the (sourdough) retreat

October 3-5, 2025

Three Sisters Farm

Friendship, Maine

Join us on the coast of Maine to learn, or elevate, your sourdough baking skills. Hosted in a picturesque 1850s farmhouse, you’ll gather and connect with other women* over the ancient form of feeding our bodies delicious, nutritious bread. Over the weekend you’ll connect, learn and grow as a baker, and be armed with the tools to continue your sourdough journey at home.

*including individuals who identify as female. accepting members of the LGBTQ+ community is also a prerequisite to attending.

you’ll learn…

to maintain a wild yeast starter

to mix and bake a classic sourdough boule

to adapt a base recipe for inclusions

to hone your bread senses

the foundations of the ancient art and craft of sourdough baking

to bake beyond the bread - how to minimize waste and enjoy fermented grains in myriad forms

what’s included

Two nights accommodation (for overnight guests) in an restored 1850s farmhouse with all the modern luxuries and amenities you would expect from a top-rated vacation rental
3 delicious and nutritious, organic grain, locally sourced meals a day plus snacks, tea and treats

All supplies and ingredients for baking
A sourdough starter kit to take home- starter, dough whisk, spatula, banneton, bread lame, mixing bowl
Expert instruction
Hands-on experience

A life skill that allows you to feed yourself, your family, friends and neighbors delicious and nutritious bread
Free time to explore the picturesque midcoast of Maine
Access to walking trails, kayaks, bikes and more

join us

Curated discussions and organic connection
A unique sound bath experience

about your hosts

Cortnie Curran is the Bread Kitchen manager at Scratch Baking Co. in South Portland, Maine. Scratch is a neighborhood bakery that is well known for its sourdough bagels. She is beginning her own endeavor as Nourish Bakehouse in Biddeford, Maine which focuses on sourcing local products and grains for her sourdough bread, cookies and other baked goods.

Cortnie is a Pennsylvania native that was drawn to Maine due to her need to be by the ocean. She spent years as a counselor in a medication assisted treatment setting and needed a change of pace. A lifelong love of baking led to a new career, and the Maine Grain Alliance Kneading Conference made her into a lifelong bread nerd who collects flours and grains like they’re Pokémon cards.

We are so fortunate to live in a state with a robust food chain system and Cortnie delights in being able to feed her community with the fruits of labor from our farmers, millers, and other food producers in the great state of Maine. She is so excited to be a part of a weekend where women can connect, be present and fall in love with the art of baking naturally leavened bread.

Bridget Mariner is the owner/baker of Union St. Sourdough, a licensed cottage bakery in Camden, Maine focused on organic-grain sourdough bread, bagels, cookies, scones and more. A former NYC gallerist, turned environmental nonprofit professional, turned business strategist, Bridget is honored to participate in the spirit of creative self sufficiency of her home state.

Feeding her community, especially those who’s systems can’t tolerate conventional grains and baked goods, brings her immense joy and satisfaction. Doing so while also being present to raise her family - well that’s a dream come true. She is endlessly fascinated by the fermentation process central to sourdough baking.

In a past life, Bridget organized boutique retreats around ‘business as a force for good.’ Now believing in the power of sourdough to feed our minds, bodies and souls through nourishment and connection, she’s thrilled to partner with Three Sisters Farm to gather, connect and bake.

Nestled near the rugged coastline, in Friendship, Maine, Three Sisters Farm is a classic MidCoast Maine farmhouse lovingly restored with high-end amenities. The farm features large, bright, airy rooms, 5 bedrooms, 2 living areas, 2 fully stocked kitchens, and 2 designated workspaces with super-fast internet on 11 beautiful acres. At 3200 sq. feet, there's plenty of room to spread out and relax in the farmhouse, while the surrounding spruce forests and picturesque fields give you space to roam outside - you'll be just a short 1/3 mile walk from a pristine tidal cove. Sip your morning coffee while gazing out at the prime foliage, or cozy up by the fireplace on chilly evenings. Experience the perfect blend of nature and modern comfort at Three Sisters Farm!

agenda

day 1 - arrive & relax

arrive at the farm and be greeted with warmth, tea, (sourdough) treats and an opportunity to get settled in

pre-dinner gathering, and discussion with delicious sourdough provisions

locally sourced, sourdough infused, candlelit dinner

day 2 - learn & connect

morning walk (or not)

delicious sourdough focused fresh breakfast

sourdough presentation

lesson: how to mix and know your dough

locally sourced, fresh lunch

beyond bread - how to make the most of your sourdough - lesson and hands-on baking

free time

tea and (sourdough) treats

candlelit sound bath with local practitioner

locally sourced, sourdough infused, dinner

register here

day 3 - bake & depart

morning walk (or not)

lesson: how to score & bake

delicious sourdough focused fresh breakfast

wrap up discussion

departure

about the midcoast of maine

North of Portland and south of Acadia National Park, Maine’s MidCoast region is a vibrant destination with stunning natural beauty, dotted with charming villages for dining, shopping, and exploring. Experience world-class museums and theaters, take a stroll on a local beach or hike the rocky coast.

Friendship is located 90 mins north of Portland International Jetport and the vibrant city of Portland, Maine, 30 mins south of the popular coastal town of Camden, and just 2 hours south of renowned Acadia National Park. Known as “vacationland” (for good reason), Maine, especially the Midcoast, is unique because it's one of the few places where “mountains meet the sea.”

things to do

onsite

Enjoy a walk around the 11 private acres

Ping pong, barn swing, outdoor games

Practice yoga or do a Pelaton ride in the wellness studio

Read with a cup of tea by the fire, or in one of the numerous cozy nooks

Go for a bike ride (bikes available on site)

Enjoy a short ⅓ mile walk to the secluded and picturesque tidal cove

Use one of the onsite kayaks, paddleboards or canoe (life jackets available) and get out on the water

offsite

Nearby are numerous nature preserves with beautiful hikes through coastal flats, as well as more ambitious hikes inland in the Camden Hills (40 mins).

Take a 30 minute drive up the coast to check out Camden and Rockport

Visit the Farnsworth Museum or Center for Maine Contemporary Art in Rockland (24 mins)

Enjoy the rocky, pine studded shores and sandy beach at Birch Point State Park (27 mins)

Visit the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (53 mins)