NEW DATES for 2023! February 18 - 24
SUEÑO de VIDA, ECUADOR, South America
Join us in a lush cloud forest (just three hours away from the city of Quito) unique healing experience and nature immersion. Experience a simple but beautiful way of life at our regenerative farm amidst fruiting trees, rare flowers, hummingbirds, toucans... and more.
Heal with nature. Connect consciously. Nourish your soul.
What will I experience?
During this 5 day event, participants will:
Construct an outdoor earthen oven, patio and grill with traditional hands-on building methods anyone can do
Gather, process and use natural and recycled materials from our land
Learn the basic principles and essential skills necessary to hand build natural earth structures
Learn how to use mulch and compost to build healthy soil
Understand why “no one fertilizes a forest” and how to design thriving gardens inspired by nature's wisdom at work.
Throughout the week, we will also talk a lot about food and nutrition and how much our human health depends on the health of our soil and ecosystems! Harvesting, preparing, and eating food directly from our rich soil is a very important part of our lives here at SdV. Come to learn more about how you can feel better and more connected to nature everyday in your own life by making better food choices!
What else can I expect?
At Sueño de Vida, we strive to strike a balance between comfort and simplicity: creating abundance while only using what we need. Our home is a farm, not a resort, but there is plenty to enjoy during your stay. We will provide you with:
Plenty of tasty and nourishing fresh food harvested from our land or nearby.
Modern bathrooms and showers
Kitchen and dining area with large gas stove, sink, basic utensils (no refrigerator or electrical appliances)
Access to over 30 acres of beautiful green land including native woodland, our food forest, and fresh spring water, grottos, and lagoons for hiking and swimming.
Peaceful mornings filled with birdsong, tranquil nights, pure air, and the opportunity to decompress, recharge, and connect with nature.
Cost of Program
$1150- private room
$950 - shared room
$800 - camping, bring your own tent. We will provide a covered level camping area and sleeping pads
Family package - for parents who want to bring children or teens, write me directly and we'll work out an appropriate cost depending on your child's age
To ensure a relaxed, non-chaotic experience and plenty of individual attention for participants, only 5 spaces are available.
Contact: Natasha at myriadvibrations@gmail.com
Need a scholarship? If you are willing and able to help out in the kitchen with prep cooking and clean up, we can talk about that too. Send me an email.
What's Included
Lodging, meals & snacks, all instruction, 2 yoga classes, car transport to/from waterfall excursion and guided trail walk
Not included: cost of air transport or transport to/from Quito Mariscal Sucre Airport
For more details on the types of food and accomodations we provide AND AN ESSENTIAL PACKING LIST, see
For information on our How to Get Here and, see
You will have a full day to arrive and settle in before the first “official” day of immersion. Juan and I will give you a walking tour of the grounds and we’ll gather for refreshment and conversation. No rush, no fuss. After the arrival day, we will follow the schedule below.
Basic Daily Schedule
8 to 9am: Breakfast
9:30am to noon: Morning Session includes snack break
Noon to 1pm: Free time
1 to 2pm: Lunch
2:30 to 4:00pm: Afternoon Session
4:00 to 5:30 Free time
5:30 to 6:30 Evening refreshment/light food and wrap up. There will be opportunity for questions and discussion.
Day 1 - 2: Introduction to Natural Building
Perhaps at this point, you might be wondering, What exactly are natural materials? Well, before you picture yourself installing a bamboo laminate floor, we’ll be working with materials as simple as the dirt under our feet.
So how does humble soil become magical building material? That is exactly what you will find out! (watch this video too)
Morning Session
Harvest and collect clay from the land and mix with sand and organic fibers to make a completely natural earthen building material. Gather an assortment of recycled bottles and prepare for the build.
Afternoon Session
Start building!
We'll work in small teams at varied tasks to use energy wisely and have more fun. Remember the saying, many hands make light work? It's absolutely true!
Don't worry...I'll be there to show you every step with lots of explanations while we work
Day 3: Day off!
After a morning yoga class and relaxed breakfast, we'll head out for a relaxing and educational excursion to the Mashpi Nature Reserve. We will go on a guided trail walk with our friend and biologist Arturo through four family owned farms all doing regnerative agroforestry work.
We will start with an artesenal chocolate tasting at Mashpi Artesanal Chocolate, a cacao bean-to-bar organic farm, hike a few kilometers on a trail through the cloud forest, stop for a delicious lunch at Reserva Chontaloma, and finish with a refreshing dip in the Mashpi River.
This excursion always receives rave reviews from our visitors and workshop participants.
Day 4: Finishing up the build
Morning and Afternoon session
Finish up construction of the earthen oven and grill. Wrap up and open Q&A about creative natural building projects you can do at home
Day 5: Introduction to Food Forests and Natural Gardening
Morning session
Venture into the food forest to harvest banana leaves, palm fronds, branches and any available organic matter to make mulch.
Afternoon session
Incorporate our mulch into the garden and do some planting and harvesting. Learn how to use different materials native to your area to build healthy soil for your own garden.
Learn about the diversity of a forest garden and how to plant for healthy people, pollinators, and the planet.
Day 6: Morning yoga, breakfast, final photos…departure
Here’s a video recap video of our most recent workshop:
About Your Hosts
Kristen Krash is the co-founder and director of the Sueño de Vida Regenerative Living Project in Ecuador. Prior to moving, Kristen was known for her guerrilla gardens — productive green spaces she created in any available space. Now an urban transplant in the South American rain forest, she has adapted her urban gardening and sustainability skills to large-scale reforestation of degraded land. She takes a practical and accessible approach to helping others achieve more balance and self-sufficiency in their lives.
Juan Santillan lived in the DC area with Kristen and always had a dream of returning to his native country. Once back in Ecuador, he honed his niche constructing ingenious, sustainable, earthquake-resistant structures with local bamboo and recycled materials. He excels at bringing modern conveniences like running hot water into off-grid homes. He also thrives on taking care of trees, baby birds, our horses (Queen and Prince) and our doggies (Ganja and Bandida) with equal love and attention to all.
To reserve your space or ask questions, contact
kristen@sdvforest.com