YES! Remaining Rooted at MuRefuge

I offer this farewell to MuRefuge and all the wonderful memories I will take with me. Healing the land and myself has been an awesome journey of BE-ing Rooted: a Practice in Essential Living. May the next steward(s) enjoy the gifts that remain here and continue the process of "BEing one with Nature." 

A seasonal pond fed by an artisan well.
The birds and other wildlife use the water
for drinking and bathing.

Sage enjoying a "love/pet fest" in the sunshine one recent afternoon past,

Over the mound goes the ducks led by Ms. Blue
followed by the two Tootsie Rolls with
Coco between, then comes the two BE BEs
and Ms. Crone.

The duck flock of seven female Indian Runners near

their pond (a buried antique bathtub).

To discharge the sadness and grief that arises in leaving behind these awesome BEings, I

MuRefuge's Sentient BEings

I have come to terms with the future.

From this day onward I will walk

easy on the earth. Plant trees. Kill

no living things. Live in harmony with

all creatures. I will restore the earth

where I am. Use no more of its resources

than I need. And listen, listen to what 

it is tell me.

M.J. Slim Hooey

We have been honored in our time spent at MuRefuge to witness life beginning and life ending, for example, an old buck stopping in his tracks and dying in the field South of our property. We watched over the following days the Turkey vultures clean the carcass, leaving a stunningly beautiful rack atop the skeleton. 

Below are just a few pictures of the sentient BEings we have seen here at MuRefuge over the years. Of course there is a plethora of other beings not featured here in the pictures. Here's a smattering (but by no means an all inclusive list) of those we have seen over the years: weasel, possum, skunk, raccoon, bobcat & mountain lion (rear), mice, a variety of different kinds of rats, gopher & mole & vole, gopher snake, many insects and birds, both year round residents as well as migratory and seasonal birds.

While I was moving the last of the organic compost from
MuRefuge's driveway, this California Red-sided Gartersnake
did NOT want to give up its home."
When earlier on another day of moving the compost,
a shed snake skin was laying atop
of the pile as the tarp was removed.

June 04, 2014

June 02, 2014: Mom returned to feed her offspring.

February 24, 2013

May 21, 2012
We were filled with gratitude to see the litter of 8, yes, 8!
And the one in the right of this picture caught a meal.

June 21, 2012
Humans had an an opportunity to see interspecies sharing in the field just  to the South of MuRefuge.

February 05, 2012

January 17, 2012
A pair of foxes seen repeatedly in the early mornings.

A foggy Wintery morning in 2012

August 22, 2011
Both Pipevine caterpillar and chrysalis

Below is the awesome transformation of the Monarch caterpillar to butterfly we here at MuRefuge were ever so fortunate to witness over six weeks =/-

As we celebrate diversity and the wild sentient BEings of all sizes and forms, may we

Stewardship of Native Ecology

To be of the Earth is to know

The restlessness of being a seed

The darkness of being planted

The struggle toward the light

The pain of growth into the light

The joy of bursting and bearing fruit

The love of being food for someone

The scattering of your seeds

The decay of the seasons

The mystery of death

The miracle of birth.    

John Soos

MuRefuge is an extraordinary merging of Permaculture concepts and native ecology. MuRefuge, she reflects the healing and learning of her original steward. The land possesses good Feng Shui due to her natural topography, ancient knowledge, and demonstrates remarkable adaptability.

My husband and I bought this West Sonoma County rural residential property in December, 1992, when we had been in relationship for just over four years. I was in ill health and Dwight was commuting to the Financial District in San Francisco. MuRefuge is 50 miles North of the Golden Gate Bridge. The house was move-in ready but the land had been scraped and begged for care.

"Sparkling New, Elegant Country Home"
was the caption on the advertisement of the home we bought.
Notice the utility lines coming to the house.
These were in violation of the neighborhood agreement
so the previous owner (and builder) put them underground
prior to our closing escrow .

The Fall before purchasing MuRefuge we acquired a Siberian Husky puppy and her two year old sister, a Black and Tan Hound/Chocolate Labrador mix. We moved three miles as the crow flies South to MuRefuge that lays just North of the "Petaluma Wind Gap." And we began our process of BE-ing Rooted.

Both of us, having spent more time here at MuRefuge than either of us have lived in one place previously, find we are being nudged to begin a new chapter of our lives. We are grateful for the time with MuRefuge, learning from the land and all the creatures smallest and large who also call MuRefuge "home" or those just passing through. Old souls have come to share their lives with us; presently Sage, the resident cat, 

Sage beneath ‘Skylark’ (Ceanothus thysiflorus)) with Purple Needlegrass in the left of the picture.

and one of the Tootsie Rolls, a 2 year old female Indian Runner duck. Old Soul Tootsie Roll is part of the resident flock of 7 female Indian Runner ducks that provide fresh, delicious eggs as well as fertilize the orchard and keep the snails and slugs in check.

In the far back of this picture are the two newest additions
of this small flock of female Indian Runner ducks, BE BES,
and in the foreground on the left are the two Tootsie Rolls,
the old soul the one with her head in the water bowl
and on their way to the pond, a sunken antique bathtub,
are Ms. Crone, Coco and Ms. Blue (from left to right).

Both the resident cat, Sage, and the Indian Runner flock will be remaining at MuRefuge with the next steward(s).

EVOLUTION of 3/4 acre we call MuRefuge (1992 to 2017):

HOUSE

• 2001 Slate to floor of utility "closet" housing washer and dryer and to Master bathroom, carpet in Master bedroom and walk in closet replaced with red oak flooring, door to Great Room from garage moved to inside entryway
• 2003 Slate to front outside entryway and path created with same. inside house painted
• 2011 New furnace with air filtering for entire house with all new ducts, entire house siding replaced with "Hardee" plank and painted, Miele dishwasher for kitchen with removal of microwave and installation of Typhoon Range Hood, mirror "back splash" behind newly installed G.E. Range, red oak floors replaced carpet in remaining 2 bedrooms with metal blinds replaced with wooden Hunter Douglas blinds and same blinds installed in Library by Blindingly Clean, owner: Ernie Martin.
• 2014 New Craftsman garage door opener installed by Michael Libby, 707-546-7954.
• 2015 Japanese Takagi gas tankless hot water heater replacing traditional hot water heater. "bird tape" applied to windows to reduce bird collision.
• 2016 septic pumped. all underground tanks resealed by Al & Eric of Analy Septic, 707-823-7340; kitchen cabinets refinished with Poland pottery pulls and installation of new 40 year, high dimensional composition shingles by Elk roof and 6" fascia seamless gutters, additional downspouts   
• 2017 new smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

LAND

The healing of the scraped, unhealthy land towards a vibrant native ecology and certified Wildlife Habitat was informed by, but not limited to:

• Introduction to Permaculture. (1991). Bill Mollison with Reny Mia Slay.

Summer, 1993, swales dug to catch and retain the rainfall
to replenish the underground water.

Fall, 1993 trees planted to provide wind breaks.

Spring, 1994, herb spiral outside of the Great Room sliding door.

• Gardening with a Wild Heart: Restoring California's Native Landscape at Home (1999). Judith Larner Lowry
• The Landscaping Ideas of Jays: a Natural History of the Backyard Restoration Garden. (2007) Judith Larner Lowry.
• Designing California Native Gardens: the Plant Community Approach to Artful,Ecological Gardens. (2007). Glenn Keator and Alrie Middlebrook.

June, 2012, Native Twinberry Honeysuckle (Lonicera involucrata)
 flourishing in riparian community along MuRefuge's South property line. 

• Bringing Nature Home. (2007). Douglas W. Tallamy.
• The Resilient Gardener: Food Production and Self-Reliance in Uncertain Times. (2010).  Carol Deppe.

October, 2016
Two of the Three Sisters (beans, corn, squash):
Hopi Blue Flour corn and Sweet Meat squash.

With the cool marine influence here at MuRefuge seeds do not readily germinate in the 13 raised (gopher proof) beds. Thus early on Dwight built a greenhouse, and later enlarged, to enable seeds to be germinated in a warm environment provided by an adjustable temperature "heat mattress".

The number of different kinds of birds that visit MuRefuge in a full cycle of the Seasons has gone from a mere 19 the first year to now over 125. The absence of any native plant species in 1992 to an extensive array presently is the likely explanation for this increase. The plant list may be accessed by clicking here. 

The diversity of MuRefuge's wildlife may be viewed by clicking here.

This picture of California Flannelbush ‘San Gabriel’ (Fremontodendr on californicum)
was taken in April, 2014. It is the bush in the lower left of the picture below.

August, 2017 

Anyone interested in purchasing and becoming the next stewards of MuRefuge
please contact:

Tim Johnson 

Coldwell Banker
Cellular: 707-477-2510 

BRE License # 00860167

johnson2@sonic.net


As I have done during all these years of MuRefuge's stewardship, may we all

Cross Quarter Day Marking Beginning of Fall

Salt Marsh Gumplant (Grindelia stricta)

In the early morning hours of August 7, 2017, Lughnasad (one of four cross quarter days) occurs and marks the beginning of Fall here in West Sonoma County in Northern California. The deer are congregating in the field South of MuRefuge and the crows are gathering in large flocks as both are wont to at this time of the year.

Many of MuRefuge native plants are entering estivation, aka dormancy. Others are sporting vibrant flowers with abundant nectar drawing butterflies and hummingbirds to feed upon their nectar.

California Fuchsia (Epilobium c. Chaparral Silver)

Raccoon prints were evident in the drying pond a few days past. The seasonal pond is fed by an artisan well which just recently stopped running and now is running once again. As the soil dries and the air dries, the life force energy, aka qi, begins the shift from predominately yang of Spring and Summer to yin of Fall and Winter. 

Sage and Cathie languishing in the warmth of the sun on an afternoon recently passed.

The foggy mornings and warm afternoons are supporting the ripening of the Black Satin thornless blackberries . . . not too fast and without drying up the lush berries.

Nutrient Dense Crisp made with freshly picked  MuRefuge blackberries
made with soaked almonds rather than soaked pecans.

NUTRIENT DENSE CRISP 

Preparation: In a warming 350 degree oven melt 1/4 C. organic, unsalted butter in a 10" Corning Ware dish in which the crisp will bake.  

In a large bowl mix the topping:

• 1/2 C. freshly ground organic flax seeds
• 1/2 C. organic almond meal (if unavailable use almond flour)
• 2 T. organic chia seeds
• 1 tsp. each of organic ground coriander seeds, cinnamon, mace
• pinch of cardamom seeds if you like
• 1/2 C. chopped, soaked for 24 hrs. pecans

Pour the melted butter from the Corning Ware dish over the above dry ingredients and mix well.

In Corning Ware dish toss 

• 1/4 C. organic chia seeds 
• with 4 generous cups of your favorite, in season fresh berries or fruit. Frozen or canned fruit can be used during the months when fresh fruit is not available. For more ease of digestion use only one kind of fruit or berries.

If the fruit is not juicy enough, using an immersion blender puree 1 C. fruit with 1/3 C. water. If the fruit is not sweet enough add 2 to 4 pitted Medjool dates and puree with the fruit/water pureed mixture.

Bake, in the preheated 350 degree oven, for 30 to 45 minutes depending on your preference for the cooked fruit. 

As we each tune our awareness of the shift in qi and honor the seasonal cycle, may we