Shannon, left, builds a bench with her project partner, Sarah
A Weekend Immersed in Sustainability: Shannon’s Wintergreen Studios Experience
Shannon Nuttall had long heard about Wintergreen Studios—a place known in the Kingston community as a haven for creativity, connection, and sustainable living. But it wasn’t until this spring that she finally made her way to the iconic straw bale lodge, eager to participate in two hands-on workshops and spend a night surrounded by the wild beauty of the land.
“I’d been wanting to build a Free Library for ages,” Shannon shared. “But I just never got around to it on my own. Doing it in community felt really, really great.” The Free Library workshop, and the bench-building session the previous day, offered Shannon the chance to create something meaningful for her neighbourhood. “My intention is to put the Free Library in front of my house, for both books and for sharing seeds or seedlings from my garden,” she explained. “It’s a way to extend the spirit of sharing and sustainability into my own community.”
Wintergreen Studios, nestled on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe peoples, is more than just a retreat—it’s a living model of environmental stewardship. The lodge, built with straw bale construction and featuring a living roof, immediately struck Shannon with its sense of harmony. “It just felt like such a grounded place to be,” she said. “Knowing it was off-grid, it really felt like I was more aligned with the outdoors than in other structures. There’s something about being in a place that’s built with sustainability in mind—it’s not just a concept; it’s a feeling of being in balance.”
Workshops at Wintergreen are designed to foster both skill-building and community. Shannon described the welcoming atmosphere: “Rena Upitis, Wintergreen’s founder and one of the four workshop facilitators, gave a land acknowledgement that really resonated for me.”
The tools provided were a mix of battery-operated and hand tools, and participants were invited to bring their own. “One of the co-participants brought a drill she’d been afraid to use, and by the end of the weekend, she was using it like they were old friends,” Shannon explains. “That’s the kind of empowerment that happens here.”
Meals were another highlight—locally sourced, protein-forward, and always abundant. “I can’t oversell the food,” Shannon laughed. “Warm banana chocolate chip muffins in the morning, rice, tofu, bok choy with spicy peanut sauce as well as a Thai cucumber salad for lunch, and always a selection of water, teas and coffee. The people who prepared the food, or as I called them ‘the kitchen goddesses’, really took care of us.”
The Evening was spent in the common room, sharing stories and discovering connections. “We talked about local flora and fauna, some of us knitted, and just enjoyed the peace of the woods. It was really idyllic and relaxed.”
For Shannon, Wintergreen Studios was more than a weekend getaway. “Having been there now, I really feel like it would be easy to come back for a hike, a personal retreat, to volunteer, or to take part in more workshops. It’s a place that lives its values—sustainability, community, and stewardship of the land.”
Her experience is a testament to the power of hands-on learning, shared purpose, and the quiet inspiration of a place built in harmony with nature. “If you haven’t been there, I highly recommend it. The whole thing is incredible.”