In Support of
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2014 - A Year of Wonder
Taking time to connect with our natural home, be astonished, be inspired to learn to live so that all can thrive.
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Jane and Mary Lou taking Blind Walk
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Active Hope Retreat
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Winter Visitors: Bald Eagles
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Eastern Blue Bird
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Full, Pink Moon
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Friends from the East Coast
making fourth visit to TRF
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We are grateful for our sixth year here on Turtle Rock Farm, welcoming guests, leading retreats and workshops, doing all we can to learn to live in ways that make it more possible that all on the planet can thrive. We are grateful this year for the high tunnel, which we now know is a great way to garden in Oklahoma. We are grateful for every drop of rain, every Red Wiggler Worm, every honey bee, every vegetable. And for the honey!
We are grateful for our chickens, guineas. Our flock grew this year and we hope to keep them all safe during the cold winter months. (We also learned what to do with mean roosters; and we're grateful for the food they now provide.)
We are grateful for every Darcy kiss, for all three alpacas' good company and for their manure, which is like gold on an organic gardening operation.
We are grateful for every guest to Turtle Rock Farm. It is our greatest pleasure to welcome guests: to dig sweet potatoes with children, to offer them a close-up look through a jewelers' loupe at a lady bug or old tree; to learn together about deep ecology and how to take hopeful steps for the future; to teach the value of beekeeping and composting; to hold in our hearts every retreatant who took time out from their routines to spend quiet time on the prairie and in the straw bale hermitage; to celebrate this wondrous planet on Earth Day and share an elegant outdoor local foods dinner, gaze at the starry sky and hear homemade music in the round-top barn during our Prairie Dinner and Concert in the fall.
There is no way to succinctly describe all the wondrous moments of a year at Turtle Rock Farm. Suffice it to say, we are grateful for our life and work here on the prairie.
And we're going to keep at it! We hope you can join us in 2014 to share in the good work of connecting in the natural world. We have listed here the first few programmed retreats. You can check our website for others - and keep an eye out; we'll be adding more. Already, we're scheduling group and private retreats. Too, we will be making presentations around Oklahoma and out of state in the new year.
We hope to be able to continue the good work of helping people come to understand more deeply humans' place on this planet, in this wondrous interdependent system, the living system that is Earth. We hope to continue to provide a welcome place on the prairie, the space to connect with the natural world. We hope to work together to continue to learn how to live sustainably-so all can thrive. It will be our pleasure to welcome you in this good work in 2014.
Beauty, Peace,
Ann and Pat
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Beekeeping Workshop
January 18
In this day-long workshop, participants will learn about the fascinating lives of bees and the importance of bees in our ecosystems and for our food supply. Ann, who is the beekeeper at Turtle Rock Farm, will teach how to put together a beehive, what equipment you need to get started, where to get bees and what goes on in the bee community during the course of a year. We will also take honey from the bees and extract it from the comb. You can sample Turtle Rock Farm honey, which, we think, is the best honey in the world.
To register, go to our calendar:
www.turtlerockfarmretreat.com
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Living Mindfully
in the Presence
January 25
Living Mindfully in the Presence is a way of life. Using mindfulness practices as well as other spiritual teachings and meditations, spiritual director Pat Hoerth will lead participants toward a more integrated daily life, in which we are more authentically present to our truest selves, each other, the natural world and the Source of love and goodness.
To register, go to our calendar:
www.turtlerockfarmretreat.com
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Simpler Living
February 1
It's been a wonderful surprise to discover that every time we choose to take another step toward simpler living, we find great joy in it. It turns out that living more simply is a more joyful way to live.
This retreat helps participants realize the causes of our consumptive lifestyles, be inspired to shift priorities, learn ways to simplify, take inventory about what changes we want to make next and experience the support of others simplifying their lives.
To register, go to our calendar:
www.turtlerockfarmretreat.com
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Shepherds' Retreat
February 10-12
A 24-hour retreat for United Methodist clergy and lay leaders. Following the Academy for Spiritual Formation model of morning, evening prayer, eucharist, periods of silent reflection on readings and small group discussion and sharing of meals, the retreat is a time for spiritual renewal for church leaders. For more information or to register, email Rev. Susan Ross at ross-susan@sbcglobal.net or Pat Hoerth at pathoerth@gmail.com
To register, go to our calendar:
www.turtlerockfarmretreat.com
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Raising Chickens
February 22
Would you like to have your own fresh eggs? Raising a few chickens can be a fun, rewarding experience. Come learn about the different kinds of chicken coops, raising chickens from eggs or getting them from the store, what chickens need to survive, predator problems and more. (And we'll introduce you to our flock!) Ann Denney leads this retreat.
To register, go to our calendar:
www.turtlerockfarmretreat.com
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Mindfulness Practices to Move Through Depression
March 1
Depression is common for many of us; it's something we deal with off and on. And in these chaotic times, times when we feel overwhelmed by the challenges we face environmentally, economically, we might experience depression even more often; in fact, it can become chronic. This retreat introduces mindfulness practices that actually help us break the thought patterns that increase depression. They are tools that can be used for the rest of our lives and break through the depression. Pat Hoerth leads this retreat.
To register, go to our calendar: www.turtlerockfarmretreat.com
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To Check Out What Else is Coming Up on our Retreat and Workshop Calendar, Click Here:
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How Does One Make Retreat?
A "retreat" at TurtleRockFarm is a chance to get away into the quiet and beauty of the prairie.
It can be a time when you sleep, listen to music, read, walk, visit, play musical instruments, do art, bask in silence, get a therapeutic massage, sit in a rocking chair on the porch, visit with a spiritual director, explore nature, walk the labyrinth, feed an alpaca, gather eggs, garden, kayak or swim in the pond...alone, with friends, family, or with the community gathered here at the farm.
It can be what you need and what you want it to be. We are happy to guide and assist, or give you solitude.
To reserve your individual, group, school, couple or family retreat:
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Comments from our wonderful guests...
"This is our fourth stay at the hermitage and visit with you. Each time has been a time of renewal. This short visit is no exception. Our conversation, the simplicity of the hermitage, and the stark beauty of the farm and rolling hills blend together to help bring the peacefulness we need." -- Bill and Jeanne Finely, Silver Spring, Md. and Blacksburg, Va.
"This hermitage is a gracious space-as is the whole farm. I leave grateful for everything-deer and wasps, damp 'possum and faithful dog; greedy goats and trumpeting guineas; laid-back alpacas and boisterous roosters. Sun, then storms; mild breezes and sleet. Happy fishing and beautiful lettuce and greens. Surprise wine and a week's worth of soup.
"This place is much like home without the distractions and anxieties. I take from here the resolve to make home more like this week. Thank you Ann and Pat for providing this space, this beauty, this time of rest. May it continue to bless more and more people as you continue your Great Work of caring for Earth and all her inhabitants." -- Jane Balenger, OP, Heartland Farm, Pawnee Rock, KS
"'O God What a Morning' Deer grazing in the north field, a hawk soaring in the west, no doubt looking for breakfast, a full moon setting in a clear sky, and then a bit later-sunrise. What a show. Thanks God." -- Mary Lou B.
"What a wonderful weekend. I needed to get away from the big city life to think, pray, read, meditate. I found the right place for it. This place is good for my soul. I will most certainly return here. Warm blessings." -- Garrick Voth, Oklahoma City
"Strawbale Hermitage must have been a long time dream which called for much hard work as it came to life. Thank you for your great effort. It is a most peace-filled, comfortable and charming place. I am grateful for these three days surrounded by the sounds of nature and covered over by a dome of blue with lazy clouds. God has blessed me here. May God bless you also. Thank you." -- Susan D.
"We enjoyed the pond and watching the stars and I liked catching grasshoppers, kayaking, listening to the sounds of nature." Mason, Maranda, Bryce and Sherri
"Thank you. I have had a balancing and purifying experience; hoping to take some of it back with me. As Persing said-the zen you find on the mountaintop is the same zen down below. I appreciate the opportunity to live in this special place for awhile." -- J.
"Thank you so much or making me feel like family during my 2-week WWOOFing stay! I'm so glad I got to know you and learn from all the great projects y'all have going. I've met some incredible people and activists while here, which is a huge inspiration." -- Hannah
"Quiet, restful, beautiful sunset...I could go on and on. thank you for sharing this wonderful retreat with us! The beekeeping seminar was fun and educational too. Wish we could have stayed longer. Good friends, good food, good fellowship-what more could one ask for? Can't wait to come back!" -- Nancy and Steve
"Awoke to a thin covering of snow and brisk cold north wind-the changing of the seasons. Thank you. Thank you for this place of respite, renewal, encouragement!." -M.L.B.
"First glimmers of light
The hoot of an owl
The words of my teacher
This house made of earth
Many things made by loving hands
I am encouraged
To put my hands to work
And to know the work as good,
As enough for today.
Small steps are still steps.
Hearing the owl in this moment-
Is a step, a connection.
Morning arrives and I am awake
The farm offers its gift
And I am here
To receive it
With a grateful hear." - Pat W.
"Thank you for this in-between time, time to sink into solitude -- accentuated by the drumbeats/heartbeats of our friends from the north who are here to practice saying no to violating the earth. I will leave with their music, and the soul-full music of this place, in my spirit..." Susan
"I like feeding the alpaca and playing in the sand." -- Cohen, age 6
"Thank you very much for showing us the farm and taking us on a hike. I really appreciate it." -- Eden, age 9
"This was a great place to stay. I'd give it a 10 out of 10. I learned a lot while having fun. Best Mor-Mor Camp ever!" -- Colton, age 11
"Thank you for giving us your time and energy. You have made an investment in us! We certainly did "praise God under the open skies" in the labyrinth, the fields, the creeks, in our unstructured play and with each other. Hallelujah!" -- Gala, age 67 (aka "Moder")
"Thank you for this in-between time, time to sink into grieving and solitude-accented by the drum beats/heart beats of our friends from the north who are here to practice saying no to violating the earth. I will leave with their music, and the soul-full music of this place, in my spirit..." -- Susan
Read More...
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Green Connections' Earth Day Festival 2013
Green Connections is a 501c3 Not-for-Profit corporation committed to helping people connect with Earth and learn to live more sustainably. We welcome the opportunity to bring their programming to Turtle Rock Farm.
You may send tax deductible donations to Green Connections, 5900 CR 90, Red Rock, OK 74651. Or you can donate on the Green Connections website. Or, go to our website - www.turtlerockfarmretreat.com - and click on Green Connections, and use Paypal to send your donation.
Meet our board members:
Green Connections: Kay Adair, Beverly Alexander (treasurer), Elizabeth Box Price, Dorothy Gray, Pat Hoerth, Ann Denney, Mary Moloney, Claudia Scribner, Shauna Struby, Tom Temple
Turtle Rock Farm Advisory Council: Barbara Hagan, Bruce Johnson, Corey Williams
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Connect to Our Blogwww.turtlerockfarm.wordpress.com
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1234 Main Street, Awesomeville, MA · 555.555.5555
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