Gardening As A Spiritual Practice

Building Kinship with the Living World

16th -18th October 2026

In-Person

Gardening as a Spiritual Practice is a weekend gathering led by Satish Kumar and June Mitchell, with a contribution from Colum Pawson. It offers an invitation to slow down, to listen, and to reconnect with the living soil as teacher, companion, and guide.

We garden, of course, to grow food. Yet gardening is also a form of active meditation, a quiet, attentive practice through which we enter into relationship with the living world. To garden is to cultivate kinship with the soil, to move from ideas of ownership towards belonging. The land is no longer an object to be used, but a living presence with which we are in relationship. The land does not belong to us; we belong to the land.

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Course Structure

16th -18th October 2026

  • This is a weekend course running from 4pm on Friday to 4pm on Sunday

  • Hosted in-person at Sharpham House, Devon

Inspired by spiritual, ecological, and cultural traditions – from Rudolf Steiner’s spiritual understanding of agriculture through Biodynamic farming, to the Shumei movement in Japan founded by Mokichi Okada, and Vinoba Bhave’s practice of Spiritual Gardening in India – as well as contemporary movements such as agroecology, permaculture, organic agriculture, and no-dig gardening, the weekend weaves together reflection, conversation, and hands-on engagement. Together, these traditions remind us that when we garden with love and awareness, the soil nourishes not only the body, but also the heart, the mind, and the spirit.

Over the course of the weekend, participants are invited to share in learning and celebration, cultivating joy, care, and reverence for the earth. Together, we will explore how spiritual gardening can support personal wellbeing, ecological renewal, and a deeper sense of belonging in a living world.

Why Join This Course?

In times when the modern world demands we live in disconnection from the Earth, this course offers an opportunity to reflect on our role in the more-than-human world and our relationship with ourselves and each other.

 

Held at the stunning Sharpham Estate, this course will not only nourish your heart and spirit, it will also offer a unique perspective of the South Devon bioregion with stunning views of the surrounding restored land and River Dart.  

 

The Sharpham Estate is an internationally-recognised centre for mindfulness retreats and teaching, with 40 years’ experience. Click here to find out more about location and accommodation.

Cost: £ 580 (Single room), £ 450 (shared room), £760 (couples special offer – limited places available) 

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Facilitators

  • Satish Kumar

    Satish Kumar is the Founder of Schumacher College in the United Kingdom. He was Editor of Resurgence magazine for 40 years. The Guardian newspaper described this magazine as “the artistic and spiritual flagship of the Green Movement” Read more…

  • June Mitchell

    June Mitchell follows the Plum Village tradition, founded by Thich Nhat Hanh. She teaches 'Way of the Heart', a Qi Kong exercise with a long light bamboo stick, which she learnt at the monastery in France. She also guides walking and sitting meditation and deep relaxation. She taught at  Schumacher College and Forty Two Acres.

  • Colum Pawson

    Colum has over 25 years’ experience in land-based projects, including managing market gardens, leading teams, and teaching sustainable growing. Previously he was Head Gardener at Schumacher College and led its Sustainable Horticulture programme. He now teaches outdoor skills and manages the garden at South Devon Steiner School.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • This course is for anyone wishing to be part of a transformation of our relationship with the living Earth. We welcome all ages and abilities.

  • No, this course is open to all. You don’t need to be a skilled gardener, but you do need to be prepared to engage with the living soil, plant life and fellow participants.

  • We will share further details about the schedule in due course. Our weekend courses usually start mid-afternoon on the Friday and end around lunchtime on the Sunday. You may want to practice giving your full presence to this course and consider a digital detox if possible.

  • Participants must be prepared to spend time outside, possibly in inclement weather. You will need appropriate clothes, waterproofs, boots, a flask, and anything else you need to help you feel comfortable. You may also like to include a notebook and bring any gardening tools you are particularly fond of.  

"When we garden with spiritual consciousness, the land is no longer a commodity but a community. Gardening with love nourishes not only the body, but also the mind and the spirit. It gifts us joy, grounding, and health, alongside the food that sustains life.”

- Satish Kumar