Kevala Retreat: A Wisconsin Sanctuary for Regenerative Living
At the heart of regenerative real estate is a simple idea: the way we inhabit a place reflects the way we move through the world. Few understand this more intuitively than Mark Voss, Latitude’s Partner and dedicated Change Agent, whose approach to real estate is shaped by years of Buddhist practice. That philosophy finds expression in Kevala Retreat—a 68-acre property in south-central Wisconsin where meadow, forest, and orchard come together in quiet balance between inner and outer life.
Shrouded in green, surrounded by sound—the hermitage listens as much as it shelters.
Mark first visited Kevala in the 1990s while on retreat. Decades later, he’s hoping to find its next steward—someone who recognizes, as he does, that places like this aren’t just owned; they’re cared for. In a world that rarely pauses, Kevala reminds us that stillness has an address—and that it begins wherever people live in rhythm with the land.
What began as a sanctuary for contemplation has evolved into a living example of Latitude’s Five Roots of Regenerative Real Estate—our framework for creating homes and communities that foster wellness, resilience, and belonging for both people and the planet.
The Five Roots of Regeneration at Kevala
Health & Wellness
There’s a noticeable shift that happens when you enter Kevala: the breath slows, the shoulders drop, and a sense of ease settles in. The combination of natural wood, light, and open space is intentionally simple—and profoundly effective. A 2023 study in Physiology & Behavior confirmed what the body already knows: environments shaped by natural materials reduce tension and fatigue. Kevala shows how good design can quietly restore balance, without asking for anything in return.
Wood, light, and stillness—an architecture that reminds the body how to rest.
Sustainability
Kevala Retreat models sustainability as a closed-loop system. Solar and geothermal systems, along with wood stoves, generate energy for daily life. This foundation of energy independence is complemented by the property’s orchard, gardens, and root cellar, which together provide nourishment year-round. It’s a living expression of food sovereignty and true wealth—measured not in accumulation, but in the capacity to thrive from the abundance of one’s own land.
In a meadow bordered by pasture, sunlight becomes power.
Preservation as a practice of patience. The root cellar turns time itself into a resource.
Community
Though created for retreat, Kevala naturally lends itself to connection. Its gathering spaces invite people to slow down together—sharing meals, stories, dreams, and stillness. Multiple dwellings make it ideal for multigenerational living, co-ownership, or small community use. In a time when belonging can feel fleeting, Kevala offers a reminder that community begins wherever people choose to be intentional about how they live side by side.
A home that holds the light—and the people drawn to it.
Set apart, yet connected. A hermitage that turns solitude into presence.
Ecology
A spring-fed stream winds through native prairie and mature woodland, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem that shifts with the seasons. Meadows hum with pollinators, and more than 200 apple trees mark the continuity between past and present stewards. Kevala’s ecological health is integral, showing how biodiversity strengthens the resilience of both land and life.
From above, the pattern reveals itself—homes, meadow, forest, and field woven into one living whole.
Spirit
Kevala is less a property than a practice—a way of living that asks for attention, rhythm, and respect. It stands as a reminder that home can be both sanctuary and teacher, reflecting the balance we bring to it. “Places like this remind us what’s possible when we live in relationship with the land,” he reflects. “They show us that stillness can be active, and care can be creative.”
Kevala Retreat is listed by James Lanier. Learn more by reaching out to Mark Voss
Spirit, like the land, doesn’t stand apart—it surrounds, connects, and holds.
Kevala is less a property than a practice—a way of living that asks for attention, rhythm, and respect. It stands as a reminder that home can be both sanctuary and teacher, reflecting the balance we bring to it. “Places like this remind us what’s possible when we live in relationship with the land,” he reflects. “They show us that stillness can be active, and care can be creative.”
Learn more by reaching out to Mark Voss.
Listed by James Lanier.
