Lynn De Witte shares her journey of growing and harvesting food in her 3,000-square-foot garden at Palmetto Bluff, where she's cultivated a plant-based lifestyle for over 35 years. Her garden, Le Petit Jardin, demonstrates how anyone can grow their own food through patience, learning from nature, and starting small.

• Early influences from her grandmother's love of flowers and a nutrition course in the 1980s sparked Lynn's interest in plant-based living
• Eating from your garden creates deep philosophical connections to food, gratitude, and mindfulness
• Companion planting mimics natural ecosystems - like planting basil near tomatoes to infuse flavor through their roots
• Garden design incorporates vegetables, fruits, herbs, and 23 varieties of roses selected for Hardiness Zone 9A
• Morning ritual begins with warm lemon and ginger water, followed by cold-pressed juices from garden ingredients
• Family participation in harvesting creates meaningful connections and turns meals into stories
• Commercially grown flowers often lack fragrance due to breeding for shipping durability rather than scent
• Top five plants Lynn would choose: tomatoes, kale, lavender, roses, and basil
• Three beginner steps: start with plants you love to eat, use containers or raised beds, and learn your growing zone
• Wellness means living in harmony with natural rhythms - "presence over perfection"

Visit Le Petit Jardin's open house on May 10th to experience Lynn's garden and artisanal products. All proceeds support a school garden project in Ghana, West Africa. Contact Lynn at lepetitejardinpb@gmail.com for gardening advice.

The foundation of smart training lies in six essential movement patterns every human should be able to execute properly for injury-free movement and lifelong strength. Jeff walks us through his fitness journey and breaks down how to properly approach strength training for optimal results.

• Six foundational movement patterns: squat, hinge, lunge, push, pull, and carry
• Squats work quads, glutes, core, and lower back while improving posture and mobility
• The hinge is the most forgotten pattern - bending at the hips, not the spine
• Lunges provide single-leg work for balance and symmetry
• Push movements are typically over-trained while pull patterns are often neglected
• The carry is the most practical pattern for developing full-body strength and grip
• Focus on quality over quantity, moving slowly with proper form
• Stop or regress any movement that causes sharp pain
• Core bracing is key for proper execution of all movement patterns
• Start with two sets of 6-12 reps, progressing by adding load rather than more sets

When we serve others, true joy comes from a genuine desire to make a positive difference, not from external validation. Don't use appreciation as fuel for your service – the opportunity to help others is the gift.

Captain Tom Shanahan shares his lifelong connection to the water and how his passion for boating led him from scrubbing boats as a child to becoming lead captain at Wilson Marina after service in the U.S. Coast Guard. Tom offers a unique perspective on Palmetto Bluff's pristine waterways, where members can experience peace and tranquility rarely found in today's busy coastal areas.

• Began fishing at age 3 and owned his first boat at age 6, learning the waterways from a young age
• Earned a biomedical engineering degree but left the field to follow his passion for life on the water
• Created a comprehensive boat captain program at Palmetto Bluff offering fishing trips, destination excursions, and educational opportunities
• Emphasizes conservation and sustainability practices on the water to preserve wildlife for future generations
• Provides practical boating safety tips including creating float plans and understanding tidal patterns
• Describes wellness as finding peace on the water where mind and body naturally align
• Recommends emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) as lifesaving boating technology

Whether you're an experienced boater or simply love being near the water, finding your peaceful place is essential for wellness and connecting with what truly matters.