Cultivating Carrots and Peace in Your Garden
Cheryl Wilfong, author of The Meditative Gardener: Cultivating Mindfulness of Body, Feelings, and Mind, will visit Fort Myers as part of the week long Living MindFULLy Festival. On Friday, September 23 at 7 p.m., Cheryl will be at the Eco Center at Rutenberg Park to read from and discuss her book.
In her wise, down-to-earth book, the Vermont Master Gardener and mindfulness meditation teacher offers a rich bouquet of meditations. Her gentle, friendly, and humorous tone creates a nurturing environment in which to practice mindfulness in our very own gardens. Wilfong invites us to stroll beside our flowerbeds, appreciating them just as they are, and noticing the joy they bring us. We may not have done all the weeding or planting we had hoped, but appreciate that we are doing the best we can.
The Meditative Gardener nourishes the seed of enlightenment that is already growing in your heart. Use the tools of mindfulness and kindness to discover how to cultivate your garden and your meditation practice at the same time. Other spiritual gardening books tell us how to create a tranquil garden. The Meditative Gardener supports us in simply finding tranquility in the garden beside the front door. Instead of being a busy bee, simply be.
Contacts:
MerryBeth Farnham, mfarnham@hdprgroup.com, (239) 464-3345
John Kiseda, Lee County Parks and Recreation, (239)432-2163
September 24th
9am – 1pm
Lakes Regional Park
7330 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers
WALK FOR INNER REFLECTION AND WORLD PEACE
Mindful living can improve your inner peace and general wellbeing. The Living MindFULLY Festival and Peace Walk on Saturday, September 24, at Lakes Park in Fort Myers is the highlight of the week long Living MindFULLY celebrations. Registration for the walk starts at 8 a.m. and the walk will begin at 9 a.m. The fee for walkers is $20.
The Peace Walk Opening Ceremony will take place on the Bermuda Field in front of the Park Lodge. The ceremony opens the guided walk that is recognizing and promoting inner peace and harmony. This handicap accessible walk is about ¾ of a mile with a number of designated points for reflection. It will end with a beautiful butterfly release and the shared experience of creating a sunflower mandala as an expression of peace in the community.
Following the walk, a host of family-friendly activities and workshops by non-profit organizations awaits the participants. Lee County Parks and Recreation will host a “Gardening Interest” area featuring displays and hands-on activities such as: Florida Yards & Neighborhood Program, worm composting, native plant information, live butterfly house, and gardening for wildlife. Other non-profits will also demonstrate and display. Learn ways to practice mindfulness in your daily life. Studies show it is a healthier and more positive way to live! Learn more at www.pathtomindfulness.org.
Family-Friendly Activities Include:
FAMILY-ORIENTED ACTIVITIES
Story Telling
Origami (Paper folding)
Crafting for Peace
GARDENING MINDFULLY
Hands-on Displays
Demonstrations
Butterfly Tent
GUIDED WALKS
“Birds of Lakes Park”
“The Fragrance Garden”
“Exploring Ethnobotany”
CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS
Community Mandala Creation
Jeff Schneider, Wooden flute
Art as a Mindful Activity
FOR YOUR HEALTH
The Blood Mobile
Tips for Mindfully Dealing with Stress
Chair Massage
Yoga
Tai Chi Demonstration and Instruction
ARTS AND CRAFTS VENDORS
and much more
LivingMindFULLY project partners include: Lee County Parks & Recreation, Hearts’ Path to Mindful Living, Integrative Mindfulness, HD PR Group, Renaissance School, Lee County Alliance for the Arts, SW FL Naturally, and Cypress Cove Retirement Community. Proceeds from this event will benefit the 501(c)3 on-profit organization, Hearts’ Path to Mindful Living. This group’s mission is to promote supportive, life-affirming mindfulness-based programs teaching powerful methods for reducing stress, contributing to health and well-being.
Walk Flyer 9 5 2011