The Cavanaughs: Jean, Dan, Brennah, and Quinn
A family of four – we are Dan and Jean with our young adult children Brennah and Quinn. After living in South Florida for 14 years, we moved back to our home state of Michigan in 2013 at which time we purchased our current home and land. We began studying and implementing permaculture design on our one acre plot in the subtropical FL climate (planting edible landscaping, keeping chickens and bees). We switched gears to the MI temperate climate and continued the learning process in a new place. Permaculture is the combination of people care, earth care, and “giving back”, and has helped us find a way to live more harmoniously with the natural world. As a continued expression of these values, building a spiritual community and sharing resources seems a natural evolution.
Jean Cavanaugh
Founder of Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary – with degrees in anthropology and history, she has worked to be a “bender of culture,” homeschooling both Brennah and Quinn, dabbling in permaculture design, herbalism, and farming. She is currently training with the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids as the path of Druidry has been calling to her. She is passionate about creating a community space for the regeneration of land and spirit that is in keeping with the wisdom of our indigenous past.
Dan Cavanaugh
Working on the farm is a “spare time” venture, adventure, and hearty pleasure, that keeps him quite busy on top of his full- time career.
Brennah Cavanaugh
A photographer, beekeeper, backyard naturalist, permaculture designer, and writer. She also raises chickens and enjoys experimenting with unusual gardening methods. She has been interested in animals and plants and ecosystems for her entire life. Keep up with her work by subscribing to her blog at brennahcavanaugh.com
Sarenth Odinsson
A Heathen, the goði of Mimirsbrunnr Kindred, a Northern Tradition shaman, and priest of Odin and of Anubis. He compiled and edited the devotional anthology Calling to Our Ancestors released by Asphodel Press and available on Amazon, and has contributed to several devotional books by Sanngetall Press and Bibliotheca Alexandria. He has written for RendingtheVeil.com, and Witches & Pagans magazines. Sarenth holds a B.S. in Psychology from Eastern Michigan University and his passions include writing, teaching, theology, religion, and sustainable living. Together with James Stovall he hosts the podcast Around the Grandfather Fire (episodes labeled ‘agf’ in this link; a search within the app is more effective), covering topics from Animism to Polytheism, Shamanism to Psychology, and from Science to Pop Culture. He can be contacted at Sarenth@gmail.com or through his blog at Sarenth.wordpress.com.
Doug Pierce
A supervisor with the Federal Government by day and an author on the weekends and in the evening. He has successfully published three novels, the latest of which are the first two installments of an epic fantasy trilogy titled: The Hunted Maiden: Seeds of Hope Book One and The Seedling’s Song: Seeds of Hope Book Two (both available as paperbacks and e-books on Amazon!). Doug has a passion for seeing the natural world preserved in all of its wondrous diversity and is intensely interested in seeing how we can make the food we eat safer and produced more sustainably. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1992 with a degree in Cultural Anthropology. He is an eclectic pagan who leans towards animistic shamanism in his personal practice.
Anne Rebull
Having lived in China and Taiwan, and a researcher of Chinese performance art, she has had a long-standing interest in Eastern spirituality, though her practice is modeled on the path of the green witch. She graduated from the University of Chicago with a doctorate in Chinese literature, and from the College of William and Mary with degrees in Music and International Studies. She is currently a lecturer and research fellow in Chinese culture at the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) and is pleased to have kept the peace with fellow board member and MSU graduate, Doug. She is enthused to join this group in putting together a vision of a place where all can come together in celebration of nature.