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.

Aaron Palmieri from the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy shares his expertise on alligators, exploring their behaviors, habitat, and how to safely live alongside these prehistoric apex predators.

• American alligators date back 8 million years in the fossil record, predating humans
• Adult alligators may only eat 15-20 times per year, using sunlight and ambient temperature to power bodily functions
• Alligators are opportunistic and ambush hunters that will eat nearly anything except humans
• An estimated 350-400 alligators live on Palmetto Bluff property, with their population growing alongside lagoon development
• Males average 11-14 feet with the largest confirmed alligator at Palmetto Bluff measuring 12 feet
• South Carolina has approximately 100,000 alligators compared to Florida's 1.3 million and Louisiana's 2 million
• Female alligators lay 30-50 eggs annually with only 2-14 hatchlings typically surviving to adulthood
• Never feed alligators—it's illegal and conditions them to associate humans with food
• Keep pets leashed near water and maintain at least a 10-foot distance from alligators
• Alligators share a common ancestor with dinosaurs, making them more closely related to birds than lizards

Join us for alligator talks at the Conservancy on April 16th and in August on the water, or email with questions about these fascinating creatures.

Mike Overton, founder of Outside Brands, shares his remarkable journey from starting a windsurfing school in 1979 to building a multi-faceted outdoor recreation enterprise spanning South Carolina and Georgia. He reveals how a chance meeting with Hilton Head developer Charles Fraser taught him that success in the Lowcountry comes down to one word: tides.

• Started with six windsurfers purchased using inheritance from his grandfather
• Met visionary developer Charles Fraser who became a mentor and encouraged focus on tides
• Founded Outside Brands with a mission to connect people to exceptional places, products, and experiences
• Witnessed tourism marketing shift from "golf, tennis, beach" to "nature, history, culture"
• Trains guides as interpretive naturalists who create meaningful connections, not just point out wildlife
• Developed four distinct business divisions including recreation, retail, team development, and destination management
• Created The Outside Foundation which gets every 7th grader in Beaufort County public schools out on the water
• Built 30+ oyster reefs through recycling program that protects salt marshes from erosion
• Emphasizes that wellness comes from finding purpose and connecting to it
• Offers unique experiences like Gullah culture and cuisine tours on Daufuskie Island

To learn more about The Outside Foundation or to volunteer with their environmental initiatives, visit outsidefoundation.org

Golf course superintendent Michael Minks takes us behind the scenes of Palmetto Bluff's May River Golf Course, a Jack Nicklaus design that opened in 2004 and provides a unique, secluded golfing experience where almost no hole can be seen from another.

• From Navy electrician on F-18 fighter jets to Ohio State turf management graduate
• May River Golf Course nicknamed "Fantasy Land" for its breathtaking beauty and secluded hole designs
• Certified by Audubon International as a wildlife and habitat conservation sanctuary
• Morning maintenance begins at 4:45am with careful planning to stay out of golfers' way
• Recent overseeding initiative extends peak playing conditions through winter months
• 30,000 pounds of seed spread across 83 acres creates vibrant winter playing conditions
• Greens maintained at 11-12 on the Stimpmeter for consistent, challenging play
• Wildlife including deer, alligators, bobcats and foxes regularly spotted throughout the course
• Superintendent's favorite hole is #16 for its spectacular morning light through oak trees and Spanish moss
• Work-life balance essential in a profession known for demanding hours

Remember to actively participate in life on your terms. Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry in all your interactions this week.

Core strength is often misunderstood, with many equating it solely to having a visible six-pack, when in reality it involves a complex group of muscles that stabilize the entire body and protect the spine.

• Core consists of four main muscle groups: transverse abdominus (deep "safety belt"), internal/external obliques (rotation), rectus abdominis (six-pack), and the diaphragm
• Six-pack muscles can actually be overactive, preventing proper activation of deeper stabilizing muscles
• Breathing plays a pivotal role in core engagement, creating intra-abdominal pressure that stabilizes the spine
• Posture and pelvic stability are key indicators of core strength
• Essential exercises include dead bugs, hollow holds, farmer's carries, glute bridges, bird dogs, side planks, and reverse planks
• A stronger core doesn't automatically prevent all back pain – mobility and other movement patterns are equally important
• Focus on function and stability rather than aesthetics for true core strength

Text that person who made a difference in your life during a pivotal season, and be that core connection for someone else who needs it most right now.

Experience the transformative power of meditative art with Jessica Hooper, a mindfulness instructor who integrates creativity with emotional well-being. She shares her personal journey through anxiety, motherhood, and grief, and how these elements shaped her practices in art as a tool for mindfulness.

• Introduction to mindfulness in creative practices
• Jessica's background and artistic journey
• The definition of meditation in practical terms
• How art can enhance mindfulness and emotional regulation
• Practical tips for engaging with meditative art
• Encouragement for beginners to embrace their creativity