Birds, Musings
Pumpkins for the Chickens
A couple of our members donated their leftover pumpkins to us for the chickens this past week. As you can see in the video, the chickens appreciated it very much… to the point that some were not wanting to share! So I ended up bringing in another pumpkin for them, as there were plenty to go around! Each chicken area got some pumpkins, and they were all very happy indeed. Pumpkin seeds are a wonderful natural de-wormer, so not only is it a great treat with excellent nutrition, but also medicinal for the chickens too.
As some of the pumpkins were starting to rot, those ones made a fantastic addition to our compost.
In fact, let me sing the praises of compost for a minute. Building up soil with organic matter from compost, whether it be vegetable scraps, animal manure, wood chips, or other plant matter is the very foundation of soil health. And building soil health is the foundation of regenerative farming! Healthy soil is like a water sponge – it holds more water, helping alleviate the issues of flooding as well as storing water during dry periods. And food grown in healthy soil is also more nutritious!
All of this also fits perfectly with an animistic world view. When we actually see and recognize the life of the tiny microorganisms in the soil, the sentience of chickens, and the mysterious alchemy that occurs between the rocks, minerals, and microscopic beings within the land, we naturally want to take care of them. By spending time with them and taking the time to observe, we can sense when they are not well or when they are happy. This is part of how we can hear the land and all the beings who dwell upon it telling us what is needed.
So I hope you enjoy the video! Thank you to Nicole, Kai, and Alex for the pumpkins, straw, and cornstalks! Thank you to Maleck and Josie also for the pumpkins!
Blessed Be,
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.
