A Joyful Beginning: The Happy Farm at Deer Park Monastery


Dear Friends,

As we step into the New Year we are happy to share some wonderful news: the establishment of the Happy Farm at Deer Park Monastery, a continuation of the beautiful tradition of Happy Farms in Plum Village, France. This initiative is a manifestation of our aspiration to live in harmony with Mother Earth, nourish sustainable agriculture, and cultivate mindfulness practice in our daily life around the farm.

This beautiful project is being brought to life by a dedicated team of long-term practitioners in Solidity Hamlet: Brothers Nikolay, Aaron, and Josh. In December 2024, our dear friend Mick McEvoy from Happy Farm France visited to advise our team on this endeavor. We have begun our first mindful steps already with digging a well and preparing the soil for the farm beds.

About the Happy Farm

The Happy Farm is a living expression of our love and respect for Mother Earth. Rooted in the principles of agroecology, it integrates regenerative and organic farming within our mindfulness practice community. More than just a farm, it is a living classroom where monastics, retreatants, neighbors, and volunteers can cultivate not only nourishing vegetables but also mindfulness, joy, and a sense of interconnectedness with the Earth.

The Happy Farm is nurtured by three essential elements: mindfulness practice, organic farming, and community living. The farm will also serve as a place of learning, offering teachings and hands-on experiences through our regular Sunday Days of Mindfulness, our Saturday community service days and eventually, hosting annual farming retreats.

Our vision is to cultivate a space where mindfulness intersects with sustainable agriculture, nourishing the well-being of individuals, society, and the planet. By working on the land mindfully, we aspire to offer healthy organic food for our community, share the joy of sustainable living, and deepen our reverence for the Earth. We aspire to raise awareness of the interbeing nature of our personal health and diet with that of society and the planet by examining our methods of production and consumption.

We also aspire to connect locally with our neighbors through the farm, possibly establishing an on-site food stand to offer affordable, healthy vegetables. We hope to involve our neighbors and their families in helping with the farm in exchange for produce, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.

Get Involved

We warmly invite our local and global community to join hands and hearts in supporting this beautiful initiative. Here are some ways you can walk this path with us:

  • Volunteer: Join us as a volunteer, whether for a short-term experience or a longer commitment. Engage in daily farming activities, learn about organic agriculture, and practice mindfulness in action as a community. Keep an eye out for further announcements on our Deer Park social media channels and on our website. We are still working on the details of our volunteer program.
  • Participate in Retreats: Attend our retreats that incorporate farm work as a form of meditation, allowing you to reconnect with nature and yourself. Once we have our foundations established for the Farm, our long-term goal is to offer regular retreats on the farm. Stay tuned for more information.
  • Donate: The monastery humbly functions on a needs basis relying on the generosity of friends near and far to bring this vision to life. Therefore, your financial contributions will help us with our initial establishment, to acquire the necessary tools, lay the required infrastructures for the farm, build a greenhouse, purchase heirloom seeds, and acquire the needed materials to sustain and grow the farm. Access the full budgetary needs breakdown here.
  • Spread the Word: We invite you to share this joy with others. May the seeds of mindfulness and loving action continue to grow, nourishing many hearts along the way. Sign up for our Deer Park newsletter, Coyote Tracks, where you’ll receive regular updates on the progress of the Farm.

Help Support Deer Park Happy Farm:


Blessing Ceremony

Please read the powerful message invoking blessings at the ceremony
Happy Farm Message of Blessing and Gratitude

On February 3, 2025, monastics and lay community members held a ceremony to invoke blessings on the Happy Farm. It was a beautiful, joyful ceremony. We walked in procession around the land, sprinkling water, the source of compassion, and chanting the song, “I entrust myself to the Earth.”


Financial Requirements

For a full list of financial requirements and budgetary needs, please access this page. We welcome any amount you are willing and able to contribute. Thank you.


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