About Us
Who We Are
Hi there. We’re glad you’re here. In the spring of 2023, we were inspired to create a space where everyone could reconnect with the land together.
While thinking about what this place would be, we had the privilege to visit groups who were already doing this work in beautiful and radical ways. Some were farms, some were monasteries (some were farmasteries), some were agricultural communities, and some were retreat centers in rural settings. At some point on this journey, I (Tony) was able to tour Bluestem Conservation Cemetery in North Carolina and was struck by the reverence the space required of me. It was a beautiful example of how land could be preserved—set apart as a gift for all—and also a space for healing and nourishment in the midst of grief and loss. We discovered that entwining life, death, and the land has created many meaningful and impactful stories.
From that point on, this vision to build a land commons and conservation cemetery has been growing and taking shape. We’ve been listening to the humans and other creatures of southern Michigan (and we plan to continue listening) to hear how this space can be their space. We continue to feel inspired to do this work and find hope in these projects, for our community and for the world. We hope you’ll join us.
Through community conservation and natural burial, our mission is to offer a space, a commons—for all people to restore the land and connect with each other.
For all people of Southern Michigan to have access to natural space in which they can grieve loss, grow and share food, and delight in nature.
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Community and Fellowship
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Rest and Delight
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Stewardship and Service
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Reverence and Thanksgiving
Our Name
As people of faith, with a big vision of what God is doing in the world, we wondered, “what might happen if we loved the land the way God loves it?” Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann often called Jeremiah the prophet of the land par excellence.
Much like the prophet, we decided to commit ourselves to the local land, and to restore our relationship to it—to receive the land as a gift and value it as such. (Jeremiah 19, 20, 29, and 32 are great passages on this point.) Of course, land is the most universal connector on this planet. It’s a gift to which all should have access.
Sharing things in common started long ago and this tradition is rooted in communities across history and around the globe. Land held and cared for by a group of people can nourish the whole bio-community, not just a few.
Officers & Directors
Land Acknowledgment
We would like to acknowledge that the land in which this vision will likely take root was first inhabited, cared for, and nourished by Michigan’s First Nations Peoples whose descendants still honor those ties today.
This region of Michigan was, and is still, home to the Anishinaabeg, of which, the three largest nations are the Ojibwe (Chippewa), Odawa (Ottawa), and Bodewadomi (Potawatomi), which collectively form The Council of The Three Fires. We hope to continue to learn from their legacy and relationship with this place.