Roaring Lion Ranch & Retreat

09/14/2026

🌱 Monday Motivation from the Ranch 🐝

Whether you prefer a perfectly tidy garden or a wild, overflowing garden bed—that part is your choice.

For us, the goal is simpler: grow food for our family organically, regeneratively and without unnecessary chemicals, while remembering that our gardens feed far more than just us.

This morning we gathered another round of fresh produce from our garden beds, while our squash vines are still blooming away. 🌼 We know those late flowers probably won’t have enough time to produce mature squash before the season ends—but we’re still watering them.

Why?

Because those flowers are still food for our bees. 🐝

And in just a few weeks, we’ll be harvesting honey from those same hardworking pollinators. 🍯 It’s a beautiful reminder that not everything growing in a garden has to end up on our plate to have value.

The squash feeds the bees.
The bees pollinate the land.
The garden feeds our family.
And eventually, the bees share a little sweetness with us.

That’s regenerative living in its simplest form—learning to work with Mother Nature instead of constantly trying to control her.

🌿 And that is exactly why Roaring Lion Ranch & Retreat exists.

Our purpose is to help those in our community who want to learn—or sometimes relearn—the basics of being good stewards of the land. Gardening, pollinators, wildlife, pond management, homesteading, foraging, animals and simply understanding how the pieces of a healthy property work together.

Some lessons are new. Some are very old. All are worth passing along. And we approach it with a beginner’s mindset.

You don’t have to own acreage to start learning, either.

Reach out to book a homesteading, outdoor educational and relaxing retreat experience with us. Come disconnect for a while, get your hands dirty, ask questions and experience some of these lessons firsthand.

And as we look toward our Spring 2027 educational cohorts, we’ll be taking that idea even further with:

🌱 BEFORE YOU BUY THE LAND — A Homestead Discovery Retreat

Because before you invest in the acreage, equipment and dream…

Come live the lessons.

There is a blessing—and a responsibility—in being stewards of the land we’ve been given to care for. 🌎💚

🦁Roaring Lion Ranch & Retreat
🌿A getaway that gives back!

An Educational Eco Center in
Chatham, IL Private experiences • Approved registration required

09/13/2026

09/13/2026

🎣 A Week of Outdoor Enrichment 🌿

A little friendly competition makes a day of fishing even better!

This week, we had the opportunity to spend time fishing with a wonderful group from our community as part of their week of outdoor enrichment—and they came ready to fish! 🎣

The challenge? Bragging rights for the most fish caught AND a chance to beat last year’s record! 🏆 Needless to say, there was plenty of friendly competition, laughter, and keeping track of who was ahead.

But that’s what we love about fishing. It brings people together. It creates conversation, encourages a little friendly rivalry, and gives everyone a reason to slow down and enjoy some time outdoors.

We’re grateful to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for making programs like this possible and helping us provide accessible fishing and outdoor education opportunities within our community. 🎣🌿

At Roaring Lion Ranch & Retreat, we believe connecting with nature is something to enjoy at every stage of life. 💚

Now the question is… did they beat last year’s record? 👀🎣

🦁 Roaring Lion Ranch & Retreat
🌿 A getaway that gives back!

09/12/2026

🍂🎨 Create. Unwind. Disconnect. Reconnect.

We recently welcomed a private group to the Ranch for a Create-N-Nature session, and this time we had fun decoupaging oyster shells! 🐚

That’s just one example of what Create-N-Nature can look like. From mixed-media projects and seasonal crafts to handmade gifts, you choose what inspires you. These are relaxed, self-guided art-in-nature sessions—not formal art classes. We provide the materials, the space and support to help bring your vision to life.

🌿 All art & craft materials included
🎨 Self-guided creativity—make it your own
🌳 Enjoy the trails, pond & peaceful Ranch surroundings
🫏 Visit with our donkeys
💛 Slow down, disconnect & spend a little time creating in nature

Check out our Fall 2026 calendar for upcoming Create-N-Nature dates—or book a private day at the Ranch for your own group!

Come with friends, plan a creative retreat, celebrate something special or simply give yourself a reason to get away for a few hours. 21+

📲 Call/text 217-828-0738 or DM us directly for available dates and registration links.

Private property • Approved registration required

🦁 Roaring Lion Ranch & Retreat
🌿 A getaway that gives back!

09/11/2026

🍁🍁🍁 Snag your guest invitation & Join us on 10/4 1-5p for our 2nd Annual Autumn Affair - Countryside Retreat 🍁🍁🍁 Relax. Enjoy. Giveback. Explore.🫏🪖🎨🍔🌿🎣

09/10/2026

🎣 Upcoming OCT/NOV Fall Bass Harvest Workshops

Our beginner-friendly Bass Harvest & Intro to Ikejime Experience is back this Fall with three Sunday dates and two session times to choose from.

This small-group workshop is designed for beginners who want to better understand healthy pond management, responsible harvest decisions, and practical pond-to-table skills.

You’ll learn:
🐟 Healthy eco pond management
📏 How to use bass relative weight charts
🎣 How to make selective harvest decisions
🍽️ Intro to the Ikejime Method for a more humane fish harvest & meat preservation
🐟 Fish handling & filleting for beginners
🧊 Vacuum sealing for storage & take-home fillets.

Upcoming sessions:
Sun 10/25 8–11 AM or 2–5 PM
(Available)

Sun 11/1 8–11 AM or 2–5 PM
(Available)

Sun 11/8 8–11 AM or 2–5 PM
(3 spots left)

💲 $60 per person
👥 Limited to just 5 registered and approved participants per session
🔞 21+
🎣 Bring your own bass pole and gear. Limited community poles available.
🌦 Weather permitting
📍 Private Pond in Chatham, IL

Space is extremely limited. FCFS.

📩 Message us directly for registration details
📲 217-828-0738

🚨Important Note:
This is not a fishing tournament. It’s a conservation-focused, hands-on educational experience centered around healthier ponds, humane harvest practices, and responsible land and water stewardship.

This event is designed as a hands-on educational workshop, not a leisure fishing day. Fishing is part of the learning experience and will focus on pond management, fish assessment, selective harvest, and humane processing practices. Take-home fillets are dependent on the day’s catch and selective harvest needs, so harvest amounts may vary by session. 🎣

🦁 Roaring Lion Ranch & Retreat
🍁A Getaway That Gives Back!

09/09/2026

🐝🌸 FROM THE RANCH TO THE FARM STORE…

Natural beekeeping isn’t just about what happens inside the hive—it’s about creating an environment that helps pollinators thrive wherever we can.

This time of year, bees can enter what beekeepers call a “dearth”—a period when fewer plants are blooming and nectar sources become harder to find.

That’s why you’ll see us watering our pollinator-friendly flowers daily when needed—not only throughout Roaring Lion Ranch & Retreat, but right here in the flower pots outside our brick-and-mortar Botanical Market & Apothecary. 🌿💧

Keeping these plants healthy and flowering helps provide little pockets of food for honeybees, native bees, butterflies and other pollinators during a time when resources can be scarce.

🌻 At the Ranch, we build habitat.
🌸 At the Farm Store, we plant for pollinators.
🐝 Together, it’s all part of the same mission: caring for the land and the ecosystems that depend on it.

You don’t need acres of land to make a difference. Sometimes a few well-planted flower pots, a little water and the willingness to let things bloom can help too.

So yes…we water the flowers. 💧🌸
Because somebody’s breakfast might be growing in that pot. 🐝

Roaring Lion Ranch & Retreat
Botanical Market & Apothecary

“A getaway that gives back!”

09/08/2026

🌿 Fall Herbal Tincture Workshop
Saturday, October 10 • 10AM-12PM
Roaring Lion Ranch & Retreat | Chatham, IL

$40/person • Beginner Friendly
TEXT 217-828-0738 or DM us to Register. FCFS.

Spend Fall Brunch with us at the Ranch learning, creating, reconnecting and enjoying farmhouse charcuterie & herbal tea with us in nature during our hands-on introduction to herbal tincture making!

We’ll explore the basics of creating herbal tinctures using apple c***r vinegar and/or alcohol. Choose from a variety of herbs to create a custom blend to take home—join us on the nature trails for an introduction to wild foraging and choose freshly harvested medicinal herbs growing on our organically managed property.

Your $40 Retreat Experience includes:

🌿 Beginner introduction to herbal tincture making
🫙 Your own custom tinctures to take home
🌱 Variety of dry/fresh herbs to explore & choose from
🥾 Guided wild foraging on our nature trails to incorporate freshly foraged herbs
🧀 🫖 Sample Complimentary Herbal Tea blends to explore + farmhouse charcuterie featuring meats, cheeses & honey from our Ranch
🫏 🎨Time to slow down and enjoy the Ranch after. Shop our Barn Art Gallery by Valkyrie Recovery Art Works & visit with our rescue donkeys. All art sales benefit Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue & veterans. 🪖🎖️

Bring your favorite water bottle—we’ll have a refill water station available.

No previous herbal or foraging experience needed. We’ll start with the basics and enjoy a relaxed fall morning learning together.

Private property • Advance registration required. 21+
Roaring Lion Ranch & Retreat | Chatham, IL

“A getaway that gives back!”

09/08/2026

🛍️ BUILD YOUR OWN BUNDLE BAG! 🌿

Have you tried one of our Bundle Bags yet? It’s one of the easiest ways to mix, match & SAVE at the Botanical Market—and it’s as simple as 1, 2, 3!

💙 1 BLUE — Choose one item valued $16–$40

🩷 2 PINK — Choose two items valued $10–$15 each

💚 3 GREEN — Choose three items under $10 each

That’s 6 products YOU choose for just $79! 🙌

And yes—our selection includes meats & cheeses along with herbal teas, raw honey, skincare, wellness products, pantry goods, seeds, homestead finds & more.

No pre-selected boxes. Pick the products you actually want and build a bundle that works for you!

Featuring many Organic, Midwestern & Local Vendors + Farmers:
Valkyrie Recovery Art Works
Soil Food
Millennial Mamas
MIgardener
Pasta Al Dente by Keila
Wittys Honey
Tripp & Timber Skin Co.
Mountain Rose Herbs
The Conscious Bar
The Farms of Illinois
Bland Family Farm

📍 Roaring Lion Ranch Botanical Market & Apothecary
Inside C*D Botanicals of Springfield

🕙 Monday–Saturday 10 AM–6 PM | Closed Sunday

Come in, look for the colored dots & start building your bag! 💙🩷💚

09/07/2026

🍂 FALL AT THE RANCH IS HERE! 🎨🧄🎣🍁

Our Fall 2026 calendar is filling up with opportunities to create, learn, explore & reconnect at Roaring Lion Ranch & Retreat!

Whether you want to spend a morning creating surrounded by nature, learn how to plant your own fall garlic crop, join us for our annual charity retreat, or simply slow down and cast a line—we have something happening at the Ranch for you.

🎨 Create-N-Nature
Sept. 19 • 10 AM–12 PM 21+
Sept. 25 • 5–7 PM 21+
Oct. 9 • 5–7 PM 21+
Oct. 10 • 3–6 PM Family Day FULL
Oct. 17 • 10 AM–12 PM 21+
Oct. 18 • 10 AM–12 PM 21+

🍁 2nd Annual Autumn Affair – Private Countryside Retreat
Oct. 4 • 1–5 PM 21+

🌿 Herbal Tincture Workshop for Beginners
Oct. 10 • 10 AM–12 PM 21+

🧄 Garlic Workshop: Fall Planting
Oct. 16 FULL
Oct. 17 & 18 • 3:30–5:30 PM
ALL AGES WELCOMED

🎣 FREE Fall Fishing Opportunities
September–November • Sponsored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
ALL AGES WELCOMED

Space is limited for our workshops and retreat offerings, and approved registration is required to visit the Ranch.

📲 Ready to join us?
Call or text 217-828-0738 or message us directly on Facebook and we’ll send you the appropriate registration link.

Connecting people, the land & preserving our ecosystems.

🦁 Roaring Lion Ranch & Retreat Chatham, IL
🌿 A getaway that gives back!