Events at the PLOT 2025
10th Annual Winter Solstice and Celebrattion
Sunday December 21, noon to 4pm (see flyer)
Come early for an 11 am start to participate in a public engagement art making of a mandala scroll, a contemplative piece called: Seeds Resting: Dreaming in the Dark ( see attached flyer for more information)
WHERE: ROOM #4 NEWTON REC CENTRE 7120 136B St, Surrey (In the Newton Ice Arena across from the Newton Wave Pool)
WHAT: A combination of circling to observe the change of the season ( inspired by the teachings of Cree Elder and Medicine Wheel Founder, Grandma Amy) , Feasting, AND a variety of crafting; pine cone ornaments, felting, and a collaborative scroll making.
WHAT TO BRING: A short poem or quote, drum, rattle or music maker. Seed pods if you wish for visioning and art making ( a variety will be available) . Something to share for potluck, (Samosas/Hot Drinks provided)
To cut back on waste, please BYO cup, dishes and cutlery.
This is a free Family Event! All Welcome!
Help Welcomed: Doors open at 10 am to help set up or stay late to help put things away.
As we close the indoor event at the end of the day, we will proceed to the medicine wheel to create an earth mandala of seeds/seed pods/leaves/flowers. If you wish to join please dress for the weather.
Seeds Resting; Dreaming in the Dark
What dreams are we inviting in as we rest in the dark of Winter? What is encoded in the seeds that the earth carries? What do we carry? Can we hold precious the wordless visions that live in the void of all possibilities and rest in the stillness, the silence, of the spaciousness of the dark long nights, trusting this time of incubation? How do we welcome this time of rest and its gifts as we nestle, appreciating our heightened senses of the fecund earth around us and recognizing this balancing partner of the sun, in our continual dance of change and cycle within the cosmos.
During the PLOT Winter Solstice Observation 2025, you are invited to participate in a ‘seeding’ through a community engagement scroll making art project. This work is both a personal and collective journey. Using intuitive and free form drawing with graphite (mixed with stardust) on Mulberry Paper, each person contributes the feeling essence of what they are lovingly tending in their own ‘seeds of being’.
Following a guided meditation and inspired by actual seeds each person has either chosen or brought with them , we will create images, lines, marks or patterns on a large community scroll. Together we lovingly relate a collective story.
For the Seed Mandala Art Immersion Experience:
Seed collecting prior to the Solstice
Choosing Seeds to Bring into MW Ceremony: Take a walk through the forest, the PLOT Sharing Garden or your or another garden you have permission to collect from. Set the intention to choose with your feeling/knowing body rather than mind. You will naturally gravitate toward certain seeds. Let that be your guide. Close your eyes for a moment, take a deep breath, and feel your connection to the earth and then invite the seed or seeds into your awareness that seem in alignment with what is needed for you at this time. Ask permission from the plant.
Choose what feels right to you, energy that is specific for you, plants that are specific to assist you at this time. Go into your body knowing to choose
(A variety of seeds will be available at the event if you have been unable to make it out for a walk before hand)
Fall Equinox Observation
Sunday September 21 @ noon to 4 pm
Work Party Followed by Corn Roast Potluck Picnic/Earth Mandala and Full “Corn Moon” Drum Circle
Sunday September 7 @ 1:30 pm to 5 pm
Feelings of high summer, harvest gratitude and playful spirits were prevalent as the PLOT Sharing Garden Community gathered with joy and gratitude 🙏🏽
for the plants, the people and the sweet spirit of the land!
Bee Day
Sunday July 13, 1pm to 4pm
A gathering to celebrate and honour the Bees.
Walks through the garden revealed numerous pollinator plants, some planted by nature, some by the hands of people.. stories of folklore and fact were exchanged and songs were sung.
A platter of bee cookies was created by one of our young plot members with edible flowers that included edible flowers like lavender much favoured by bees 🐝
10th Annual Summer Solstice Observation
Sunday June 22, noon to 4pm
We invite reflection on the ‘Earthworm’ in honour of Grandma Amy and her Cree Name ‘Manchew S’quao, Earthworm Woman and the cultivation of fertile soil. Grateful for the circles, the healing, and the understanding of the interconnections of all life that her teachings have inspired.
This is a particularly special event. With the new Recreation Centre slated for the land, this may be our last Summer Solstice observation on this site. Grateful to the city of Surrey for the past ten years of land use agreement, and for their dedicated work to find a new permanent location.
WHAT TO BRING:
~ Lawn chair
~ Fingerfood to share for potluck (Samosas and other snacks will also be provided)
~ BYO your own dishes, mugs, cutlery etc
~ BYO water bottle
~ Dress for the weather and include a sunhat
~ An instrument/ song/poem (for after or during ceremony)
FOR THE PLOT MEMORY BOOK: For our 10th Year Anniversary we are creating a PLOT Memory Book. Please bring a poem or short story or even a few words of a memory of the PLOT Sharing Gardens; of Grandma Amy, of Don and Cora, of the various and varied artists and volunteers, of the events, or of special or sacred moments you have experienced over the years. Stories of healing, new community connections, or insights gleaned are especially welcomed. These words can be brought to the Solstice Event or emailed here to friendsoftheplot@gmail.com
We hope you are also able to join in the many events in the area supporting National Indigenous Day June 21, and events throughout the month of June.💛♥️💛
Mother’s Day
Sunday May 11 @ Noon to 4pm
WHAT: Mothers Day Tea with crafts, music and a poetry station.
WHEN: Sunday May 11 @ Noon to 4pm
WHERE; PLOT Sharing Garden ( behind the Newton Ice Arena at corner of 71 Avenue and 137ASt Surrey BC)
WHAT TO BRING:
~ A Finger Food to Share for Potluck
~ Cup, plate,cutlery to help save on waste
~ Lawn chair to rest if you wish
~ A musical instrument
~ A poem or short prose to share for the PLOT Sharing Garden Poetry Book 20
Saturday Work Party May 10 @ 11am to 4pm
We still have garden beds to clear for planting, fresh soil to place on garden beds and lots of yummy early wild greens to nibble on.
🌿💐🌿 🫶🐦🍓🫛🥕🌽
WHAT: Garden Renewal Work Party and PLOTLUCK Picnic 🐝🌱
WHEN: Saturday May 10 @ 11am to 4pm
WHERE; PLOT Sharing Garden ( behind the Newton Ice Arena at corner of 71 Avenue and 137ASt Surrey BC)
WHAT TO BRING:
~ Garden gloves and your favourite garden tools(we have some on site if needed)
~ A Finger Food to Share for Potluck
~ Cup, plate,cutlery to help save on waste
~ Lawn chair to rest if you wish
Super excited to share the city has brought in our new garden shed!!!
It is a bright playful addition to the gardens!
Lots of ideas already percolating as to possibilities! A great spot on the roadside wall to hang the new felted PLOT banner on nice days when we are in the gardens. and for other large or small art works or banners!!
Thank you to all who were part of making this happen!
Extended Earth Day Celebrations
Sunday April 27, 1 pm to 4:30 pm
Free Family Friendly Event!
Gather round the Knowledge Sharing Circle and share poems, quotes or words of care with the earth.
Participate in the creation of a felted wool “Earth” themed banner, take a plant walk and learn about the wild plants for spring forage, or craft with nature based craft materials.
PLOT Spring Garden Work Party
April 26 from 11 am to 4pm
Please join us on Saturday April 26 from 11 am to 4pm for a rejuvenating spring garden work party! Tending the earth with loving hands this Earth Day Weekend. Join for the whole day or part day getting ready for our Extended Earth Day Celebration the next day, Sunday April 27 from 1pm to 4:30pm.
WHEN: Saturday April 26, 11 am to 4 pm
WHERE; PLOT Sharing Garden ( behind the Newton Ice Arena at corner of 71 Avenue and 137ASt Surrey BC)
WHAT: Garden and Medicine Wheel Work Party and PotLuck Lunch Picnic
WHAT TO BRING: Garden gloves and your Favorite Garden tools, Something to Share for the Potluck
FOR NEWCOMERS: Please let us know if you would like to volunteer to help tend the gardens communally or take on a bed to tend for community.
“I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden.” ~ Ruth Stout