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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.

Buds, Blossoms, Seeds & Sprouts

By |2026-03-12T23:27:47+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 ...

Making Nest Boxes for Kestrels and Screech Owls

By |2026-03-12T23:21:46+02:00January 31st, 2026|Birds, Events & Celebrations, News|

This past Saturday, Dan, Caitlin, and Brennah had a fun time working on making nest boxes for kestrels and screech owls. We've seen these raptors around occasionally and would like to make a place for them to raise their young each year. Not only are they lovely birds in their own right, we're hoping they'll help keep the farm rodent population under control. We have regular work days every Thursday and Saturday (however we haven't had much interest ...

Pollinator Plants

By |2026-03-12T23:17:09+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora, News|

Yesterday we received a batch of seed packets we ordered, so we can add a few more varieties of pollinator plants to the farm and sanctuary. We love wildflowers! Some we will plant this spring and some need to be planted in the fall.Welcome to our new seeds! May they grow well and be happy.Jean

The Story of Our Name

By |2026-03-12T23:17:08+02:00January 31st, 2026|Musings, News|

Edges in ecosystems are exciting places. They allow for the biggest variety of life. On the edge of a forest where it is next to a meadow, the meadow life and the forest life co-exist, as well as species that thrive only along that edge. At the edge of a pond, the water creatures co-exist with the plant life growing next to the pond. And some plants and animals, such as reeds and amphibians, live only in ...

Winter Walks, Winter Beauty

By |2026-04-03T01:35:51+02:00February 20th, 2021|Events & Celebrations, News|

Hello everyone, just a reminder that Sunday, February 28th at 2:00 pm will be our next Community Walk and Bonfire. We are forecast to have some warmer weather between now and then, so I expect much of the snow will be melted. Here are a few pictures of what it looks like currently.   Animal tracks making a trail through the snow past a Juniper tree   Animal tracks making a trail through the ...

Healing Land and Healing Spirits

By |2026-04-01T00:21:16+02:00February 12th, 2021|News|

Back in 2016, I attended a workshop with Dan Kittredge of the Bionutrient Food Association. This workshop is one of the many ways I've educated myself over the years in sustainable food production, with a focus on ecosystem regeneration. Part of the mission of the BFA is "educating growers in the logistics of creating healthier soil ecosystems."   Brennah weeding in the hoophouse, green onions, and lettuce   After taking the workshop and sending in ...

The Hoop House

By |2026-04-01T01:13:13+02:00February 9th, 2021|News|

Crossing Hedgerows Farm is the Cavanaugh family farm which is adjacent to the Sanctuary land. It is currently also being shared with the community as part of the nonprofit mission. So sometimes you will see us refer to "Crossing Hedgerows Farm and Sanctuary". One of the aspects of the farm is the hoop house. It is a 30'x72' structure that we use for year-round growing and we keep some of our chickens in it during the winter ...

Building an Institution

By |2026-03-31T23:51:07+02:00January 29th, 2021|Musings, News|

Growing up as the daughter of a minister, I lived and breathed the Church, and was an active member in many ways. For me, the vision of Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary is as a similar institution. Meaning that it is bigger than any one person, or particular leadership. The vision that the Sanctuary Board has put forth is one that allows for a long-standing organization that can last for generations.   yew tree berries - photo by ...

Ecosystem Restoration

By |2026-03-30T02:20:30+02:00January 16th, 2021|News|

We’ve been working on an earthworks project at the sanctuary to manage the annual flooding. We want to manage the water in such a way as to be able to store it for the dry season rather than simply draining it all away. Instead it will go through a system of little rain gardens and overflow into a one acre pond when it floods. If the pond gets too full there will be a spillway to allow ...

Celebrating Each Step

By |2026-03-30T02:29:10+02:00January 11th, 2021|News|

The wood mulch we've been waiting for has finally started rolling in. This is a resource we're able to get for free from tree service companies when they're working in the area. We were promised some earlier this fall, but for some reason they ended up dumping it elsewhere. But now, our township is trimming the trees along all the area roads and has said they will bring the mulch from this project to us.     ...

Honoring the People

By |2026-03-31T02:00:32+02:00January 6th, 2021|News|

Back in November of 2019, we celebrated the official beginning of Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary as a nonprofit. In the year prior, the board members had gone through a course on Effective Collaboration together which helped us craft our vision and mission statements, as well as learn how to work together as a group. It gave us a firm foundation for going forward, and we made the leap to go through the process of becoming a nonprofit. We ...

Trails in the Woods

By |2026-03-28T21:50:20+02:00December 30th, 2020|News|

Pictured above is part of the main access lane we were able to put in this year. Though we want to keep the majority of the area as natural as possible with only foot paths, we also needed to have a large enough trail to allow for a vehicle when necessary.     Oh... and if you look closely, you might just see some coyote and rabbit tracks in this photo. ~ Jean

Icy Pond

By |2026-03-26T01:53:26+02:00December 18th, 2020|News|

Continuing the theme of water, it's exciting to see that the "pond" is starting to ice over. Although it's still only the beginnings of the pond that we have planned, it's already a fairly significant body of water nevertheless. And it makes it really easy to envision what it will be like when it's finished.   Pond Construction 2020   This week we had the survey done that was required by EGLE for us to ...

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