Woods & Prairie
Prairiewoods’ 67 acres of woods and prairie offer a haven for those in search of quiet, solitude and a connection with the natural world. Many guests who come to Prairiewoods talk of receiving an instant sense of peace or of experiencing healing energy as they enter the grounds. The noise and activity of the city seem to fade in this contemplative environment!
Guests have opportunities to enjoy the woods with its network of trails and meditation areas. Because the woods are home to many species of plant and animal life, walkers may be rewarded with sightings of deer, fox, wild turkeys and a variety of birds.
Walking Trails
Prairiewoods has two-and-a-half miles of walking trails crisscrossing the woods and prairie. (Click here to download a printable trail map.) Our trails are open sunrise to sunset, whether we are here or not. The Center is also about a half-mile from the trailhead of the Cedar Valley Nature Trail, a 50-mile trail system that extends through Cedar Rapids and Hiawatha and travels north to Waterloo.
Cosmic Walk
A walk in the woods can become a walk through time. Prairiewoods offers a Cosmic Walk, a symbolic journey representing the Story of the Universe and its emergence through 15 billion years of evolutionary history. Beginning with the Great Flaring Forth—sometimes called The Big Bang—this journey to the emergence of Planet Earth and all life as we know it is mysterious and intriguing. The Cosmic Walk will help you to reflect on this journey. (Click here for a printable brochure that will guide you through the Cosmic Walk.)
Labyrinth
Prairiewoods has both an outdoor labyrinth, which is always available, and an indoor one, which is available on special occasions or for rent. The symbol of the labyrinth can be found in ancient cultures and has become well known in recent years as a meditative tool. Though there are different designs for labyrinths; those at Prairiewoods are the same pattern as the one embedded in the floor of the Chartres Cathedral. Pilgrims once walked that labyrinth as their individual pilgrimage seeking the sacred. (Click here for a printable brochure that will guide you through the experience of walking a labyrinth.)
Four Winds Food Forest
Prairiewoods worked with Backyard Abundance, Iowa BIG students and some very dedicated volunteers to convert our existing fruit orchard into the Four Winds Food Forest on the north end of our property. This is a place of sanctuary and foraging that provides food for human and animal guests alike. This space includes a diverse variety of native species that are edible for both humans and animals, as well as multiple gathering spaces for relaxation, contemplation and education. It even includes a Nature Playscape with climbing and playing equipment made from natural elements, a mud and water kitchen, music walls, climbing logs, seesaws, chalkboards, table games, a theatre and seating areas for parents. Bring the whole family for a fun time in the Four Winds Food Forest, picking fruit, playing and enjoying being in nature!
Green Prairie Garden
Our Green Prairie Garden is a huge vegetable garden that grows about 4,000 pounds of produce each year, the vast majority of which is shared with those facing food insecurity in our community through area food pantries. Rather than just getting canned and boxed goods, people in our community who don’t have enough to eat are now getting fresh carrots, potatoes, tomatoes and a wide variety of other veggies.
Garden of Eat’n
The Center is surrounded by a Garden of Eat’n, where the plants are meant to be interacted with, smelled and munched on! This edible landscaping invites you to eat your way through a beautiful walk along stone pathways. You are encouraged to interact with the plants, munching on red currants and oregano, gooseberries and sage. Then take a moment to sit and reflect on a covered bench in the Healing Garden, a peaceful place for meditation or just a quiet moment. The Garden of Eat’n combines form, function and practicality, offering beauty, landscaping, food and habitat for Prairiewoods’ visitors and residents. Come help yourself to all this beautiful garden has to offer!
Green Community Gardens
In spring of 2022, Prairiewoods and Linn County Master Gardeners launched our Green Community Gardens, a huge space at Prairiewoods with about 30 plots for community members to grow their own food. We also offer ongoing education throughout the growing season to everyone renting a garden plot, so gardening experience is not necessary. This is a great opportunity for anyone who doesn’t have their own outdoor space to grow their own produce! To apply to rent a garden plot, please complete this application form. For questions, contact Sandy Rosenberger at srosenberger@prairiewoods.org or 319-395-6700, ext. 216.