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Cultivate Calm, Connection, and Resilience

Enjoy nature-based classes to deepen your relationship with nature while creating a resilient, low-maintenance outdoor space.

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Grow Confidence in Your Landscape

Get step-by-step coaching and design ideas to create a calmer, low-maintenance landscape that make gardening doable and enjoyable.

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Plan a Nature-Based Program for Your Group

​Collaborate with us to host skill-building classes or small group coaching that lower stress, build connection, and teach practical nature-based skills.

We’ve become EarthMind 

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You may have known us as Backyard Abundance. For over a decade, we’ve grown beyond the backyard, creating gardens, habitats, and experiences for acreages, businesses, educational institutions, and spiritual organizations.

Now, our name is catching up with our work. Backyard Abundance has become EarthMind.

  • What’s staying the same: Our roots in growing food, nurturing wildlife habitat, and building resilient communities.

  • What’s new: A deeper focus on how these practices restore balance, reduce stress, and strengthen personal well-being.

A Year Rooted in Connection

Thank you for another beautiful year of nature-filled moments. From tea-sipping to fire-starting to food-foraging, 2025 brought warmth, curiosity, and joy to every garden and gathering. Your presence is what makes these experiences feel alive, welcoming, and full of wonder.

Upcoming Classes and Events

  • Early Summer Forage
    Early Summer Forage
    Sun, Jun 21
    Hickory Hill Park South Entrance
    Jun 21, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
    Hickory Hill Park South Entrance, 1439 E Bloomington St, Iowa City
    Taste the wild flavors of summer and reconnect with nature on a guided foraging walk.
  • Nourished by Nature: Foraging for Wild Edibles
    Nourished by Nature: Foraging for Wild Edibles
    Sat, Jun 27
    Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Cen
    Jun 27, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
    Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Cen, 120 Boyson Rd, Hiawatha, IA
    Enjoy a sensory foraging journey around the Prairiewoods landscape.
  • Forest Bathing with Kayaks
    Forest Bathing with Kayaks
    Fri, Jul 10
    Lake MacBride Boat Rental
    Jul 10, 2026, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
    Lake MacBride Boat Rental, 3525 Highway 382 NE, Solon, IA
    Enjoy the healing benefits of forest bathing while kayaking.

Partner-Powered Programs

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Learning Gardens

Gardening experts attend Iowa City gardens at regular times throughout the growing season.

 

Visit the gardens for free food, inspiration, learning, and fun.

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Resources

Browse our guides and tips to learn how nature's resilient principles can help your landscape buzz with life and grow an abundance of food.

Design Portfolio

Needs ideas? Visit our design portfolio to browse ideas for your landscape.

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EarthMind

EarthMind Practice (formerly Backyard Abundance) is a nonprofit that helps people and communities cultivate calm, connection, and resilience through nature-based coaching, hands-on learning, and ecological garden design.

P.O. Box 1605

Iowa City, IA  52244

319-325-6810

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