"Love is where attentiveness to nature starts, and responsibility toward one’s home landscape is where it leads." John Elder

August 8, 2010 The Broadwell Hill Sustainable Woodland Farm is located between Amesville and Stewart; please visit http://broadwellhill.org/maps/map1.htm or call Kathy at 740-448-4000 for directions.

Kathy Jacobson is looking forward to hosting this MAWE hike and campfire potluck.  It is likely to be hot so please come prepared, i.e. water, emergency medications, good hiking shoes, lawn chair and a swimming suit/towel if we want to take a dip in the pond.  We acknowledge that we will be participating in all such activities at our own risk.

We will take an easy hike on the uplands, with spots that overlook stunning rock cliffs and Joe's Run, an area rich in diversity.  A solar powered electric golf cart is available should someone with limitations of mobility like to join us.

A more strenuous hike to the historic rock shelter and down to Joe's Run is also likely to take place, depending upon the interest and physical ability of the attendees.  In the interest of preparedness, please inform Kathy of any underlying medical conditions that may affect you during such a hike.

Kathy Jacobson is the stewarding landowner of 65 acres of successional forest.  Kathy designed and built the off-grid, active and passive solar shelter with the assistance of friends and the Royal Barn Builders out of Kilvert, Ohio.   She is a SEOWIG member, Registered Nurse and Woodland Farmer.  The land serves as home base for the BroadWell Learning Center's Rural Community Health and Resilience Initiative, as well as for Athens' Own, a marketing and distribution company, stewarded by Kathy's partner, Constantine Faller.

The site is referred to as a learning center because there is always something more to learn within these complex and dynamic systems; Kathy and Constantine are dedicated to lifelong learning, they love to experiment and they love to share and learn with others.  Holistic Management decision making and other such tools are utilized for all aspects of the land stewardship project as well as this collective evolutionary experiment in sustainability and community resilience.

Kathy will be happy to pass along stories about the land and information about the Forest Stewardship Management plan, the Environmental Quality Improvement Grants and the woodland farming projects. In addition, Kathy and Constantine will be happy to share information regarding their efforts and practices in the arenas of: communication, diverse conversations and teamwork, conservation, preparedness, community resilience, sustainable business practices, photovoltaic off-grid solar electricity, passive solar design, solar thermal hot water, rain water catchment processes with a roof washer and a Ultra-violet potable water system and a "living machine" sanitary sand filter. In addition there is an intensive, organic kitchen garden with advanced composting techniques and a worm farm operation.  The site is also a HAM amateur radio station, a Community Collaboration Rain, Hail and Snow station and a yurt-dome serves for additional shelter and a site for Community Conversations.

Kathy lived in the rock shelter prior to implementing any development project so that she could get to know the land through the seasons.  The homestead site was selected based upon the orientation to the sun, elevation, local weather patterns, forest fire mitigation and geological/hydrological factors related to pond placement.

Merril Langel constructed the pond and blessed the land with his outstanding artistry. Some of the trees were placed as a large brushpile, others were milled by Jerry Moomaw and used for the construction of the shelter.  Many other individuals, including interns, have also played a part in the creation of this special place over the years...a process of creation that will never cease. Some say the site exudes the essence of permaculture and is an excellent example of sustainability in practice.

Bill Serbonich helped write the original Forest Stewardship plan which divides the land into three areas: the home site and pond, the upland area with a stand of native Virginia Pine and the third area with unique geologic features with benches that blend into Joe's Run, a sub- watershed within the Federal Creek Watershed.

The Underground Railroad ran through the area and there were once many homes and thriving communities in the region during the coal extraction era.  The land was logged approximately 50 years ago and was likely followed with by a period of livestock activity but the land was never mined for coal.  Kathy owns the mineral rights with a gas/oil lease that will return to her in the near future.

The successional forest processes are returning the land to health and there are abundant turkeys and other wildlife in this rugged frontier region.  Kathy and Constantine are committed to serving as sustainable land stewards as they interact as part of the environment.  They completed EQIP grapevine release projects in 2005 and 2006 and the crop tree release /invasive plant management project phase began in 2010. The driveway easement that runs the length of the property along the western edge provides a nice example of woods that have been managed within a stewardship plan on one side with woods on the other side that have been left alone by the out-of-area landowners.

Kathy Jacobson has lived on the hill for 10 years; Athens County for about 30 years. She collaborates with numerous community groups to provide outreach education and advocacy, including Rural Action and the Kilvert Community Center.  Pete Woyer and many other area experts have also provided input and insights related to the land management processes on the land.

Ora Anderson, now deceased, was her neighbor as she raised her sons on Lavelle Road outside Athens.  He was a very dear friend and Kathy's primary mentor in relation to community efforts and her land stewardship project.  Kathy reports that she still feels him guiding her in her role as steward on behalf of all the woodland beings, the community and future generations.

We will carpool from the Athens Friends Meeting House in Chauncey, Ohio, the Amesville Post Office and other places, depending on who is inclined to join us and how we can accommodate them.  We are happy to assist if you call us.  Jessica, Rich and Noah Fox can be reached @ 740-447-2299.