Mindful at Crabtree Farms: Nature as Teacher Guided Meditation in Chattanooga

Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga sits at 1000 E 30th Street in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and hosts Nature as Teacher: A Mindfulness Practice, a monthly, one-hour gathering that teaches simple, nature-based meditation and mindful walking for all ages (10+). Led by Holli Richey, an eco-therapist and nature-based meditation practitioner who trained with Tara Brach, Jack Kornfield, and Susan Reviere of Atlanta Insight Meditation, the session invites participants to slow down and reorient to plants, soil, weather, and the body as living teachers. On arrival you’ll meet at the farm’s meeting point at 1000 E 30th Street, a short, accessible pause from Chattanooga’s streets where the farmland speaks in textures—cool soil, sun on leaf edges, the hush that drops when a breeze moves through stems. The program mixes gentle guided meditation, a mindful walking practice, and quiet reflection, alternating indoor and outdoor moments depending on weather. Expect unhurried prompts, silence, and invitation to notice sensory detail rather than literary metaphor: the grit of earth underfoot, the pattern of a leaf, the arc of sky. This practice is distinct for its ecological frame: it treats the land as an active collaborator in calm, a place where ordinary farm elements function as anchors for attention. That approach makes the session a singular complement to the region’s more kinetic outdoor offerings, offering restorative time after climbing, paddling, or city exploration. Participants appreciate the teacher’s grounding voice and the farm’s capacity to host small, intention-driven gatherings; sessions are offered freely with donations welcomed, and a client waiver is required — see Crabtree Farms and Executive Director Liz Simmons in the release language. Practical details: the gathering lasts about one hour, is open to anyone age 10 and older, and requires no prior meditation experience. Wear layered clothing for changing weather and shoes suitable for soft ground. Bring water and any personal cushions if you prefer seated meditation. Because programming adapts to weather and may move indoors, check availability via the booking link before you go and contact Chloe Watts at 423-493-9155 or [email protected] if you need assistance. The meeting point is listed as Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga • 1000 E 30th Street Chattanooga, TN, which makes finding the site straightforward for visitors staying in town. If you arrive by bike or on foot you’ll notice how small changes in wind or light become full instruction: tilt of a blade, aroma of leaf litter, the way the ground sinks underweight after rain. It’s an accessible, low-impact option for travelers who want a focused pause that still feels like part of Chattanooga’s living landscape rather than a generic wellness class. Regular attendance deepens attention to seasons and local ecology, and donations support Crabtree Farms’ ongoing community programs. Join in.