Spring News – Our Preserved Land
It is with tremendous gratitude to Moore Township and the Heritage Conservancy that we can now announce that in April we closed on our Conservation Easement for Little Pond, and this beautiful sign will be going up at the end of our lane!
After one and a half years working with the Township and the Conservancy, especially its Conservation Acquisition Specialist Matt Babbitt, the preservation of Little Pond’s 30 acres is now official. This means not only that in perpetuity the land cannot be developed, but that almost all the land is under the highest ranking of wildland protection, monitored by the Conservancy on an annual basis. What a far sighted and worthy investment Moore Township is making in preserving wildland. The funds we received for the easement purchase will be a tremendous help to the George Family in being able to stay here and to continue our focus on environmental protection and the creative and spiritual goals of our arts retreat.
Little Pond Devotionals
Our monthly interfaith Little Pond Devotionals continue, and for Memorial Day weekend in May we were delighted to partner with artists Jan Cohen-Cruz and Kate Scuffle in “Remembering the Beloveds”. With the theme of remembering people, places, or any beloved things that have passed, we focused on sharing stories of where we “find” a departed beloved now.
On June 30 our partners are visionary artists Sharon Brown and Grace Adele Hochella who bring music and poetry to the theme “Towards Race Unity – Waters in the Wilderness” and the significance of Juneteenth. Each Devotional is followed by refreshments and a circle conversation on our feelings and insights about the theme.
Mindful Growers and Save the Meadows Campaign
Anisa’s last Mindful Growers Meet-up at Little Pond on March 31 was all about tree planting, including some lovely willow saplings planted near the Sweat Lodge, which is up and running again, thanks to Rob Aptaker.
Since then, there has been a hiatus because Anisa has been totally immersed in the brave “Save the Meadows Campaign” in Philadelphia. Devastating City Government decisions have resulted in the cutting down of 48 amazing heritage trees in the beautiful South Philly Meadows that are part of FDR Park — a rare, wild green space in an urban setting. Anisa and other mourners held a community memorial for the trees and for this beloved place.
The struggle to educate Philadelphia City Hall to make a more enlightened plan is still on. You can find coverage of the most recent press conference and the City’s plan to replace the trees with plastic turf soccer fields here:
