Gardening For Divine Vitality: Creative Garden Planning

A Spiritual Living Retreat

“If you have a tendency toward gardening….have a small garden…and spend most of your Saturdays and Sundays in finding your peace in garden work.”

~Paramahansa Yogananda

Gardening is a remarkable source of joy and of course, also has practical value. Many of us are drawn to gardens when we see them. They provide peace, beauty, and inspiration. Whether ornamental or for food, we feel our innate connection to the earth through gardening. The list of health benefits includes exercise, fresh air, sunshine, and improved nutrition. Gardening is also a way of building resilient communities. Our planet benefits.

We invite all gardeners (beginning and seasoned) to join an experiential workshop featuring practical gardening techniques combined with spiritual principles. The weekend will include a presentation on “Garden Planning 101,” which will be especially helpful for first-timers. It will also give long-time gardeners reminders on how to be successful in their endeavors in 2025. We will have a guided visualization practice to help you connect with the gardening adventure calling to your soul this season, and then there will be time and supplies for drawing and writing out your plans using a simple template we will provide. Our facilitators will support you individually to answer questions, talk through any challenges you’re facing with your plans, and help you walk away with a practical and inspired vision.

This retreat is for you if you would like:

• Support planning your garden – whether you are a first or a seasoned gardener
• Weave spiritual principles into gardening
• To connect with like-minded garden-loving people 
• Fresh inspiration for your garden
• To share the joy of gardening with others

Combined with vegetarian meals, hatha yoga classes, and meditations, participants will enjoy a truly pleasurable and informative gardening experience designed to create peace and spiritual awareness. Paramahansa Yogananda often used the image of the garden in his spiritual writings and this workshop will demonstrate how this practical practice can enrich your spiritual life.

Registration open for those ready to join; specific details to follow!

Lodging Fee: By clicking the Register Now button, you’ll be able to pay for your lodging, which includes the cost of meals and the retreat fee.

Retreat Fee: $108 program fee makes these offerings sustainable far into the future and will be included automatically when you register for your lodging. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Please reach out to our office if you need to arrange a worktrade to help offset costs. 

Weekend Schedule:

Friday

• 2 – 4 p.m. – Check-in
• 5 p.m. – Dinner
• 6:30 p.m. – Welcome, Introductions, and Setting the Vision for the Weekend
• 8 p.m. – Community Meditation (chanting, prayer, silent meditation, and healing service)

Saturday:

• 8:45-9:45 a.m. – Short Yoga Class & Guided Visualization Meditation 
• 10 a.m. – Brunch
• 11:00 a.m. – Garden Planning 101
• 1:30-2:30 p.m. – Hatha Yoga in the Domes 
• 3-4:45 p.m. – Planning Our Gardens Hands-On Workshop
• 5 p.m. – Dinner  
• Free Time – Integration & Independent Reflection on Learning 
• 8:00 p.m. – Community Meditation (chanting, prayer, silent meditation, and healing service)

Sunday:

• 8:30-10:00 a.m. – Closing Reflections & Sharing 
• 11 a.m. – Self-Realization Sunday Service Reading (75 min.) – based on the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda
• 1 p.m. – Sunday Community Dinner

Click the button on this page to register