exactly where I’ve been.
For the past year, I’ve felt a quiet pull toward something slower. Something simpler. Something more grounded. And if I’m being honest, I think part of me has been craving this for a long time.
Last year, you may have followed along as we made the decision to sell our family home and downsize to a condo. What started as a practical decision quickly became something more meaningful - a shift toward simple, low-maintenance living with less stuff and more time to live. Looking back, I can see that decision was part of a much bigger shift happening inside of me, personally.
When Jason and I first saw this property - 5 years ago - before the cottages, before the barn events, before any real plans - what we felt most wasn’t ambition. It was peace.
If you scroll back through our social media from the early days, the things I kept sharing were the views, the quiet, the nature, and us working with our hands - we loved it so much and couldn’t wait for our guests to get to experience it too.
We dreamed about a place where life didn’t feel quite so rushed.
But as our business launched and we began to grow, our responsibilities naturally shifted. There were bills to pay, people depending on us, supplies to purchase, and decisions to make every single day. When you’re building something from the ground up, there’s a very real pull to say yes to whatever opportunities might “feel” like they create stability, even if they aren’t aligned with your business goals.
This last year, I’ve had a deep desire to go back to those early days. To do more of what feels aligned with who we are.
A Fresh New Chapter
As you may know, Jason and I take a trip at the beginning of each year. It’s an opportunity for us to step away from the day to day and truly dream about the direction & future of Anson Arbor Farm. We love spending time in the car dreaming up ideas and thinking outside the box. This year, we really leaned into a 3 year, 5 year, 10 year plan - who do we want to be and what do we want to be known for.
For us, the answer is simple. We want to exist to provide couples with a peaceful place to slow down and connect - where nature, wellness, and intentional living come together to support rest, healing, and meaningful time together.
Over the coming months (and years), you’re going to start seeing something new unfold at the farm.
We’re beginning our journey toward a small farmstead while also expanding our focus on wellness and restoration.
That means:
Chickens & fresh eggs
Gardens filled with vegetables and herbs
Fruit trees and berries
Cut flower beds
Wildflower walking paths
Bee hives and honey (hopefully someday!)
And yes…mini donkeys (for those of you who voted yes for mini donkeys in stories! :) )
Alongside the farmstead, we’re also creating more opportunities for guests to rest, recharge, and lean into self care during their stay.
Our vision includes:
In-cottage massage services
A sauna space for relaxation and recovery
A small workout area for guests who want to maintain their routines
Walking paths throughout the property
Quiet spaces to enjoy the outdoors
Hammocks tucked into peaceful corners of the property for afternoon naps
It’s not about adding amenities for the sake of amenities. It’s about creating an environment that supports how people want to feel when they come here.
Calm. Rested. Grounded. Connected.
And honestly, it’s about creating the kind of environment that Jason and I want to live our day to day lives in, too. If you know me personally, you’re not at all surprised we would be adding animals - loving animals is literally part of my DNA.
Why This Feels So Personal
I’ve shared some of my personal health issues here. I don’t want it to become my whole identity but these last few years have been a challenging season health wise and it’s taken a toll on my body.
Stress, high cortisol, hormones, lack of sleep, and lyme have all converged and made it really hard bring balance back to my body and nervous system. At some point, I realized I need to actively change my environment if I want my my body to truly heal. Not just add more supplements or workout routines, but true changes to my lifestyle.
More sunlight. More movement. More time outdoors working with my hands. Eating real food.
So for me, it’s part of my healing journey too.
What This Means for Our Guests
One of the things that excites me most is sharing this experience with you.
Overtime, we hope to incorporate into our guests experience:
Fresh eggs available during your stay
Seasonal produce from our garden
Fresh cut flowers in your cottage, grown here on the farm
Honey from our hives (someday!)
Animals to visit and interact with
Wildflower gardens to meander through
Walking paths to explore the property
Hammocks for resting & unplugging
Massage services for deeper relaxation
Sauna access for recovery & wellness
Spaces to move your body and maintain routines
Nothing about Anson Arbor Farm is changing at its core.
If anything, we’re becoming more of what we always hoped it would be. Just with a little more life and a little more intention woven into the experience.
Coming Back to What Matters to Us
I think many of us reach a point where we start asking different questions.
Not just: “What should we build next?”
But more of: “What kind of life do we actually want to live?”
For us, the answer keeps coming back to the same things:
Family.
Health.
Connection.
Intentional Living.
Nature.
Movement.
Rest.
Peace.
This farmstead and wellness direction feels like we’re recalibrating back to those priorities and I’m incredibly excited to share the journey with you.
There will be learning curves. Mistakes. Failures. Definitely stories to tell along the way. But I think that’s all part of the beauty of it.
Thank you for being here and for supporting this dream - not just as a place to stay, but as a place that continues to evolve in a way that’s aligned with who we are. We’re grateful you’re here. 🫶🏼
Jason & Angela