These classes (come to just one or many!) at Dharma’s Garden will focus on a different aspect of ecology each month through the lens of land stewardship and connection to seasonality. Each class seeks to empower community members with knowledge about the processes of earth, focusing on interconnected relationships between animals / plants / soil / humans, and how individual pieces work together in resilience. Consider this a class on the basics of ecology with nature as our classroom, exploring the land to teach us the cycle of birth, growth, and death through the seasons. Each class will consist of a brief lesson, a group walk around the land with discussion, and an activity to get our hands and bodies moving with the earth.

Join us in celebration of the four-year anniversary of our land acquisition! We will have live music, apple cider pressing, and nature-based crafts (kid-friendly and adult-friendly). A fun time for the whole family. Bring a blanket and a picnic lunch to enjoy on the land.

This class explores the foundations of healthy soil—its chemistry, structure, and biology—and how these elements work together to support thriving plants. We’ll look at the dynamic relationship between soil and plant health, where each strengthens and sustains the other, and uncover practical ways to build resilient landscapes from the ground up.
(photo by Steve Weeks)

Walking meditation around the land, led by Alan Cogen.

Spend the day learning about the world of wool. We will discuss different fibers used in textiles and where they come from, but our focus for the day is on sheep, history of sheep and fleece-wool. Explore different properties of different sheep breeds and their uses. Learn how wool is sheared, skirted, washed, carded and spun, to be transformed into the usable yarns that make our blankets, clothing and other textiles that surround us every day. Dig your hands into fleece from Dharma’s Garden’s own flock of Black Welsh Mountain Sheep. See this wool transformed as it is washed, carded and spun by the instructor. Try your hand at parts of the process including picking, carding and spinning. In the afternoon you will use some of Dharma’s own flock’s wool to wet felt your own small treasure pouch to take home.

This year, we are fortunate that our Autumn Equinox ceremony in the Stone Circle will be led by Patrick MacManaway. As the sun balances day and night in perfect harmony, we gather to honor the changing seasons and the turning of the Wheel of the Year. Patrick guides us in ceremony, connecting us to the land, the stones, and the shifting energies of the equinox through spoken word, song, and shared intention. It's a moment of reflection, gratitude, renewal, and celebration—welcoming the inward journey of autumn with reverence and community spirit. Stay for the community potluck and bonfire at sunset.

Step beyond the clock and into the spiral. Join master dowser and geomancer Patrick MacManaway for an immersive 2-hour exploration of circular time—the ancient, intuitive understanding of time as a living rhythm rather than a linear march. Through story, discussion, and subtle energetic practices, you’ll reconnect with natural cycles, seasonal wisdom, and the deep, timeless intelligence that guides both land and spirit.

We’ll gather in the quiet of the early morning in our Stone Circle as Satish Kumar guides us in a simple meditation together. Drawing on his journey as a Jain monk and peace pilgrim, Satish infuses the practice with compassion and reverence, reminding us that meditation is not merely a moment of quiet, but an opportunity to deepen our connection to the land, to ourselves, and to each other.

We’ll gather in the quiet of the early morning in our Stone Circle as Satish Kumar guides us in a simple meditation together. Drawing on his journey as a Jain monk and peace pilgrim, Satish infuses the practice with compassion and reverence, reminding us that meditation is not merely a moment of quiet, but an opportunity to deepen our connection to the land, to ourselves, and to each other.

Pull on your best tuxedo overalls and join us for an unforgettable evening of wood-fired pizza, live music, community celebration, and purpose. This joyful gathering is part fundraiser, part feast, and all heart, with a special guest appearance by peace-pilgrim Satish Kumar and environmental healer Patrick MacManaway. We're coming together to help Dharma’s Garden reach a major milestone: owning the land free and clear. More than 640 families have already contributed to this community-owned vision, and with your help, we can finish what we started.

We’ll gather in the quiet of the early morning in our Stone Circle as Satish Kumar guides us in a simple meditation together. Drawing on his journey as a Jain monk and peace pilgrim, Satish infuses the practice with compassion and reverence, reminding us that meditation is not merely a moment of quiet, but an opportunity to deepen our connection to the land, to ourselves, and to each other.

A special lecture by legendary Satish Kumar, renowned peace-pilgrim, ecological thinker, and founder of Schumacher College. The lecture is grounded in Kumar’s visionary framework that integrates care for the natural world (Soil), the inner life of individuals (Soul), and the well-being of communities (Society), this talk will offer a powerful exploration of ecological consciousness, spiritual well-being, and social harmony.. In this time of environmental crisis and social fragmentation, Kumar's message provides a transformative lens through which to address climate change, consumerism, and disconnection from nature.

We’ll gather in the quiet of the early morning in our Stone Circle as Satish Kumar guides us in a simple meditation together. Drawing on his journey as a Jain monk and peace pilgrim, Satish infuses the practice with compassion and reverence, reminding us that meditation is not merely a moment of quiet, but an opportunity to deepen our connection to the land, to ourselves, and to each other.

Come get some farm-fresh veggies at our “give what you can, take what you need” donation-based market. We open up our onsite market of veggies, herbs, and flowers to the public starting at 6:00pm. We’ll also have live music from Neil Bender, and a food truck so you can have a picnic dinner with your family. Kid friendly!

A chance to walk the land with Satish Kumar and Patrick MacManaway, meet the co-founders behind the project, and experience the living story of Dharma’s Garden. We’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at Dharma’s Garden’s vibrant history, and hear about the mission. We’ll even have a chance to try an old fashioned apple cider press!

We’ll gather in the quiet of the early morning in our Stone Circle as Satish Kumar guides us in a simple meditation together. Drawing on his journey as a Jain monk and peace pilgrim, Satish infuses the practice with compassion and reverence, reminding us that meditation is not merely a moment of quiet, but an opportunity to deepen our connection to the land, to ourselves, and to each other.

These classes (come to just one or many!) at Dharma’s Garden will focus on a different aspect of ecology each month through the lens of land stewardship and connection to seasonality. Each class seeks to empower community members with knowledge about the processes of earth, focusing on interconnected relationships between animals / plants / soil / humans, and how individual pieces work together in resilience. Consider this a class on the basics of ecology with nature as our classroom, exploring the land to teach us the cycle of birth, growth, and death through the seasons. Each class will consist of a brief lesson, a group walk around the land with discussion, and an activity to get our hands and bodies moving with the earth.

Dharma’s Garden presents a movie screening at The Boedecker:
Radical Love is an intimate documentary that reveals the journey and testimony of Satish Kumar, a tireless Indian pacifist who left his homeland 65 years ago to sow deeper and more purposeful ways of being on Earth.
Best known for his 8,000-mile walk for peace, former monk, activist, author and educator Satish Kumar has been inspiring global change for nearly 70 years. Between his home in the south of England and an experience of returning to India, the film portrays his impressive journey.”

Walking meditation around the land, led by Alan Cogen.

In this engaging half-day workshop, participants will be introduced to the foundational principles of permaculture and ecological thinking—a design framework that aligns human systems with natural patterns to create sustainable landscapes and communities. Through storytelling, real-world project examples, and small group discussion, and even a little play, you'll learn how to begin integrating these regenerative practices into your own life, garden, or business.

In this two-hour class we will explore the fundamentals and process of botanical illustration, learning to zoom our eyes in to the small details of the flora around us. We will investigate flower anatomy, and participants will choose their own specimen to dissect and draw. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of plant anatomy, pollination, and how to represent the details of the world around them with a pen and paper. There are no prerequisites for this class; artists of all levels are welcome.