Supporting Stillheart Institute
Stillheart Institute is a 501(c)(3) educational public benefit non-profit corporation supporting transformation of individuals, groups and organizations.
Environmental Protection & Sustainability
Future Meditation Temple and Expansion
Education
Stillheart is committed to education that helps people make a positive change in their life, their community and in the world. We produce numerous Stillheart Presents events annually, many of which are free to the public.
In addition to Stillheart Presents Events, Stillheart seeks to work with organizations who wish to help individuals create life/work balance and a positive shift in how they think, live, work and act in the world. The content for these educational programs is quite varied—protecting the world’s fisheries, corporate team building, Tai Chi training, meditation, executive leadership skills, yoga. Whether it’s personal, professional or spiritual growth (or all three), Stillheart’s uniqueness is its private and natural setting in harmony with the surrounding earth.
Fee-based programs are offered at a lowered rate structure for non-profit organizations and individual workshop leaders. Stillheart relies upon individual donations, corporate sponsorships and foundation grants to to sustain our programs.
See details on all events at Stillheart.
Environmental Protection & Sustainability
Surrounding the retreat center, Stillheart maintains and preserves a 16-acre parcel of land with hiking trails for guests to enjoy. The hiking trails cover about a mile and include hundreds of wooden steps, meditation benches, bridges over La Honda Creek, statues, and areas for quiet reflection. Stillheart cooperates with the Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District in its effort to link all hiking trails along the peninsula.
Stillheart's land is primarily a mixed redwood forest, including madrone, tanbark oak, ferns, redwood sorrel, mosses, grasses and mushrooms. The forest habitat supports an abundance of animals including gray squirrels, Steller’s jays, mule deer, acorn woodpeckers, and the colorful banana slug. In the spring, thousands of ladybugs can be seen hatching on the forest grasses. A large woodpecker “granary tree” in the center of the property has been dubbed “Woody’s Diner.” The size of the granary tree and the hundreds of holes in it suggest that it has been used for decades by generations of woodpeckers. Along the hiking trail, a redwood fairy ring offers a magical spot for contemplation. Fairy rings are created when the “mother” tree is logged or burned, and sprouts grow up around the stump, creating a magnificent ring of redwood trees. In the spring, thousands of ladybugs can be seen hatching on the forest grasses.
Stillheart is dedicated to reducing our carbon footprint by operating sustainably with reverence to the surrounding earth. Our state-of-the-art waste system is 100% self-sustaining by converting waste to nearly potable water that is delivered back into the land. Additionally, we educate each of our guests about water saving, energy habits and recycling.
We use natural light during the day when possible, limit air conditioning, turn off lights when spaces are not occupied and use compostable cups for our water dispensers. We provide guests with one set of towels and sheets for a week’s stay and Dr. Bronner’s natural soap in refillable bottles. The environmental impact of traditional hotel maid service is significant, as sheets and towels are laundered even after one use, and soaps and shampoos are likewise replaced daily, regardless of need.
Stillheart’s pool and spa are maintained with a saline-based treatment, removing the harsh chemicals that are typically used in public and private facilities. We do not use any chemicals in our laundry facility, cleaning or outdoor garden and grounds maintenance in an effort to create an environment that is healthy on every level.
Stillheart composts and recycles any materials possible, including trees! When the retreat center was remodeled, a diseased tree was milled to build over 80 beds frames, our dining room table and various benches. When we were informed we needed a space large enough for a fire truck to turn around, we chose a dual purpose for the area and built a stone labyrinth upon it for guests.
The environmentally conscious practices we have chosen at Stillheart often cost more (financially) than traditional methods, thus adding to our monthly operating expenses. However, it is our vision and choice to be in harmony with the surrounding earth. We expect our community will support us in our effort to be part of the world’s environmental solution.
Future Meditation Temple and Expansion
Stillheart has approved plans for a meditation temple and twelve additional tree house rooms. A completion of all of this expansion would cost roughly $7,000,000.
The completion of the Meditation Temple by designer Fu-Tung Cheng depends upon fund raising from you and our community. This temple in the trees makes room for silent listening. Walls can recede to reveal a raked sand garden deck floating twenty feet off the forest floor in the midst of the canopy circle of redwoods.
Twelve additional tree houses would allow Stillheart to host more overnight guests in a total of thirty-eight rooms. Due to the design of the tree houses sitting high above the ground, extensive construction is necessary for safety and building codes. The exterior of the tree homes has already been completed; the interiors and catwalks have yet to be built.
Donations
Stillheart Institute is grateful for any contributions you would like to make at this time, and they shall be used to further our mission to serve humanity. If you are interested in donating, 100% of your gift will go to Stillheart Institute, our programs, our meditation temple or facilities expansion.
Please contact Debbie Gisonni, Executive Director: debbie@stillheart.org or 650-851-6617.
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All who feel inspired to be on the Stillheart site can volunteer for garden, grounds and trail maintenance, event planning and staffing, or administration.
To join our volunteer team, please contact Ann Dannelly, Programs & Events Manager: ann@stillheart.org or 650-851-6624.
For more information about upcoming events, join our mailing list.
