Altar for the Autumn Equinox ceremony Hi Everyone! I wanted to share this description from Amy of our Autumn Equinox celebration with you all. "It is hard to put into words at this moment how special yesterday was. I will free flow a bit though… Jean sets up such beautiful sacred spaces. Jean lead us in the rite of Alban Elfed (Autumn Equinox) it was my first time participating in a sacred ceremony ...
This is a little video I took out in the woods. The ice has been melting, so there’s water on top of the ice, making for a beautiful effect - water , earth, air, and fire all sharing their beauty in a most spectacular way! https://youtube.com/shorts/MnwPCscyk_k It’s that time of year when one day can be springtime and the next day winter again. It shows us that there are always good times and difficult times, ...
Sunday, May 21st at 3pmEntering the sanctuary woods right now is like stepping into a fairyland. The forest floor is carpeted with purple and white spring ephemerals. Timing a walk to catch this at the optimal time is hard to do very far in advance, so we wanted to put out the call just at the right time (which is now!) before they all disappear. We invite you to join us for a guided walk by Jean and ...
For our work day last week, we did some clean-up in an area of the woods where the previous owners seemed to have had a dump. Though the Cavanaughs have been pulling trash out of that area continuously since moving to the property, it has been a huge project. And it mainly needs to be done in the early spring, after the snow melts, but before everything gets covered by the understory plant growth. So it was ...
While we were pulling out some trash (old tires and such, left by the previous residents) from the woods on our work day this week, there was a particular plant whose thorns wanted to grab at us as we passed by it. This is one of the reasons why we have trails, because these shrubs can make it nearly impossible to pass through certain areas. However, they are another of our beloved native plants that grow in ...
By Sarenth Óðinsson, Board Member of Crossing Hedgerows The world is alive. This is especially easy to know at Crossing Hedgerows. You can feel life pulsing beneath your feet, even in the midst of Winter. There is life. Perennial food crops and flowers around the farm are coming back to life, with shoots beginning to pop up, and fruit blossoms preparing to open. The greenhouse is thriving with green interspersed with the decay of the last hops ...
A few recent pictures from around the Sanctuary... Warm wishes to each of you, Jean
Path from the Sanctuary driveway back towards the woodsBlue Vervain standing proudlyPurple Loosestrife glowing in the sunshine (for an interesting perspective on this plant, feel free to check out the following link: https://commonwealthherbs.com/herb-of-the-week-purple-loosestrife/ )One of the wider trails through the woods - a wonderful place to be on a hot day."When you regain a sense of your life as a journey of discovery, you return to rhythm with yourself. When you take the time to travel with reverence, a ...
A current view of the woods... 🌸 Photo by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLC
Icy area in the woods - taken on March 1st, 2022 by Brennah Sunday, March 13th at 2:00 p.m. - Member Walk & Bonfire Bring a dish to pass if you'd like. 🥧 We've had some warm days since the photo above was taken, and there has been quite a bit of melting. This is definitely the muddy time of year, so boots are highly recommended. You are also welcomed to simply enjoy the bonfire if ...
Trail to the Pond Site by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLCThe snow storm we had earlier this month left the shrubs and plants so weighed down that some of the trails became almost impassable. But not completely so, as Dan found when he decided to crawl through because our dog was so insistent on going on his usual walk! Photos by Dan Cavanaugh - Walking the DogI wanted to share these pictures of the Sanctuary in all its winter ...
In my last post, I talked about the construction plans for the Sanctuary. I want to make clear that this is part of a larger plan that allows for many wild spaces, much of which will not be touched by the construction at all. The area where we are creating the pond, along with the future building site and food forest, includes about five acres. It was all a cultivated farm field with very degraded and compacted ...
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 ...
Today I'm sharing a few photos taken in the woods yesterday. These spring ephemerals don't last long, but while they do, it is magnificent.Our group Member Walk and Bonfire for May will be next Sunday, the 23rd at 2:00 p.m.. And as members, you are also welcome to arrange to come at other times too. If you've had the tour, and know your way around, you can choose to take in the Sanctuary on your own, or ...
We had another gathering for members this past Sunday. The afternoon was bright and crisp and gorgeous. Though the morning had been overcast and chilly, it turned into one of those days where the air is cool but the sun is warm, and they offset each other perfectly.There had been a few others who had been planning to come, but they were waylaid at the last minute with one thing or another. So it was an intimate ...
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. ~ Lao TzuYesterday we had another lovely Member Walk and Bonfire, which I will share some pictures from soon. We had a small ritual in the woods together, while the Red-Winged Blackbirds loudly serenaded us. A big thank you to members, such as Alissa Addy, who have spread the word to friends so that more people can be aware of all that we are offering here at the Farm and ...
We are at the time of year where the reptiles and amphibians are stirring, the willow catkins are at their finest, the marsh is at its marshiest, and the leaves and blossoms are beginning to peak out. The territorial battles between the various spring peepers and frogs is deafening when you head back to the woods and towards the wetlands area. I hope you enjoy these photos of late March at the Sanctuary taken by Brennah.Wishing you ...
This video snippet from our May walk in the woods gives a good sense of the ambience as we head away from the farm and into the forest. https://youtube.com/shorts/YGnMcRGZzHY Along with that, I offer you this beautiful poem by Philip Larkin. The Trees The trees are coming into leaf Like something almost being said: The recent buds relax and spread, Their greenness is a kind of grief. Is it that they ...
Today's post features scenes from the woods taken during the month of May. Photos by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography. You can find more of her work on Instagram @brennahcavanaugh ant on violets wild geranium blossom just beginning to open a patch of trilliums trilliums and decaying logs sun shining through the leaves oak leaves wolf spider ...
What a gorgeous spring equinox weekend we had here in Southeast Michigan! The mild breezes and fresh sunshine were a gentle rejuvenation for our hearts. Check out the photos for a glimpse of our walk with Arthur the cat into the Sanctuary woods. Brennah and Arthur crossing the bridge into the woods Underneath the crunchy leaves new life is beginning to emerge, including a little friend who gave our kitty quite a fright ...