Tending the Tenders: Gathering Gold (for adults)

Led by Lauren Green of Dream’s Garden (OCGDLC) in collaboration with Caroline Erb of Teatown

We began by asking what it means to tend the tender.

Now, as summer begins its turn toward fall, we gather what the season of tending has given us.

Tending the Tenders: Gathering Gold invites those who spend so much of their lives tending to people, families, communities, work, land, dreams, and one another to pause at the threshold between summer and fall and explore:

What has nourished me?

What has brought me joy?

What has supported and strengthened me?

What is precious enough to gather and carry forward?

Across the late-summer landscape, goldenrod blooms as the meadow begins its seasonal transition. The land reminds us that before release comes harvest. Before we decide what can be let go, we have an opportunity to notice what has sustained us, discern what holds value, and gather what we want to preserve.

In this 2.5-hour guided immersion, we will explore the wisdom of gathering before release, weaving seasonal observation, somatic awareness, and the Eastern wisdom of autumn’s Metal element, including discernment, value, breath, preservation, and release, with the rhythms and teachings of the land.

We’ll begin with a grounding and presence practice before moving onto the trail.

Through guided observation and land listening, we’ll slow our pace and practice noticing, receiving, asking permission, gathering thoughtfully, and giving thanks. Together, we’ll observe the ways the landscape is preparing for seasonal change and consider what those patterns might teach us about our own transitions.

Along the way, we will gather small pieces of the season, including goldenrod, flowers, ferns, changing leaves, grasses, and other available botanicals.

Then we’ll transform what we have gathered through botanical hammer printing, preserving color, shape, texture, and memory through the imprint of the plants themselves.

Each participant will create and take home a framed 5×7 botanical art piece, a personal visual record of the gold you are choosing to notice, gather, preserve, and carry forward.

This experience invites you to consider:

What am I gathering from this season?

What has sustained me that I want to preserve?

What deserves to be carried forward?

What might I become ready to release once I have honored what remains?

Before release, there is harvest.

Before winter, there is preparation.

Before we tend what comes next, we honor what has tended us.

Come gather your gold

This program will take place outside at Cliffdale Farm. Please visit the Cliffdale Farm page for directions.

$30 members / $35 non-members (includes materials fee)