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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. "Love the Land" volunteer work crew: August 3-7, 2023 |
Donation Requests:
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2022-23 Priorities
If you are able to contribute to any of the priorities below, please check out our volunteer schedule and 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.
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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 during a 2-day weekday workcrew in late April / early May, to dry for winter use. 2023 dates are being drawn up for this, so stay tuned. In addition to this, facilitators are asked to bring their own wood for outdoor burning.
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Finishing Touches to
Forest Cabins (Spring 2023) |
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 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. Also, last Fall (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 Gerry will work on getting the third bunkie set up with heating.
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Garden / Plantscape Support
(Spring, Summer, Fall) |
Our onsite Land Steward Tracy has done an incredible job supporting retreats as well as creating plantscapes for the labyrinth, planters, cabins, and entry. This year, food was also made available from the garden to for purchase by guests, and several retreat guests offered their time and energy on weekends to support in the garden. It was truly beautiful. giving guests the opportunity to experience a fresh, field-to-table experience during the harvest months of August-September. In fact, there was more produce than we could store or sell, so in the future we will be more mindful of the quantity of food grown so that it is sustainable yet not overwhelming or wasteful.
Last year (2021) we also helped finish up the build of a greenhouse at Joe's, and this year Tracy is lead the growth of a crop, however the amount of work needed far exceeded the number of people available to help, so again - being more mindful of growing a crop that is both sustainable and manageable without being wasteful is key. |
PROGRESS: The Greenhouse frame was fixed last fall, and it remains a passive greenhouse (no power for heat). We are considering electrical, wood, and geothermal options. Feedback welcome!
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Setting up the a
Work Crew Camp Area (Ongoing) |
In order to create a sustainable sanctuary, we rely heavily on a strong leadership and volunteer team. While we clarify the core needs and create the teams, we will also be developing an area for crew to stay when they are working. This area will be for those doing an energy exchange on the property, so they have a place separate from the main lodge to eat, sleep, and hang out with their families. The dream is for it to include tenting area(s), an outdoor kitchen, outdoor shower, communal campfire, a nature play area for children, and a clear trail from the sleeping area to the garden & greenhouse.
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PROGRESS: A campfire was completed for the Land Steward cabin, and we experimented with propane heating last winter, but realized that wood was really the way to go so will be working on that this year. An outdoor shower was also created on the outside of the lodge, which can be accessed by volunteers when there's not a retreat in progress (or with permission from the facilitator). 2 areas have been cleared for tenting, but this will be an annual job. Some furniture is available for use for the outdoor kitchen, but we need to make a plan and set it up. In the mean time, a community kitchen is available for us to use at Joe's just up the road.
Another possibility is turning one of the structures in the workyard into an outdoor kitchen and meeting area, so volunteers can have a sheltered area to convene, rest, visit, etc. If you'd like to be part of the team to make a plan for this area, please let us know. An exciting advancement is that we have 2 new stewards, Denise Tompkins and Monica Kovacs, who 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 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 started to extend the trail along the river. This path will continue to get longer this year.
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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: A crew of guests from Jaime's retreat came and helped with all the wintering needed for the garden and greenhouse last month (thank you everybody!). Gerry and Denise spent quite a bit of time on the land with some of the wintering preperations. This year, Gerry also 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 - thank you soooo much Gerry. 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.
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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
- Money raised for septic system maintenance
