Trinity’s healing garden

The trinity healing garden is a public garden with emphasis on health and wellness and good gardening practices.

A meditative labyrinth was added to the 20 year old garden, and is quite a unique feature.  The garden is located south of Trinity Care Center, with access both from the nursing home, and from the parking lot off of 9th street, East of Highway 3.  It is free and open to the public daily, during daylight hours.  The garden is a great place to come walk or just relax in the shaded pergola area or to “take a stroll with your soul” on the labyrinth.  Individuals or groups are welcome to visit and enjoy what this unique green space has to offer.  It is completely handicapped accessible and anyone can visit.

The garden has undergone a major redesign and restoration, thanks to involvement of the Dakota County Master Gardner’s.  It is now not only a green space to be enjoyed by all, but also a “living laboratory” showcasing best horticultural practices and a place to practice and enjoy the therapeutic aspects of gardening.  The Dakota County Master Gardeners will be conducting seed trials, and doing horticulture demonstrations during the summer.  The garden will be open during Dew Days with master Gardeners on hand to answer horticulture questions.

Information about the Garden and Garden Activities is available below.  You can also access via the City of Farmington Website and the Master Gardeners of Dakota County Website.

HISTORY:

In 1997 the Healing Gardens at Trinity Hospital were established through the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and many donations.

Trinity’s Healing Garden is a garden space for healing the mind, body and soul.  It offers renewal of the five basic aspects of our personality – the mental, physical, social, emotional and spiritual properties that contribute to who we are as a person.

In 1997, the garden committee soon realized that a labyrinth would be a valuable and natural tool to have in the Healing Garden.  Four women (Erickson, Pettis, Nordine, and Gagne) would spend five days in France studying the labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral, which was rendered in 1220.  In the summer of 1999, the Trinity Labyrinth was created, it serves as a replica of the 42 foot labyrinth embedded in the stone floor of Chartres Cathedral in France.

Labyrinths are usually 36 – 50 feet in diameter.  The path of a labyrinth is about 1/3 of a mile.  Its a path of prayer; a winding, turning path that leads one over 11 circles toward the center.   As the body moves along the path the mind is quieted.  There is no right or wrong way to walk the labyrinth.  The outdoor labyrinth at Trinity is handicap accessible and is open to the public for use.

GUIDELINES FOR THE WALK: Clear your mind and become aware of your breath.  Allow yourself to find the pace your body wants to go.  You may “pass” people or let others step around you.  The path is two ways.  Those going in will meet others coming out.  When walking the path with others, allow time for each person to set their own pace before you begin your walk.  It is also a time of reflection to sit and watch a walk.

Walking the Labyrinth by Hand This Week Newspaper Article