A creative retreat

for the children’s book community

Our 2025 Schedule will be announced in February

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Nestled in a valley in the West Catskills of New York State, Milkwood Farm sits on 20+ acres of wildflower meadows and hardwood forest, with mossy stone walls and a meandering stream.

Built in the 1850s and run as a working dairy farm until 2006, Milkwood is now a creative retreat for the children’s book community—artists and writers, librarians and educators, editors, art directors, agents, and booksellers—to come together to write and draw, to think and walk, to talk and eat and drink. 

Milkwood operates from mid-May to early October. Milkwood offers workshop retreats, peer retreats, and self-catered residencies.

The converted barn accommodates 10 guests, with lovely bedrooms and spacious bathrooms. Meals prepared in the large farmhouse kitchen are served at long communal tables in the dining room, with views of rolling hills. There is a stone fireplace and a welcoming bar.

The two-story library has a growing collection of 5000+ picture books, and comfortable chairs in which to read them, as well as tables for studying, drawing, and writing.

The new 1500-square-foot Calf Barn is an open-plan studio where writers and artists can work in an inspiring, light-filled space.

The 3000-square-foot hayloft is a majestic space for lectures and presentations, yoga classes and celebratory dinners, and for working on large-scale projects.

Outside, the open-air barn is an enormous, covered, multi-purpose space with picnic benches, cafe tables, and a BBQ area.

Milkwood provides guests with equipment for recreation and wellness—yoga mats and mountain bikes, a ping-pong table and picnic baskets.

There are walking paths by the stream and through the woods, and vegetable gardens and fruit trees. 

Nearby college towns are Delhi (20 minutes) and Oneonta (30 minutes). It’s a short drive to swimming holes and antiquarian bookshops, and the scenic 26-mile Catskill Scenic Trail.

Milkwood is run by Sophie Blackall, an author and illustrator, and Ed Schmidt, a playwright, and is named after Under Milk Wood, by Dylan Thomas.