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Our vision is to create a self-sustaining, eco-conscious community hub where healing occurs through deep connection with ourselves, the earth and each other. We do this from a foundation of core values, and through the lens of Sustainable Community Development, which applies community capital and an ecological business mindset to fulfill it's vision.
In short, we depend on the skills, experience, and shared resources of the community to make this Sanctuary the best that it can be. Everything you see and experience at the Sanctuary is the result of generosity of financial and in-kind donations, propelled by common values alignment and a deep belief that we are stronger together. It is through coming together and shared sweat that we create trust, synergy, and community capital - the building blocks of a stronger and more connected way of being in the world. A way of being where we are less dependent on financial structures and more inter-dependent on the abundance of skills and resources available within our network. This year's "Love the Land" Spring and Summer volunteer work crews are finished. Thank you everybody for an amazing year! Please hold next year's date and RSVP by July 10th, 2024: August 2nd-5th 2024 |
Donation Requests:
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2024 Priorities
If you are able to contribute to any of the priorities below, please email Melanie at rosseau.sanctuary@gmail.com so we can get the conversation rolling!
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Outhouses
completed! |
We are working on the completion of 1 more outhouse, including learning how they work, and eventually educating guests on how to maintain them. This is going to make the cabins and forest sleeping much more sustainable.
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PROGRESS: Both outhouses have been installed and are working wonderfully! Every other year the toilet is moved to the alternating side, to allow breakdown of the previous. CONGRATS!
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Wood
(ongoing) |
We now know that about 20 face cords are needed to sustain the winter (for the Sanctuary as well as our land stewards Tracy and Joe), and about 4-6 face cords to sustain the other seasons for ceremony etc. - which we need to either chop ourselves and/or purchase.
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PROGRESS: Wood is ordered and stacked in the Spring, to dry for winter use. In addition to this, facilitators are asked to bring their own wood for outdoor burning (as we don't yet have the volunteers or donations to chop and stack this ourselves)
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Finishing Touches to
Forest Cabins (2023-2024) |
In 2017, 4 forest cabins were built and we need to do some more staining to protect them from the elements. In addition, 2 are heated however we are hoping to have one more of the cabins set up with propane to allow one more of them to be heated to help with colder nights in Spring and Fall.
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PROGRESS: Two of the cabins have been stained for weather resistance. The stain was donated, but 2 other cabins and 1 outhouse still needs to be stained. In 2021 the last cabin was completed inside (insulation, walls, floors - thank you Ken!). Next year, another cabin needs the 2nd floor completed (supplies have been purchased), and our land steward Gerry is looking into getting the third bunkie set up with heating.
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Garden / Plantscape Support
(Spring, Summer, Fall) |
Our Head Steward Tracy has done an incredible job supporting retreats as well as creating plantscapes for the labyrinth, planters, cabins, and entry. Last year, there was more produce than we could store or sell to guests, so this year Tracy focused on food to sustain her own pantry, as well as sweetgrass, tobacco and sage to be sold to guests and in Toronto at The Plant Mystic.
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PROGRESS: The Greenhouse frame was fixed in 2021, and it remains a passive greenhouse (no power for heat). We are considering electrical, wood, and geothermal options. Feedback welcome!
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Recruiting and creating new Membership for Land Stewards
(Ongoing) |
In order to create a sustainable sanctuary, we rely heavily on a strong leadership and volunteer team.
Melanie created a new form of Membership this year, designed to give a select number of volunteers who have exemplified leadership and commitment, to have permission to stay on-site overnight at no fee, to prepare the land and space between events. |
PROGRESS:
In addition to Tracy and Gerry, 3 new stewards were brought into the fold: Zenna, Monica, and Denise. Zenna has been working with Tracy, Melanie and Gerry over the last few years as a volunteer and felt ready to step into a more formal Stewardship role - Welcome Zenna! Denise Tompkins and Monica Kovacs built a bunkie on the neighbouring land with the intent of supporting a set number of hours of help on the land each month, for a 5 year term. Please join us in welcoming them! |
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Trails & Signage to Natural Healing Installations
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Trails to healing installations (e.g., labyrinth, stargate, sweatlodge, meditation tent, well) will be an important aspect of making the property appealing to guests, and drawing people outside to experience the healing nature of this beautiful land. The paths to each of these will need to be maintained over the course of the spring and summer, and signage will need to be created for guests to find their way.
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PROGRESS: So far we have created primary paths to the Labyrinth, Sweatlodge, star gate, and stream. We are creating signage throughout the property, for installation in Spring when the ground thaws. The path to the Artesian Well has been cleared in accordance with the land's wishes (and requires ongoing prayer and maintenance) and it was lined in cedar deadfall. We worked on the path quite a lot this past year, however it still needs work. The trail to the gazebo at the river was also improved considerably, and we have extended the trail along the river to a nice area for jumping in!
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Fall Prep and Maintenance
(Sept-October) |
In preparation for winter, work needs to be done before the first snowfall. As the leaves begin to fall and the grasses die, it is also the ideal time to forge new paths for Spring.
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PROGRESS: Last year, Gerry put heat tape on the roof to try and prevent the ice from damming up and causing leaks into the main lodge in the spring thaw. It was a huge job, and a HUGE SUCCESS - thank you soooo much Gerry. This Spring we didn't have any leaks!
Next, we need a work crew of 2-4 people to help with taking our gazeebo down by the river down - but apart from that, we just need folks every couple weeks to bring wood from our wood shelter down the hill and fill our mudroom, so we have a fair amount of wood there to support guests over the winter. |
Other things on our wish list / open for discussion:
- Grey water system management
- Outdoor bathtub and sauna
- Kayaking route?
- Orchard and forest guilds / food forests
- Eco-healing training program
- A bridge created to cross the river to the maple forest
- Solar panels fixed and ready to help us