Land Conservation
Land Conservation
Our botanical sanctuary is dedicated to wildlife protection and the preservation of endangered forest plants. Conservation of this 65 acre property is vital to the ecosystem in our small corner of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Home to moose, bear, bobcat, coyote, turkey, hawks, rare birds, and many other beautiful woodland animals who are quickly losing habitat.
Our land provides carefully tended trails, fields, and forest on land primarily in its natural state ranging from wetlands to boreal forest. It is also home to many rare endangered plant species such as trillium, bunchberry, lady’s slipper, goldthread, solomon seal, gravel root, coltsfoot, boneset, blue and black cohosh and other plants that are beginning to thrive here.
The sanctuary is a member of United Plant Savers and Protect our Wildlife Vermont. The Loon Preservation Project and Vermont Audubon both report this tract of land is vital to the revitalization of endangered birds.
The sanctuary will serve as summer headquarters, offering women of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts extended summer retreats and workshops. The property will offer summer retreats for children of mothers in our program. We also educate and empower the community to understand how to use medicinal plants responsibly.
Herbal nourishment along with reciprocal care for the natural world has been an integral component for the success of the women in our program. This provides the best opportunity for our women to recover health and resilience. In doing this work, they come to understand the importance of the natural world. Many studies cite links between time spent in nature significantly benefiting both physical and mental health. There are many other health benefits that science is just beginning to understand. Care for ourselves is inextricably linked to connection with our natural world and this approach has proven effective for the women in our program.
Our mission of land conservation also addresses one of the most important issues of our time, climate change. Our world needs its forests and the medicinal plants that only grow in certain types of environments. Equally important are those who understand the importance of this mutual relationship.
