Five-day retreat · March 21–26, 2027 · Wrightsville Beach, NC
fully immersiveculinary getaway
The ultimate exploration of plant-based cooking, community, and flavor. Each day, we journey to a different region of the world, exploring a rich variety of global cuisines.
What this week is all about
This week, we step away from the hustle of daily routines to turn everyday cooking from a frantic chore into a calm, intentional practice—one that honors both your body and local ecosystems.
Mornings begin with yoga, breathwork, and walking meditation, then move into kitchen prep focused on one culture’s cuisine. Afternoons are for collaborative batch cooking: hand-rolled pasta and cheeses, kimchi, empanadas, and stuffed grape leaves—long-lasting staples to stock your fridge and freezer at home.
In between, there’s time on the water, tea and cacao ceremonies, and conversations about intuitive eating and nutrition for your stage of life. You’ll leave with a kinder relationship with your body and a fuss-free framework for conscious cooking that fits your everyday routine.
Beyond the kitchen
The week is built to be both restful and educational. The real benefits unfold once you’re home: meal planning takes minutes instead of hours, cooking feels manageable rather than exhausting, and you reclaim time and energy for self-care, personal interests, or simply well-deserved rest.
Movement
Mornings start with gentle yoga, breathwork, or beach walks to anchor your mind and body.
Food & mind
Guided sessions on your relationship with food, intuitive eating, and practical nourish-mindset tools.
On the water
Two afternoon coastal excursions: a scenic boat ride along the shore and kayaking.
Evenings
We wind down with reflection practices, meditation, and tea ceremonies.
We’ve made time for you to prioritize self-care, unwind, and build meaningful connections.
Sample Daily schedule
Here’s what a typical retreat day looks like. Everything on the schedule is optional, so make it as educational or as relaxing as you need it to be.
Light refreshments
- Wake up at your leisure to prepare for the day
- Juice, fruit, and other light refreshments available before the morning begins
Morning Movement
- Yoga, walking meditation, breathwork
Breakfast
- Continental breakfast with a wide variety of options
- Learn to narrow down your choices to craft something that is uniquely yours
Weekly prep: core ingredients
- Every day has a different regional culinary focus:
- Italian, French, Latin, Asian, Middle Eastern
- Use ingredients typical for the region we are exploring to build authentic flavors:
- Stocks, sauces, marinades, seasonings, vegetable prep
Lunch: assemble & taste
- Build dishes that the cuisine of the day is known for
- Sit down to eat what you’ve made, while we talk about:
- Balancing flavor, texture, and satisfaction in plant-based lunches
- Adjusting portions and components for different appetites and household members
Personal Time
- Pool, siesta, beach time, reading—anything that helps you recharge your way
Batch cooking & talk on relationships with food
- Hands-on prep in a group setting creates a comfortable, relaxed space for deep conversation. Dive into key topics like emotional and social eating, cultural traditions, and learning to nourish yourself for the exact stage of life you’re in
- Communal prep that reflects our region of focus for the day:
- Italian: fresh pasta
- French: cheeses and sauces
- Asian: kimchi
- Latin: empanadas
- Middle Eastern: falafel, dolmas
Afternoon Outing
- Kayaking, paddleboarding, boating
dinner
- Watch dinner come together in minutes using the ingredients you prepped earlier today
Wrap-up and next day
- Review of the day: what you cooked, the techniques you used, and how to repeat them at home
- Open Q&A about substitutions, kids or partner preferences, and how to make plant-based cooking feel sustainable long-term
What you’ll take away
A 100% plant-based, plant-forward retreat designed to show how abundant, flavorful, and practical a week of cooking with plants can be.
By the end of this retreat, you will:
- Understand how to choose plant-based ingredients and sourcing options that fill your pantry
- Build the confidence to cook without a recipe, guided by the timeless principle: what grows together, goes together
- Be able to create a variety of dishes from a shared set of ingredients
- Be equipped with a number of reliable sauces, dressings, and marinades to keep flavors varied
- Recognize how to build flavor using inspiration from different cuisines, while still cooking in a way that feels approachable at home
This retreat is ideal if you:
- Seek nourishing, plant-rich food that feels vibrant and intentional, without the friction of rigid meal plans
- Value kitchen efficiency and want to effortlessly transform a small haul of high-quality ingredients into diverse, beautiful meals
- Love the ease of prepping ahead, but prefer a flexible matrix of fresh components over identical, pre-portioned containers
- Want to expand your culinary vocabulary with thoughtful global flavors that elevate your everyday weeknight routine
All levels are welcome; you’ll be guided step-by-step, with plenty of time for questions, tasting, and hands-on practice. If you still have questions, considerations, or need additional information, email us at online@thegreenhouseschool.com
What’s included
Ingredients & meals
Every whole-food, plant-based ingredient, plus breakfast, lunch, dinner, and refreshments each day.
Accommodations
Shared rooms in Wrightsville Beach, two guests per room.
Equipment & tools
Knives, cookware, and a fully set-up station for every cook. Nothing to bring.
Study materials
Guides and notes for each session, so you can focus on cooking, not note-taking.
Take-home recipe guide
Every recipe from the week’s global menus, ready to repeat in your own kitchen.
Movement & mindfulness
Morning yoga, breathwork, and walking meditation, plus evening reflection and tea ceremonies.
Coastal excursions
Two afternoon outings during the week: a scenic boat ride along the shore and kayaking.
Group of 10
Limited to 10 guests, so you get hands-on guidance from start to finish.
Follow-up support
Questions once you’re cooking at home? We’re here to help after the retreat.
Where you’ll stay
Wrightsville Beach
Shared accommodations, two guests per room, for a group of 10.
Local to Wilmington?
Commuter option
Residents of Wilmington, NC and surrounding areas can join as commuters, without housing, at a significantly discounted rate. Email us for details.
$1,950
Week-Long Retreat
For a fully immersive culinary getaway, our week-long retreat offers the ultimate exploration of plant-based cooking, community, and flavor. Each day, we will explore a rich variety of global cuisines and traditional techniques. You will learn the art of intentional batch cooking: preparing time-intensive, flavor-packed staples to stock your freezer for months of effortless meals. Through daily practice and diverse menu variations, you’ll leave with the deep confidence to create elegant, nourishing dishes entirely from scratch.
Good to know
- Minimum age
- 16 and up
- What to wear
- Comfortable clothing for cooking and beach activities
- Dietary needs
- Share allergies or preferences ahead of time — email us
- Cancellation
- Full refund up to a week before the retreat; 50% refund within the final week
Your hosts
Anastasia
Founder of The Green House School, who owned and ran The Green House, Wilmington’s vegan restaurant.
Dexter Spencer
Former chef of The Green House, who turns restaurant technique into simple, repeatable home cooking.