“Knowing that everything I ate and put on my body was grown in high-quality soil, with near zero transport emissions involved, immediately lifted a weight from my shoulders.“

Being a newly-pregnant nature lover can be overwhelming. The immediate rush of joy I felt upon seeing our positive test result was soon eclipsed by those familiar waves of anxiety about the state of our world. Only now, my body had transformed into a vessel for new life, one that I felt determined to protect with a mama-bear like ferocity that surprised me. Overnight, I burned with a new rage at the exhaust fumes clogging our air, the pesticides contaminating our soil and waters, and the seemingly Sisyphean effort to try and avoid it all. There were days I didn’t want to leave my house. Advice from well-meaning friends and family to “just relax” only made me feel more helpless, more alone. I needed to escape.

Casting about for a place I could feel held and protected in this fragile state, I came across The Farm at San Benito in the Philippines. Upon learning about the environmental values of this wellness retreat, I knew it would offer the type of quiet reprieve I craved. After a four-hour flight to Manila and a two-hour drive into the jungle-covered mountains near Lipa, my husband and I arrived at the sprawling, 128-acre property. Finally, I could breathe.

As one might expect given the name, this retreat boasts a farm-to-everything philosophy. The restaurants use field-harvested organic ingredients in all of their food; spa products are infused with locally-grown herbs and medicinals; and the coconut oil and body scrub found in each suite is made using native trees on the property. Knowing that everything I ate and put on my body was grown in high-quality soil, with near zero transport emissions involved, eased my worries.

On our first day, we met with a nutritionist who assessed our needs, and provided personalized meal recommendations for us to enjoy at The Farm’s vegan restaurant, Alive! We took breakfast there each day, faithfully greeted by a flock of charismatic ducks en route. The retreat’s avian inhabitants added to the overall charm of the property. Strolling back to our room, we’d encounter resident peacocks, which further elevated the ambiance of The Farm’s verdant grounds.  

Beyond its farm-fresh food ethos, we also appreciated the resort’s commitment to supporting the local community, employing 70% of their workforce from the nearby city of Lipa and ensuring the vast majority of dollars spent by The Farm benefit Lipa residents. Additionally, an ongoing “The Farm Planet” initiative promotes sustainable wellness practices among their employees by involving them in environmental activities and education on the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). 

As this was my first time visiting the Philippines, I enjoyed experiencing Filipino culture through the resort’s thoughtful programming. The Farm preserves and celebrates local culture through its architectural design and décor, incorporating native, natural materials like bamboo and rattan, as well as traditional Filipino motifs. Their restaurants serve several authentic Filipino dishes, and the spa incorporates traditional Filipino wellness therapies, such as Hilot massage where a therapist, called a manghihilot, uses touch to identify and heal areas of energetic imbalance throughout the body.  

Apart from the spa and morning yoga classes overlooking distant, misty mountains, much of The Farm’s programming happens at its medical sanctuary, where Marc and I took part in unique treatments like traditional herb compresses to support liver and kidney function, a sensory deprivation tank for quiet reflection and meditation, a cellular screening where we viewed our blood cells through a microscope, and even an art therapy session.

As two people who are already quite health-conscious, we didn’t end up with a ton of new information so much as renewed encouragement to continue our healthy patterns, which was really the reassurance I needed. Our experience also left us with a deeper appreciation for the healing power of nature, and a renewed faith in our body’s ability to support us in the face of unavoidable pollution. It was an incredible gift just to have the time and space to put down our worries for a moment and focus on the joy and excitement of our pregnancy. 

While I am grateful for this experience, I would be lying if I said it erased my fears completely. I am happy places like The Farm exist to remind us how important clean air, nature, and nutrient-rich food can be. These things shouldn’t be a luxury, but a basic right, accessible to all. How can we ensure that every parent-to-be can feel the safety and serenity I felt during those precious early weeks of my pregnancy? It’s a question I will carry with me as we continue our journey into parenthood, hoping for a world where wellness is within everyone’s reach.