The Whole Truth Retreat

Come and be our guests

This is not a conference, and it's not a seminar. If that's what you like, there are many other options awaiting you. But if you want something different, we invite you to join us.

Ours is an exclusive event, because we limit each retreat to just seven guests. Everyone stays at Ivy Terrace, eats together, and is part of the conversation. This intimacy is not incidental — it's the entire point. The friendships formed around our table can sometimes last a lifetime.

Kim and Nelson will be with you not just as instructors, but as hosts. Nelson will lead five days of powerful programming, designed around many of the ideas shared in the book he wrote with his father — The Whole Truth. Some of these ideas will resurface in the intimate dinner time conversations.

Chef Kim has prepared a delectable menu using all her talents as a nationally regarded cookbook author. She'll serve as chef throughout the retreat — a job she loves. You'll also participate with her in dinner preparation each day.

See What Awaits

Each Day

Five days that feed everything

Mornings with Nelson

The Whole Truth of our Health, and More

Each morning, Nelson leads a session in an unfolding five-part journey you won't find offered anywhere else. Grounded in the philosophy of wholism, these mornings move from how we care for our bodies to how we understand our place in the world. In an intimate setting that invites questions and conversation, the arc builds toward a single, transformative shift in how you see your health, your life, and everything around you.

A Father's Life Work

The story of Dr. T. Colin Campbell — his research, his discoveries, and the long road that led him to a single unifying idea: biological wholism.

Seeing Through a Wholistic Lens · the heart of the retreat

The most important session of the retreat. Starting in biology and reaching outward to the world, Nelson teaches a way of seeing — your life, your relationships, and everything around you as connected wholes rather than isolated parts.

III

The Plant-Based Movement

A candid, critical look at the plant-based movement — why it hasn't yet lived up to its promise — and then, drawing on the arguments in The Whole Truth, Nelson's ideas for addressing those shortcomings and reinvigorating a movement the world urgently needs.

Carrying It Forward

Not information, but intention. You'll leave with the motivation — and a way — to act: in your own life, your family, among friends, or in your community.

A Circle Before You Go

On your final morning we gather once more — not to teach, but to listen. An open circle to share whatever the retreat has stirred in you before you head home: a gentle, honest close to your time here, and a chance for your voice to shape the retreats that follow.

Mealtimes with Kim

Culinary Delights

Three-time cookbook author Kim Campbell serves as chef throughout the retreat, delivering to your table dishes prepared from her own delectable recipe creations. She'll also lead afternoon hands-on culinary instruction, when you'll help prepare the dinner meal. And before you leave, she'll share her signature meal starter pack system — now supported by an innovative app — that will bring joy and ease to your plant-based lifestyle.

Afternoons

Afternoon Fun

Between lunch and your late afternoon hands-on cooking session, you'll have free time to explore the local area or simply to rest under one of Ivy Terrace's beautiful porches, listening to the sound of cascading water. You'll be provided ideas for local excursions, and if you want to keep it simple, you can take walks through the quaint mountain town of Saluda, where the absence of traffic turns ordinary neighborhood streets into quiet walking paths.

Every Evening

Conversation & Connection

Dinner is served family style — where we all sit together around a dining room table. This allows for lively conversation that may extend beyond your last appetizing bite of Kim's dinnertime creation. Each dinner, Nelson comes prepared with a theme for the discussion, but with flexibility given to talk about whatever you wish to share. After dinner, you can relax with your new friends in a wood-themed, inviting living room — the centerpiece of the 1800s Ivy Terrace Inn — or on some nights, wander down to one of the local establishments in town to hear local music.

Your Hosts

Nelson Campbell

Author · Filmmaker · Host

Nelson Campbell coauthored The Whole Truth (BenBella, June 2026) with his father, renowned nutritional researcher Dr. T. Colin Campbell. In prior years, Nelson produced the award-winning documentaries PlantPure Nation and From Food to Freedom. He also founded the nonprofit PlantPure Communities, building a grassroots support network involving nearly 250,000 people at its height, and he founded the PlantPure foods and education business.

Nelson's morning sessions and evening discussions draw on his knowledge of Dr. Campbell's research and his many years of work as a plant-based advocate. He presents with warmth, depth, and a genuine conviction that a wholistic way of seeing can change everything.

Kim Campbell

Chef · Cookbook Author · Host

Kim Campbell is the author of three nationally recognized plant-based cookbooks and has spent over 35 years advocating for healthy eating. She studied nutrition and child development at Cornell University before becoming one of the most trusted voices in whole food plant-based cooking.

In the kitchen, Kim's approach is practical and joyful. She is known for creating recipes that fall within the comfort food genre, so even the most mainstream of eaters love her food. She will change how you cook — and more importantly, how you feel about cooking and the food you are eating. Guests consistently say that time with Kim is one of the most transformative parts of the retreat.

The Setting

Ivy Terrace Inn

A beautifully maintained seven-room inn nestled in lush gardens in downtown Saluda, North Carolina. For the duration of your retreat, it is entirely yours.

Gardens & Grounds

Our property includes lush gardens, winding paths, a stream, and a beautiful water feature — peaceful spaces to reflect, walk, or simply sit quietly between sessions.

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Seven Guest Rooms

Each with private en-suite bathroom, meticulously maintained and full of character

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Stone Fireplace

The heart of evening gatherings — a massive stone fireplace anchoring the main sitting room

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Commercial Kitchen & Dining Room

A full commercial kitchen and dining room purpose-perfect for hands-on culinary instruction

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Tantalizing Food

All meals are served fresh, full of nutrition, and designed to tantalize taste buds

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Gardens & Stream

Lush gardens, winding paths, and the sounds of water running through the property

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Downtown Location

Walking distance to the quaint mountain town of Saluda, NC, with quiet walkable streets

What Guests Say

Words from those who've been here

This retreat was not just another plant-based immersion. Welcomed so warmly, I felt a genuine fellowship with Kim and Nelson and everyone in our group. From walks together, evenings around a stone hearth, to the entertainment — all were unmatched. An unforgettable week I would recommend to anyone who yearns for a healthier, more connected life.

Fred

My dream had been to attend a health retreat. Not only were Campbell Retreats more affordable than other programs — they were in the mountains, and the Campbells truly cared. Each day was full from morning to evening. We ended each night in front of a beautiful fireplace. The Campbells became dear friends. I plan to return every year.

Debi

We were embraced with warmth, caring, delicious meals, hands-on cooking classes, and a plant-based passion from Kim and Nelson that made the week so educational and memorable. We felt a heart connection with our group on the very first evening by the fireplace. We left with new friends and have been sharing our journey ever since.

Shelley

The setting was beautiful — nature, fresh air, and a wonderful sense of community. The hands-on cooking classes were fun, practical, and full of ideas I use every day. Kim and Nelson created such a warm, inspiring environment. I left feeling refreshed, empowered, and excited to bring this lifestyle home.

Beth

An exclusive experience

With only seven guests per retreat, each retreat is truly one of a kind. Everything you need is included — programming, all meals, and five nights of lodging at Ivy Terrace. We encourage you to reserve early, as these intimate gatherings fill quickly.

The Whole Truth Retreat

$2,500

Per person · All-inclusive · Five nights at Ivy Terrace

All programming with Kim & Nelson
All meals during the retreat
Five nights at Ivy Terrace with private en-suite bathroom
Full exclusive use of the home — gardens, dining, and living rooms
Meditation sessions and walks through Saluda
Take-home meal starter program, supported by an app

Upcoming Dates

2026 Retreat Dates

July 26 (Sun) – July 31 (Fri)

Each retreat is limited to seven guests. Contact us early to reserve your place — these intimate gatherings fill quickly.

Questions

Frequently asked

Why only seven guests?

Because intimacy is the point. Seven people sharing a home for five days creates something that simply cannot happen in a larger group — genuine connection, personal attention from Kim and Nelson, and a family-style experience that goes far beyond a typical retreat.

Do I need to already be plant-based?

Not at all. Many guests are just beginning their journey, while others have been plant-based for years. The retreat meets you exactly where you are — beginners find the foundation they need, and experienced eaters find depth, community, and fresh inspiration.

What is the cancellation policy?

Full refunds are available up to 30 days before the retreat. From 30 days until three weeks before, we offer a 50% refund. Within three weeks of the start date, registrations are non-refundable.

How do I get to Saluda?

Saluda sits in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, about 27 miles south of Asheville. It's roughly a 23-minute drive from Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) and about a 90-minute drive from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). Most guests fly into Asheville and drive up, and we're glad to help with any questions about getting here.