Loading...

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.

Update on Infrastructure Work

By |2026-03-07T20:39:05+02:00January 31st, 2026|Birds, News|

A unique aspect of Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary and Farm is that we incorporate our spiritual practices with the day to day aspects of caring for the land and creating resilient systems. Sometimes it feels like a lot of balls in the air to juggle community building, ecosystem reparations, seasonal celebrations, and farm work. The mission of our nonprofit is extensive to be sure.   Broody hen - a hen who is in the hormonal state of ...

Winter Glory

By |2026-03-07T04:17:05+02:00January 31st, 2026|Musings, News|

Trail to the Pond Site by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLCThe snow storm we had earlier this month left the shrubs and plants so weighed down that some of the trails became almost impassable. But not completely so, as Dan found when he decided to crawl through because our dog was so insistent on going on his usual walk! Photos by Dan Cavanaugh - Walking the DogI wanted to share these pictures of the Sanctuary in all its winter ...

Changing Culture

By |2026-03-07T04:17:04+02:00January 31st, 2026|Musings, News|

We have had lots of beautiful snow and ice creating gorgeous scenes over the past weeks. Ice covered maple leaf by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLCIt is such a joy to be able to share this abundance with all of you. And your support is making it possible for us to do that. You are what is known as the "early adopters". By becoming members, you are reducing others' uncertainty about whether this is a worthwhile endeavor. You are ...

Behind the Scenes

By |2026-03-07T04:30:43+02:00January 31st, 2026|News|

There are a few things I've been working on over the last few months. One has been to continue my education on how to run a nonprofit, through my own research and reading. Along with that, I put in an application to a mentorship program offered by the Wallace Center’s Food Systems Leadership Network. This is a program for those working in nonprofits dealing with Community Food Systems specifically, but covers topics that are helpful for any ...

Cedar, Juniper, and Sage Smoke Bundles

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

Cedar Smoke Bundles made from cedar at Crossing HedgerowsMost of you are likely aware that sourcing of products we use in our spiritual practices are not always ethical. So I won't go into detail about that, but instead I would like to offer some resources to share with you as members of the Sanctuary.  For those at the Friends level and above, or those who volunteer at least once a month, you are welcome to harvest Cedar, ...

Yew Cuttings

By |2026-03-07T22:36:15+02:00January 31st, 2026|News|

We started out the New Year with a project that we hope will result in a memorial for our member and friend, Robert Old, who passed away in December. We took four cuttings from our English Yew tree and have started them in pots. Over the winter we will keep them warm in the house under grow lights so they can begin developing roots. Then, once we have an appropriate site for planting ready, we will plant ...

❄️ Winter Update, and Goals for 2022

By |2026-03-07T22:47:57+02:00January 31st, 2026|News|

Photo by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLC   We have entered the heart of winter now with some frigid temperatures, ice, snow, and significant gales coming through. Here at the Sanctuary, you can see how the wind blew the snow a few days ago so as to accumulate on the side of the tree in this picture. Fortunately, everything is holding up well - the new chicken coop, the hoophouse, and all the rest. On Sunday ...

Imbolc Invitation 🕯

By |2026-03-07T22:53:22+02:00January 31st, 2026|Events & Celebrations, News|

January 30th at 2:00 p.m. (weather permitting) at Crossing Hedgerows Farm and Sanctuary You are invited to join us for a small celebration of Imbolc...  as well as my recent acceptance into the Ovate grade of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids! ✨ I am excited to be continuing this experience of the Druidic path as I grow in community with all those of various Pagan paths. We will have a bonfire, hot drinks and mead, ...

Yule Trees 🎄

By |2026-03-08T03:08:46+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora, News|

For our members at the $25 level, and those at the $10 level who have also been regular volunteers (this includes those who have helped with rituals, helped on the farm, and board members), we would like to offer you the opportunity to come and cut one of our spruces for your Christmas tree. We purposely planted them too close together when we created our wind breaks, so we would be able to harvest some of them ...

Great News! Site Preparations are Resuming!

By |2026-03-08T03:13:35+02:00January 31st, 2026|News|

I am delighted to share with you that we (the Cavanaughs) have signed on a new contractor to resume the work needed for digging the pond and the water management of our land. This is a crucial main element in our design for creating an abundant life-sustaining ecosystem. This plan allows us to manage the flooding in such a way as to to keep the water on site to use more effectively, while also giving us some ...

Preserving Natural Habitat

By |2026-03-08T03:18:47+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora, News|

In my last post, I talked about the construction plans for the Sanctuary. I want to make clear that this is part of a larger plan that allows for many wild spaces, much of which will not be touched by the construction at all. The area where we are creating the pond, along with the future building site and food forest, includes about five acres. It was all a cultivated farm field with very degraded and compacted ...

Thursday Work Day

By |2026-03-08T21:01:11+02:00January 31st, 2026|Events & Celebrations, News|

We had another beautiful time of connecting with the the spirits of the land and each other yesterday. We started with collecting nasturtium and marigold seeds to save for next year. Brennah had already begun collecting them, but having several people doing it was a fun project. (I have labeled the pictures to show the process for those who are interested.)   Nasturtium seeds we collected   Caitlin collecting nasturtium seeds   ...

Storm Damage

By |2026-03-08T22:43:08+02:00January 31st, 2026|News|

Last Wednesday a severe wind storm affected a large portion of Michigan, including CHFS. Thankfully there was no damage to humans, animals, or buildings. There was, however, a fair amount of tree damage. Here are a few pictures of some of the trees that came down. It's hard to show in the photos just how massive some of the trees were, but I think this will give you a little sense of it.   A tree ...

Upcoming Events

By |2026-03-08T23:51:12+02:00January 31st, 2026|Events & Celebrations, News|

I am currently recovering from some sort of illness that struck me a couple of days ago. In any case, I feel well enough to make a post, so here goes. The farm produce is flourishing, with the exception of some cabbage moth and slug damage to the brassicas. In the picture are some onions and cress in the hoophouse. The cress is some that reseeded itself, so we let it grow along with the other vegetables ...

Flood

By |2026-03-09T01:22:46+02:00January 31st, 2026|News|

June 2021 The last week has brought us an excess of rain and caused the creek to overflow and the water table to swell. Fortunately yesterday there was no rain, so the water went down a bit. We were able to slosh through ankle deep water on the trail back to the creek and take the pictures you see here. The bridge was just barely above the water and it is flooded on both sides, throughout the ...

Pond Construction Site

By |2026-03-09T02:00:12+02:00January 31st, 2026|Birds, News|

Though the pond is still under construction, it's already beautiful and teeming with life. (Be sure to watch through to the end to see who's making the chirping noises in the video.) And the recent rains have added enough water to be able to have a good sense of what it will look like when it's complete.   https://youtube.com/shorts/MR0PB1G9tP8?feature=share   The site plan for the pond area is to have a small campground on one side ...

Permaculture Farm

By |2026-03-09T21:00:51+02:00January 31st, 2026|Events & Celebrations, Flora, News|

Along with the Sanctuary land, which includes beautiful woodland and wetland areas with trails, we also operate a permaculture farm and enjoy sharing the farm experience with our members as an added bonus. Today I wanted to give you an update on how the farm is doing with several photos of the annual crops we're growing right now.   garlic in the front garden   A few of our chickens   Basil ...

Buds, Blossoms, Seeds & Sprouts

By |2026-03-01T03:30:34+02:00January 31st, 2026|News|

It was another good community work day on Thursday. We started with a little walk around the farm... in which I apparently made at least one funny face!  The honey berry bushes are blossoming and the lilacs are getting close. Honey berries produce edible, sweet, oblong shaped blue berries. They're in the honeysuckle family and another of our beloved perennials.Next we planted up many seed trays - one of my favorites being nasturtiums. I can't wait to ...

Go to Top