Fauna, Flora, Musings
Shagbark Hickory
I’d like to highlight in my coming posts some of the many forest crops we have at the Sanctuary. Many we have planted around the Cavanaugh homestead. Others have been planted by birds, wind, and the ways of Mother Nature and we have allowed them to flourish. And some were on the land already when we arrived. The Shagbark Hickory is one in the last category.
Hickory trees do not produce nuts every year, so one has to pay attention and harvest in the years when they are available. However, when wildcrafting, we never take all of what is produced. We’re careful to leave some for the squirrels and other spirits of the land. Different wild foods have different considerations to keep in mind when harvesting.
Being in relationship with the land is a sacred responsibility. It means taking the time to observe and understand… having a curiosity and genuine interest for the beings who reside there. When we do that, we see how much they want to take care of us, and how much they have to offer that doesn’t require getting rid of them to replace them with something else. I am still learning… always. But the more time I spend paying attention, the more I learn how we as humans can play a helpful role within our ecosystems, and likewise be cared for in return.
One of the first permaculture books I read was The One-Straw Revolution by Masanobu Fukuoka. It resonated deeply with my spiritual approach to the land. Many people throughout time and across the earth have understood how to be in reciprocity with the land, and it is that harmony which we seek also at Crossing Hedgerows Farm and Sanctuary.
In community,
Jean
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Written by : Jean Cavanaugh
Jean Cavanaugh is the founder and steward of Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary, established in 2019 as a living, learning community devoted to reconnecting people with the wisdom of nature, the sacred order of creation, and the presence of Christ within all life. Her work brings together spiritual formation, ecological stewardship, ancestral wisdom, and hands-on community practice.
Through years of practical work on the land, study of the Mysteries, and the healing of her own severe health challenges through natural methods, Jean has come to recognize God’s hand at work throughout creation. Her teachings, rooted in the Mystery School tradition and Christian gnosis, explore how the patterns of heaven, earth, and the human body reveal the way back to divine presence, peace, and inner strength.
Jean leads with honesty, integrity, and a deeply welcoming spirit, inviting others to let go of inherited assumptions and rediscover truth through lived experience and embodied understanding. She works with all ages—from preschoolers to elders—offering programs and celebrations that emphasize direct engagement with nature, music, story, homesteading skills, and in-person community.
She and her family live at the 21-acre Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary, where daily life reflects a commitment to simplicity, beauty, and harmony with the land. The sanctuary includes gardens, woodland trails, a seasonal creek, gathering circles, and spaces designed to nourish both people and wildlife. Jean is especially passionate about creating environments that are grounding, beautiful, and spiritually restorative.
Through her writing and teaching, Jean encourages others to know themselves, know creation, and recognize Christ as the living truth present within and around us—always inviting a return to love, beauty, and the sacred order of life.
