News
Flood
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 woods as well.
The Creek whose banks are not currently visible
It’s not as bad yet as in 2019, when it flooded almost all the way up to our house, inundating the hoophouse and our plants. We had to rescue some of the chickens that year and put the coops on higher ground. We’re hoping that further rain this week doesn’t cause a bigger problem.
We couldn’t make it very far back into the woods.
So this is why it has been very important for us to get a good water management system in place. The 100 year floods are coming every few years, and being located at the bottom of the Huron River watershed next to a creek which is part of the county drain system, puts us in a flood zone.
Puddles in the back yard
Because of this, we have had an incredibly difficult time finding a contractor to work on our project, as they have all been in high demand in this area. We finally contracted with someone who seemed to be willing and able to do the job, but he has now breached his contract with us and we are currently looking for someone else. We are also taking legal action against him.
Rain Clouds and the front garden
This may seem like a discouraging post, but please know that we are doing everything possible to continue the work and make this incredible space available to our community. We believe in this vision and together with you we will find a way!
Nasturtiums looking lush and green
We do plan to have our walk and bonfire either this Sunday or the following, depending on the weather. I will continue to keep you updated.
Bright Blessings,
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.
