Earth Sanctuary: A Nature Reserve, Meditation Parkland and Sculpture Garden

Many people love Earth Sanctuary the best during the Winter. It is crisp and clear and there are fewer visitors so your visit can be more personal and private. Come see, feel, smell, touch & hear nature. We have just planted over 1,000 new native plants and over 400 conifers as part of our 500-year plan to restore the property to mature old-growth forest. Enjoy the reflective water of the three ponds while walking the Wetland trail. On the ponds currently are Buffleheads, Mallards, and Great Blue Herons. In the trees, you may see or hear a Pileated Woodpecker or a Great Horned Owl.

Earth Sanctuary is a nature reserve, meditation parkland and sculpture garden located just south of Freeland on Newman Road. Click here for directions.

There is an admission fee of $7/person to help cover restoration and maintenance costs.

Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Meditation and Prayer at Earth Sanctuary

Celebrants interested in a personally meaningful and profound New Year’s Eve are invited to Earth Sanctuary on Whidbey Island for meditation and a prayer walk, followed by hot cocoa and cider. The joyful event will be held Saturday, December 31, 2005 at 3:00 pm, and will conclude with refreshments at the Earth Sanctuary retreat house.

The meditation and prayer walk will begin, rain or shine, at the Earth Sanctuary visitor parking area and proceed to the Earth Sanctuary Labyrinth, Dolmen and Cottonwood Stone Circle, with a time for prayers and short meditations at each sacred site. Dress warmly and appropriately for the weather. The celebration is alcohol-free.

There is limited room at Earth Sanctuary, so reservations are required. Email your plan to attend to Chuck Pettis at cpettis@earthsanctuary.org. A donation of $15 is requested.

My son Bre is a leading video blogger and has been teaching me to do video blogs my self. I am very blessed to have such talented and passionate sons! -Chuck Pettis

Earth Sanctuary has a 500-year plan to return the property to mature old-growth forest with maximum diversity of birds and wildlife. But first, we need to plant all the conifers that will make up that forest in 500 years. We are in the process of calculating how many conifers we need to plant to fill the existing forest. This year we are planting over 440 conifers, mostly on the South side of the Middle Pond.

Dawn Dickson of Providence Hospital brought a group of breast cancer patients to Earth Sanctuary to “explore the inner journey.” Listen to their experience. Earth Sanctuary is a wonderful place for healing and getting in touch with your inner and higher self.

Come see the Red Alder forest as its leaves turn colors and drop off this Fall.

Earth Sanctuary is typical of most of Puget Sound: it has been logged several times. When old-growth conifers (such as Douglas Fir, Hemlock, etc.) are cut down, Red Alders are generally the first tree that grows in the cleared ground. The Red Alder forest at Earth Sanctuary is replenishing the nitrogen in the soil. The Alders are also very beautiful in sunlight. Come and check out the Red Alder forest!

The Wetland Trail is the best trail at for families and folks who are looking for a low-stress trail to enjoy the beautiful natural setting at Earth Sanctuary. This is the trail that you can take to see the Cottonwood Stone Circle!

Morgan Pettis, restoration project manager for Earth Sanctuary gives some advice to use when walking The Middle Path Trail at Earth Sanctuary.