The Lower Hamlet Happy Farm family are delighted to announce a week of practice at the Happy Farm , offering a special hands-on experience in our organic agroecology farm, combined with practice in Lower Hamlet.
The Happy Farm is a project of agroecology and organic regenerative agriculture within our mindfulness practice community. It’s a place where as mindfulness practitioners we care together for the vegetables, the soil, one another and the Earth.
On the Happy Farm tending the land is a meditation. Seeding, planting, watering, harvesting, are done consciously, allowing us to reconnect to our body with the present moment and the miracle of walking on the Earth.
It’s a precious environment where the teachings of Plum Village can be embodied and truly lived: interbeing, mindfulness, concentration, compassion, cultivating joy, finding true happiness in daily tasks … and many more insights can be revealed within by getting in touch with Mother Earth. Thanks to the Happy Farm, we nourish our body, togetherness, community and the deep remembrance that we are not separate from the Earth (read more on thehappyfarm.org).
The Happy Farm week is an invitation to deepen our relationship with the Earth. Through hands-on farming activities (planting, harvesting, composting, mulching) at the Happy Farm, we will have the opportunity to awaken the “farmer” in us and get intimate with soil, vegetables and the Earth.
We will also enjoy together the Plum Village mindfulness practices such as sitting meditation, walking meditation, and “Dharma / Farmer sharing” during the week. Many activities and practices will be designed around the theme of our connection to Mother Earth. At the end of the week, we will celebrate together to express our gratitude for each other’s presence and practice.
If you like to experience two weeks of farming and gardening in Plumvillage. Please consider registering for the Happy Farm week and the following week of “Cultivating our garden together”.
Important information
Arrival day & check-in times: Friday from 3pm to 7.30pm
Departure day: Friday from 7am to 12pm
Language: English with French transation
Location: Lower Hamlet: Village des Pruniers, 1336 Route de Lalande, 47120 Loubès-Bernac, France
Costs: Contributions vary according to the price tier and the type of lodging you choose in the registration section below. The price includes lodging (except if you book as a “Commuter”), daily vegan meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), teachings and activities.
Who can register: Women, Men, and couples (mixed/women)
What to Bring
- In addition to our usual suggestions of what to bring for a retreat, please bring wet weather clothing and old clothes for gardening. Consider also bringing a sun hat and sunscreen.
Register
In the buttons below:
- Please indicate whether you are coming alone or with someone.
- Next, select your gender identity.
- After that, carefully review the information about the price tiers and choose the tier that applies to you.
- Once you’ve selected a tier, click the “See Availability” button at the bottom of the price section to view the accommodation options in the next page.
Click here to view our updated payment and cancellation policy
Registration & Payment
Payment Structure
For retreats from January 3, 2026 onwards, your contribution will be split into two payments:
- Main payment to Bienvenue Aux Pruniers S.A.S. (BAP) for practical retreat aspects (food, accommodation, facilities, administration, taxes)
- Monastery contribution to Congrégation Bouddhique Zen Village des Pruniers (CBZ) to support the monastic community
Your bank statement will show two charges, and you will receive two invoices.
Note: For retreats taking place in 2025 until January 3, 2026, retreat contributions are received by Communaute Bouddhique Zen du Village des Pruniers, the religious nonprofit 1901 association operating our activities from 1988-2025.
Payment Methods
Our online booking system accepts:
- Credit card payments (worldwide)
- European direct debit (SEPA) for European bank accounts
All payments are processed via the secure Stripe payment gateway. We do not store payment details. Due to strict French regulations, we cannot accept cash, cheques, or manual bank transfers for retreat payments.
Cancellation Policy
To ensure fair access for all, we have revised our cancellation policy to encourage participants to book a retreat place only when certain they can attend.
Cancellation by Participants
If you need to cancel:
- 28+ days before arrival: Full refund minus €100 admin & cancellation fee
- 14-27 days before arrival: 50% refund after deducting the €100 non-refundable admin fee
- 13 days or less before arrival: No refunds possible
We strongly recommend obtaining travel insurance to cover retreat cancellation fees in case of unforeseen circumstances, including personal illness or family emergencies.
For those generously coming to Plum Village to help as a volunteer, the cancellation fee is €25 (to cover admin costs).
Cancellation by Plum Village
Plum Village reserves the right to cancel a retreat under any circumstances. If this occurs, you will receive a full refund of all payments made to us, including the admin fee.
Plum Village accepts no further liability beyond the retreat registration fee refund. We cannot be liable for funds spent on advance travel arrangements, such as flight tickets and visas. We strongly recommend obtaining travel insurance that covers this.
