The Art of Tending | Kathleen Duich, Vermont Retreat

Today we're speaking with Kathleen, a writer and single mother who transformed six acres of Vermont farmland into something much more profound than a business strategy. What began as a practical solution—making the land pay for itself after moving from affluent Marin County to rural Vermont—has evolved into a masterclass in heart-centered hospitality and the radical act of leading with generosity of spirit.From the community barn raising that erected her yurt to the profound connections she's discovered through hosting strangers, Kathleen's story challenges everything we think we know about successful hospitality. She's created a unicorn experience not through Egyptian cotton sheets or high-end finishes, but through intentionality, care, and what she calls "tending"—the art of creating spaces where people can exhale into beauty and belonging.In our conversation, we explore how suffering can deepen our capacity for connection, why clear is kind when setting boundaries, and how a generosity of spirit can transform both host and guest. We'll discuss the difference between transactional and relational hosting, why Target sheets can create luxury experiences, and how our current culture's emphasis on protection over connection might be keeping us from the very experiences we crave most.Whether you're just starting your hosting journey or questioning how to maintain heart in an increasingly competitive market, this conversation offers a different path—one that suggests the way we show up is what determines what comes back to us, and that maybe, just maybe, most people are good at their core.Instagram: @vermont.retreatWebsite: https://www.thevermontretreat.comCozy Rock Cabin: https://staycozycabin.holidayfuture.com/listings/311027Cozy Camp Sebec: https://staycozycabin.holidayfuture.com/listings/311051Cozy Rock Website: http://www.staycozycabin.comYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_FgMwAgvORd1IwlH1nlC9g