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Project Update
Moving forward with EGLEs requirements, yesterday we had a wetland specialist come out to do a survey, which will be part of what we will be submitting for the permit process.
We are doing our best throughout this process to show EGLE that our intent is for land regeneration, as well as for giving opportunities for the public to experience and learn from the restored land. (EGLE is the State of Michigan’s department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.)
one of the many pink survey markers tied to a shrub
We appreciate Bridget and Charlie of Garden Juju Collective for helping us to find a wetland specialist who prefers to work with small landowners who are doing land restoration projects such as ours. We feel she is a good fit in helping to represent us to EGLE.
One of the ideas we have for mitigating issues during times when we have heavy flooding, is to have raised paths made from limestone. This is what Bridget and Charlie have used at Gateway Farm in Plymouth. During the same flood which also greatly affected them, those paths withstood the water. We also have plans to have raised areas of land (little islands) throughout the landscape as places where wildlife can go to get out of the water. And likewise, we would like to incorporate into the design more ways for the water to be able to flow, so that the land can drain more quickly during times of extreme flooding. However at this point, our design is completely dependent on what EGLE will approve. But we are confident that we will be able to come up with something that will allow us to continue creating community, and good relations with the land of Crossing Hedgerows.
Warm wishes to each of you as we head into the cold season. And thank you for your continued support. 🍂🐿️
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.
