Flora, News
Pawpaw Seedlings Update
For those of you who took home pawpaw seeds last fall… we have gotten our first sprout!
pawpaw sprout
Pawpaws take a long time to germinate, and even after they germinate, they will send their roots downward for awhile before beginning to sprout above the soil. So I hope you haven’t given up on yours!
We have ours in two different spots. One set of pots is in the house (which is where the one that is sprouting is located), and another set of pots is outside. We wanted to test which would grow the best to be able to know for future growing attempts.
Pawpaws are not the easiest plants to get to germinate because the seeds first need to be scarified (scratched up), and they also need cold stratification (a period of time left dormant in the cold). So it’s very exciting to see success!
Pawpaws are the northern most growing tropical fruit, and we are at the northern most part of their growing range. I hope you can come out to the Sanctuary to enjoy them with us someday!
Here’s what they look like today, April 21st, 2026. The trees don’t have leaves yet, but the blossom buds are getting ready to open up soon.
pawpaw blossom bud
For more about the pawpaws at Crossing Hedgerows, simply type “pawpaw” into our website search bar.
May you all be blessed with the fruits of your labors!
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.
