LAND & HEART: HARVEST FESTIVAL
Gathering and preserving with reflection and intention
19 - 26 September 2024
This is the second in our Land & Heart series of retreats, bringing us into deeper connection with nature and the seasons. We will be caring for the land as it changes and grows while bringing awareness to the changes and growth in our own hearts.
Harvest time at Alfoxton! Join us as we mindfully pick, chop and preserve, rejoicing in the bounties of the land and garden. While doing so, we will contemplate our own personal harvests and reflect on the fruits of our actions, ritually setting intentions on the autumn equinox for the coming winter.
Autumn will be coming in and the land changing its colours as we approach the end of the growing year. We invite you to join us as we gather, forage, cook and feast! We will show you how to make pickles, chutneys, ferments, jams, juices and syrups to contribute to Alfoxton's community store. You will also have the chance to take home with you whatever we produce in abundance.
Any extra clean jars and bottles you can bring along as a gift to Alfoxton will be warmly received, so that we can preserve as much as possible!
We will be practising meditation and Buddhist ritual (open to all levels of experience) together throughout the day, both in the shrine room and on the land. There will also be periods of silence, giving space for reflection. The wild beauty of Alfoxton Park offers a unique setting to engage with the nature connection practices held during the retreat.
This retreat provides a beautiful opportunity to mark the turning of the seasons, celebrate the abundance of the year through a harvest festival celebration, and partake in an autumn equinox ritual with the Alfoxton community. You are more than welcome to bring musical instruments, poetry and stories to contribute to the festivities!
timings & travel
TIMINGS
Unless otherwise stated, please arrive between 3-5pm on the first day. Dinner is served at 6pm, with the opening session at 7.30pm. Our retreats usually finish by midday on the last day.
The exact schedule will be provided either in your confirmation email or when you arrive.
TRAVEL
The nearest railway stations are Bridgwater and Taunton. We are about 1h 15min from Bristol by car.
The 15 bus leaves Bridgwater at 16:50 during college term dates and stops at the Plough Inn in Holford. We are a 15min walk from there.
Please get in touch for further advice with public transport, or for help arranging lifts / carpools.
Make sure to put "Coach House 2, Alfoxton Park" into Google Maps. Other variations will take you to Alfoxton House nearby which is not us. Otherwise use grid reference 51.165187, -3.220080.
The What3Words for our car park are ///soup.candy.huddling
Accommodation & Food
ACCOMMODATION
This is a camping retreat - bring a tent or live-in vehicle. Toilets, showers and a sauna are available. Warm and waterproof clothing are advisable, along with gloves and boots or wellies. You may also wish to bring a torch and hot water bottle.
We have limited accommodation indoors for those with specific needs. Please let us know when you book if this is the case for you.
FOOD
Delicious vegan meals will be provided throughout the retreat.
accessibility & diets
We are committed to Alfoxton being a fully accessible venue and are working hard to achieve this. However, while the renovation work continues, visitors with specific mobility or accommodation needs may experience barriers to accessing all areas of the building and land.
If you have any questions or concerns, just get in touch, and please inform us of any significant dietary or accessibility requirements before submitting your booking request.
Costs
Alfoxton Park is a charity and works on the principle of Dana or a 'gift economy'. Read more about Dana here.
A £108 deposit will secure your place on this event. You will be invited to make a donation to Alfoxton when you attend.
If you are an Triratna Order member and need financial support to pay a retreat deposit, you can apply for a grant from the Abhayaratna Trust.
TECHNOLOGY, ALCOHOL & DRUGS
All of our events are alcohol and drug free.
During the meditation retreats we ask you to turn off your mobile phones and other devices and not contact people outside of the retreat.
For all other events and workshops we ask you to be mindful of the use of devices and stay present, in order to make the most of your time here.
Any Questions?
Check our FAQ page or send us an e-mail at events@alfoxtonpark.org.uk