Isabella’s Journey of Courage and New Beginnings

In a world swirling with uncertainty and rapid change, stories of grounded creativity and courageous new beginnings shine like beacons of hope.

Imagine leaving behind the noise and rush of city life to create something deeply meaningful — a sanctuary not only rooted in the earth but blossoming in the hearts of people far beyond its hills.

This is the story of Isabella, a French woman whose leap of faith transformed a wild hillside into Casa des Madeleines — a thriving eco-retreat and learning farm that now welcomes and inspires visitors from near and far.

Hugging the rolling slopes of Saint-Jeannet near Nice, Casa des Madeleines invites guests to discover nature’s rhythms, taste fresh harvests, and join hands-on workshops — from seasonal cooking and gluten-free baking to fermentation and vegan pastries — each rooted in the joy of slowing down, reconnecting, and savoring the gifts of the earth.

A Warm Welcome 

On a hot summer morning last week, my friend Carine and I were welcomed into Isabella’s home with the kind of warmth that makes you feel instantly at peace-  a moment you can see in the photo, with Isabelle standing at the center.

The Call to Begin Anew

A mother of four and a former interior design journalist, Isabella once lived a fast-paced life in Paris, filled with deadlines, the demands of city living, and raising her children. But it was a small, tender moment that shifted everything — watching her young son carry eggs in his tiny hands, carefree and happy.

That image stayed with her. It sparked a realization: a different kind of life was possible.

Building from the Earth Up

Twenty-three years ago, at 42, Isabella boarded a night train to visit a piece of land her brother had told her was for sale in Saint-Jeannet. What she found wasn’t a farm — just a wild hillside. No water, no car park, no building. Only a small road leading to possibility.

She rented a nearby apartment so her children could attend school and began shaping the land with her own hands.

“I just kept doing,” she told us with a smile. “No doubt, no regret.”

From carrying water by hand, planting her first tomatoes, to earning an agricultural diploma without formal schooling — every challenge was met with quiet resolve.

One of her most emotional moments? Watching the first water drops fall from an automatic irrigation system built with a friend’s help.

“I cried,” she said softly.

It was a symbol of persistence bearing fruit.

An Evolving Vision, A Feminine Space

What began as a pedagogical farm slowly transformed into an eco-retreat — a sanctuary for women, for healing, for connection. The land seemed to call for gatherings and gentle restoration.

The name Casa des Madeleines — chosen after many iterations — reflects her vision: a place infused with womanhood, wisdom, and rooted presence.

From permaculture gardens and farm-to-table workshops to yoga circles, herbal medicine sessions, school visits, and quiet afternoons of reflection, Casa has become a space where stories, souls, and seeds grow side by side.

Rooted in Nature, Guided by Wonder and Poetry 

Every morning, Isabella gazes over the green landscape and simply says, “Thank you.” Living close to nature has transformed both her life and her family’s.

“Permaculture is not just about farming,” she reflects. “It’s a philosophy of life.”

She speaks of weaving poetry into agriculture, working with the rhythms of the land, and honoring the original meaning of peasant—farmer.

In French, paysan (masculine) or paysanne (feminine) traditionally means a peasant or small-scale farmer, but it holds a deeper meaning: qu'un paysan dessine le paysage et habite la terre — someone who shapes the landscape and inhabits the land. This expresses a profound bond: not only working the soil but belonging to it, living in harmony with nature’s cycles, and helping create the environment itself.

These words carry more than labor—they carry legacy, beauty, and belonging.

A Growing Global Impact

Isabella’s work now reaches far beyond her hillside. She shares her passion for permaculture with school children in Cambodia and Brazil, planting seeds of environmental stewardship and creativity across continents.

Visitors describe Casa des Madeleines as a “hidden gem” and a “peaceful haven” where nature and nurturing hands meet to create magic.

An Invitation to Trust Life

As we sat together on her terrace, the breeze carrying the scent of earth and green, I asked what advice she would give to women on the edge of a big life change.

Her words were simple and powerful:

“Believe in yourself. Never use the word ‘but.’ Approach each day with wonder, like a child. And with gratitude.”

Her journey is a gentle reminder that even on rugged hillsides, life can blossom. And that living creatively is not about perfection, nor about having every plan mapped out from the very beginning — but about presence, perseverance, and planting seeds that may one day grow into something greater.

A New Beginning for You

Inspired by stories like Isabella’s, my friend Carine and I are inviting women ready for courage and renewal to join us this October 17th for our retreat, Starting Over.

Set in the quiet beauty of nature, this gathering is a gentle space to embrace change, cultivate creativity, and take your first steps into new beginnings — together.

If you feel called to pause, reflect, and begin anew, we would love to share this experience with you.

Because sometimes, like Isabella, we must choose to live not just on the land, but with it — to rise with quiet courage, to plant seeds of hope and possibility, and to let a more rooted, poetic life take shape.

Stay tuned for more details coming soon.