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The News category shares timely updates, announcements, and developments from life at Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary. While other sections of the site explore reflection, symbolism, ecology, and ceremony, this space focuses on what is actively unfolding — on the land, within the community, and in the practical stewardship of the sanctuary.

Here you will find updates about land management, conservation efforts, creek restoration, upcoming changes, and responses to circumstances that affect the sanctuary directly. These posts often include behind-the-scenes glimpses into the work required to sustain this place: tending waterways, protecting habitat, coordinating with local authorities, caring for animals, and preparing for future gatherings.

News at Crossing Hedgerows is not merely informational. It reflects a commitment to transparency, responsibility, and active engagement with the world as it is. Sometimes this includes addressing difficult topics, clarifying misunderstandings, or responding thoughtfully to cultural currents that touch the sanctuary’s mission and values.

This category keeps our community informed and connected. It documents the ongoing effort to steward the land with integrity while remaining grounded in the spiritual principles that guide the sanctuary’s work.

Here, the practical and the principled meet — offering a clear view into the daily realities and evolving story of Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary.

Taking Care of Business

By |2026-03-07T04:31:21+02:00January 31st, 2026|News|

Cleaning Up the Creek BedLast week we received notice that the county was planning to come in this month to do the cleaning out of the creek (or as they like to call it, the "drain"). As you can see in the pictures, we're in a dry period and there's currently no water in it. Included in the plan was to take down trees and plants all along one side so they could get their equipment in. ...

Upcoming Events & General Update

By |2026-03-07T05:16:49+02:00January 31st, 2026|Events & Celebrations, News|

Hello dear friends!This is in part my annual reminder that I make around this time of year, especially as we are entering into the dark season, to slow down. My aim in the programs and events that I offer at Crossing Hedgerows is to offer this deep connection for young and old alike. And I couldn't do it without all the background work that my family does to help make it possible. So I want to publicly ...

Intro to CHS & Permaculture Presentation

By |2026-03-01T03:30:33+02:00January 31st, 2026|News|

Some of the permaculture presentation attendees at Gateway Farm   I had a fantastic time presenting at Gateway Farm this past Sunday and though it was not recorded, I wanted to share a transcript of my presentation here with you all! But before I do, something to understand about permaculture is that it is a design system based on observation and pattern recognition within nature. This is also the basis of the Mystery School tradition ...

A Little Peek

By |2026-03-01T03:30:33+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora, News|

Lily in the wildflower garden   Hello friends! I made this video yesterday to give you a little peek at how things are looking here at the Sanctuary right now. And I want to give a big thank you to Alissa for coming out to the work day on Saturday! In the middle of the video you can see an area in the hoophouse that she and I did a lot of cleaning ...

Happy Summer! 💛

By |2026-03-07T18:21:20+02:00January 31st, 2026|Events & Celebrations, News|

Wishing you all a wonderful first day of summer! Here’s a video of the newly enlarged stone circle… https://youtu.be/nkGgfUi9m0A   Here's what it looked like before: Original stone Circle   Blessings and love to each of you, Jean

Request for Testimonials / Reviews

By |2026-03-01T03:30:33+02:00January 31st, 2026|Events & Celebrations, News|

Hi Everyone! I wanted to show a few pictures from my last meetup that I had set up for someone who RSVPd but didn't show up. This is not at all to chastise anyone... only to show that each meetup is curated with love and care, and time and effort to make it as wonderful as possible. As you can see from the pictures, I went ahead and enjoyed myself with making the art. And my family ...

Seasonal Card Sets from Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary

By |2026-03-01T03:30:33+02:00January 31st, 2026|Birds, Fauna, Flora, Insects, News|

  We are happy to announce that we're now offering seasonal note card sets with photos taken at Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLC. 🐝✨ Each set comes with five different cards related to one of the four seasons.   honey bee in peach blossom   Brennah's photography is taken with a professional Nikon DX camera. She uses a macro lens and a telephoto lens for various shots. All her photos are completely ...

Resilience in the Cold, and a Special Note

By |2026-03-01T03:30:33+02:00January 31st, 2026|News|

Red Osier Dogwood in the foreground   Hi Friends! As we head ever closer to winter, I want to share something I found which could help many of us to be more resilient in our lives. As most of you know by now, we practice permaculture principles here at the Sanctuary, which involves finding ways to live more sustainably.   woodland trail   For quite a few years I have been interested in ...

The In Between Spaces

By |2026-03-01T03:30:33+02:00January 31st, 2026|News|

I recently realized that I haven't posted a picture of the finished bridge for those of you who haven't made it out yet this summer. We are still hoping to put some finishing touches on it to pretty it up some, but it is a good sturdy bridge that has been working well for us.   Bridge over the Swan Creek   Bridges are a way of getting from one place to another, and are ...

Farm and Sanctuary Update

By |2026-03-01T03:30:33+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora, News|

pawpaws   🍈 Our pawpaw fruits are getting bigger!! ...shown with my hand for size comparison (and a ground cover of lemon balm underneath). 🍈 We planted the pawpaw trees nine years ago and have waited eagerly for them to start producing. Not only are we thrilled to see our largest one begin fruiting now, it is also coinciding with another wonderful development at the farm and sanctuary. Exciting News... 🍈 We are anticipating the ...

Did You Know?

By |2026-03-01T03:30:33+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora, News|

... that we are part of the United Plant Savers Botanical Sanctuary Network?     A few years back I sent in an application with documentation of some of the various endangered medicinal plants we have growing at the sanctuary. We were approved to be part of the network, and you can find us listed at the United Plant Savers website.     Besides medicinal plants, we have a wide variety of other native plants around the ...

Friends with Benefits!

By |2026-03-01T03:30:33+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora, News|

Yes indeed! Being with us at the Friends level or above here on Patreon comes with benefits! Along with various discounts, you are welcome to visit the Farm and Sanctuary at any time with your family. Simply get in touch so that we can know you will be coming and make sure everything is welcoming for you.   The composting outhouse     Each week there are significant changes to the land as flowers come ...

Bridge Building!

By |2026-03-01T20:34:36+02:00January 31st, 2026|News|

Dan and Brennah have been working on getting the new bridge built and in place. The planks are being put on today, and the new bridge is going to be a little wider than the last one. 👏 It should be done soon! https://youtube.com/shorts/EBaIDf4Hyf4?feature=share Woohoo!! 🎉 🎉 I will be sending out the announcement for our Beltaine event soon, so stay tuned for that! And thank you all for your support! Jean and crew

A Little Sloshing About, Part 1

By |2026-03-02T18:05:08+02:00January 31st, 2026|Musings, News|

After the beautiful winter wonderland we had last week, everything melted all at once. So we’re once again left with lots and lots o’ water! 💦 It’s not as bad as the last flood though and I was able to get out for a nice slosh about this morning. Being snow melt, it feels much more cleansing this time, almost as if it is washing away the muck of the previous flood. I end at the bank ...

Bridge Repairs

By |2026-03-02T20:14:44+02:00January 31st, 2026|News|

We had some beautiful sun today making the Swan Creek sparkle!   And to update you on the bridge, a while back Dan went out to see what it would take to move it back in place and discovered one end of it had started to rot. (And it wasn’t even the end in the water!). So he and Brennah have come up with a design to build a new one, which they are planning on doing ...

Our Beautiful Sanctuary

By |2026-03-03T17:04:12+02:00January 31st, 2026|Fauna, Flora, News|

As we come to the close of this year, I want to thank all who have supported our beautiful Sanctuary this year. Here are a few photos that Brennah took (and identified) recently at Crossing Hedgerows. Oftentimes the small and inconspicuous are overlooked and under appreciated, but what important roles they each play in the ecosystem.   Wild geranium leaves   Liverwort (probably fringed treewort)   Bonfire moss   Dandelion ...

A New Space for You

By |2026-03-03T17:37:42+02:00January 31st, 2026|Birds, Events & Celebrations, News|

Our hen, Peck, would like to show you a space that we’re in the process of preparing for gatherings. Go ahead and follow her down the path into the hoophouse. She’s waiting for you.         Because the flood wiped out most everything we had planted in there, we decided it would be a good opportunity to reevaluate the best use of the space. So what we’ve decided is to use half of the hoophouse ...

Project Update

By |2026-03-03T19:06:00+02:00January 31st, 2026|News|

Moving forward with EGLEs requirements, yesterday we had a wetland specialist come out to do a survey, which will be part of what we will be submitting for the permit process. We are doing our best throughout this process to show EGLE that our intent is for land regeneration, as well as for giving opportunities for the public to experience and learn from the restored land. (EGLE is the State of Michigan's department of Environment, Great Lakes, ...

At a Crossroads

By |2026-03-07T04:17:34+02:00January 31st, 2026|News|

Recently I mentioned that we have been in the process of assessing where we're at with things at Crossing Hedgerows. This summer's flood was one of the reasons for that, with it putting us out of commission for quite some time. It is the worst flood we have had, and caused us to really look at the feasibility of our plans and the design we've been working towards for the land.Along with the flood, we have been ...

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