About Us
Charissa Lynn
Charissa Lynn has developed for this retreat a series of workshops exploring creative writing as a tool for transformation. Charissa studied Creative Writing for over 10 years with a Stegner Fellow Master Class, and is published in periodicals such as The Sun: A Magazine of Ideas, The Bohemian, Opium, and more. She hold a BA from CIIS in SF and an MFA in Transformative Arts from JFKU in Orinda, CA. Charissa currently makes her work accessible online through Substack, has recently released her first collection of short stories for global distribution, and continues to develop multiple novels and short pieces while creating and leading programs for Transitional Age Youth in Sonoma County where she was raised.
Root Vision Retreats is the brainchild of sisters Amiee D’Maris and Charissa Lynn Drengsen. Since childhood they have been collaborating at bringing their creative fire into the California wilderness to transform a life of challenges into a cornucopia of blessings for their community. Time as chefs, mothers, artists, inventors, entrepreneurs, adventurers, performers, teachers, coaches, event managers, and of course as writers has prepared them with a unique set of skills to offer retreat participants as they launch this long-conceived collection of ongoing and ever deepening opportunities in the beautiful places of the West Coast, and then eventually the wider world. Amiee and Charissa are excited to create retreats away from the pressure of everyday life where they foster a sense of beauty, nourishment and safety that can hold participants while you delve into your own creative depths to discover new vistas, and return refreshed to your life already in progress.
Amiee D'maris
Amiee D'maris will lead you into the deep creative forces of poetry writing with group breakout sessions and guided poetry activities. Amiee, a published poet and graduate
of Emerson College Writing Program, studied intensively with poet and master teacher, Paul Matthews. Amiee
will focus on unlocking latent creativity through fun
and inspiring writing exercises. Amiee is also a chef
and wedding planner. Her writing practice has led her
to publish Love Story, a wedding planning guide, California Comfort Food & a collection of poems.
Amiee's writing has been featured in publications such
as Tell Me a Story, The Trumpeter, and Water Wheel.
Root Vision Retreats Ally Statement
Our intention in this space is to be allies with the full range of human diversity and approach our gatherings with dedication to inclusivity.
We are here to:
listen to your experience
hear how we may best provide support
believe your perspective as being true and valid
explore opportunities for growth and learning together
be cognizant of systemic inequalities
lift people up with advocacy
dedicate ourselves to change, growth and building a more equitable world together
Chef Peter Alan
Chef Peter Alan’s Career in the Culinary Arts spans a wide range of influences and experiences.
Most recently Peter’s day job is as the Culinary Director of the Beach House Hotel on the California coast in Half Moon Bay. Before that chef Peter was the Executive Chef and endeavored an organic culinary garden growing produce and edible flowers for the catering company he and his wife owned and operated for over 20 years. He apprenticed with Former French Laundry Farmer Jon, and grew some of the most unusual and interesting varieties of produce & flowers, enlivening their menus with whimsy & beauty.
He has a long list of accomplishments including time spent at Alice Water’s famed restaurant in Berkeley, Chez Panisse. Peter came up in that very exciting era of the birth of California Cuisine and was influenced by the chefs he worked under in the east bay; Mark Miller of 4th Street Grill, Chef Aki of Aki Japanese Restaurant, where he got a rigorous training and developed a strong current of Asian influences in his cooking style and many other talented greats he met along the way.
Perhaps what defines Peter as a chef most is his unwavering commitment to quality in sourcing ingredients. He has been known to go to extreme lengths to procure the finest in quality and his devotion to the use of organic, sustainably sourced local produce & meat shine through in the cuisine he creates.
Peter has been the longtime chef of Wilbur Hot Springs’ annual close down, where I like to joke his fan club is headquartered. He was for many years the chef at Spirit Rock Meditation Center where he influenced the menus with his gourmet background and elevated their reputation as a destination for not only the meditation workshops but also for the quality of the cuisine. Anywhere Peter works will see the innate results of his influence, working quietly behind the scenes.
Recently I was having a conversation with his daughter Zoe, who worked with him on-site at a catered event (he still works for a couple of catering companies on the side) and she relayed to me a cute story of how when it was time for Chef Peter to leave for the night, all of the staff individually called out loudly ‘Bye Chef’, ‘Goodnight Chef’, ‘Safe drive Chef’, ‘Bye Peter’. She said that it was like everyone there was so happy he was the chef and so honestly genuine in their display of affection, to all call out to him. Such a sweet image of a team of people that truly respect and love this chef.
We are very lucky to have Chef Peter join us as the chef for this writing retreat, and we can’t wait for you to get to experience his cooking.