When/ Where

Seeding the Soil Creative Retreat will be held June 2–4, 2023, on the beautiful 120-acre property of Christ’s Peace House of Prayer retreat center in Easton, Kansas, about one hour northwest of Kansas City.

Arrival begins at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 2. Please plan to arrive in time to check in, get a brief tour, and settle your belongings into your cabin by 5:30 p.m.

Check-out between 3 and 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 4, or as early as 1:30 p.m. with prior notice that day.

We need to coordinate with the retreat center hosts before the retreat if you must come late or leave early outside of these times. We do, of course, understand that some variation in arrival/departure times may be necessary.

Cost and Lodging

Registration fee: $30 retreat fee + lodging fees ($100–$170) + optional add-on mentoring/critiques ($25–$75).

All accommodations are priced for two nights with simple (and yummy) vegetarian meals included Friday dinner through Sunday lunch. A bargain! The accommodation price is the suggested offering amount requested by Christ’s Peace. Please let us know if even the guest room donation amount is beyond your means as Christ’s Peace will occasionally accommodate financial need.

Lodging Options

Courtyard Rooms and Private Woodland Cabins (heated and air-conditioned): The courtyard rooms are part of the main building, have a small private deck, WiFi, and require less walking on inclines. The woodland cabins are more private and secluded, but require a five-minute walk on a wooded hillside trail and hand-carrying luggage and supplies down/up the incline. Both have private bath, sitting area, writing desk, and kitchenette.

·      Double bed, 1 occupant: $200 ($170 accommodations + $30 retreat fee)

·      Double bed, 2 occupants: $155 each ($125 accommodations + $30 retreat fee)

 Guest Rooms (heated and our current room block is air-conditioned): Guest rooms are in a wing of the main building and include a writing desk, sitting area, and closet. They share a communal kitchen and bathrooms that are not air-conditioned.

·      Single bed: $130 ($100 accommodations + $30 retreat fee)

Visit Christ’s Peace website for pictures of lodging options.

Bonus Options

Writers: Book a Saturday or Sunday mentoring/critique appointment with author/editor/mentor Kelli Sallman to learn about the publishing industry, improve your craft, or have a sounding board for your project ideas. Kelli’s standard mentoring fee is $75/hour, so take advantage of this steep discount!

·      One hour writing critique/mentoring (up to five pages reviewed during the hour) with Kelli Sallman: $40

·      Pre-submission of twenty pages (includes written feedback if submitted by the Wednesday morning before the retreat) plus one hour mentoring with Kelli Sallman during the retreat: $75

Visual Artists: Book a Saturday or Sunday art critique appointment with artist Kammy Downs. You will need to bring your actual work or excellent 300 dpi photo images on a thumb drive, JPEG format. Come with your top two questions about the work.

·      Both one-hour and thirty-minute critiques available: $50/$25

All Creatives: Bible Memory and Creativity Mini-Workshop (free). Tammy Fabian, who has memorized thirty-three books of the Bible, will present an optional free workshop Saturday evening about the connection and benefits of Bible memorization for creativity.

Faculty

Kelli Sallman

Author. Poet. Writing Mentor. Theologian.

As a freelance editor, writer, and writing coach, Kelli has specialized in a range of genres over the past two decades, including fiction, narrative nonfiction, inspirational and religious nonfiction, devotionals, and academic writing. Editing credits include Hope for the Heart and Insight for Living.

Kelli enjoys the process of helping other writers find their unique voice and story. She uses her teaching and editing skills to coach writers to improve their craft and bring their stories to fruition, and her knowledge of the traditional and self-publishing industries to help authors create platforms, get published, and get heard.

Kelli holds a BA in English literature (TCU 1994) and a master’s degree in theology (DTS 2010). You can find some of her writing on arts and theology at Inklings & Inspiration and the Christ Community blog as well as some of her poetry here.

Kammy Downs

Artist. Teacher.

Kammy Kennelley-Downs has been teaching art with preschool through high school age students for 35 years at a variety of education establishments, including Montessori, public, charter, private, home-school groups, and workshops in California, Kansas, and Missouri. Downs received her BS in Art Education from Emporia State University. In addition, she has continued to complete art and education classes, including a certificate in Digital Arts and Design from the University of California Riverside Extension. Downs has participated in several murals and written several public art grants, two of which included work with internationally known Kansas artists Stan Herd and Shin-hee Chin. She recently earned an MFA in drawing at Fort Hays State University.

Downs grew up in rural Kansas. After graduating from Emporia State University, she moved to San Bernardino, California, where she met Gary Downs, her husband of 36 years. They have five grown daughters and four grandchildren. She and her husband reside in Kansas City, Missouri. Her artworks may be seen on @kammydowns on Instagram and on her website, www.kammydowns.com.

Tammy Lea Fabian

Speaker. Author. Bible Coach.

Memorization expert Tammy Lea Fabian has memorized thirty-three books of the Bible—and counting! Determined to hide God’s Word in her heart as a way toward taming her rebellious heart, she has a passion for helping others understand and apply Scripture.

She travels the world as an international speaker, interacting with different people groups, cultures, and religions. Founder of nonprofit Date Palm Consulting as well as boutique publishing company Time in the Desert, she is also the author of the award-winning coffee-table devotional book The Art of Wisdom, Vol. 1.