Earth Sanctuary: A Nature Reserve, Meditation Parkland and Sculpture Garden

In the second part of this series, Bre Pettis interviews his dad, Chuck Pettis. Chuck explains the intentions behind the Cottonwood Stone Circle and the exciting new developments at the stone circle. Chuck also gives advice on making your own sacred space and explains why he used Columbia River Basalt Columns in this stone circle. The Cottonwood Stone Circle is changing a lot from what it looked like before and in part three in this series, you’ll get a chance to see some heavy machinery in action!

This is the first of several videos on the construction of the new and improved Cottonwood Stone Circle. The Cottonwood Stone Circle is now the tallest stone circle in the world!

Meet Raj, Earth Sanctuary’s web master, who was finally able to visit Earth Sanctuary in person after working on web sites (see also www.brand.com) for Chuck Pettis for over two years. Raj started working for Chuck when he was a grad student in computer science at Syracuse University. Now, he is a top-notch computer professional. Raj loves to travel!

Learn about one of the Earth Sanctuary water springs that flows year round.

This is the fourth year that Earth Sanctuary has participated in the University of Washington Restoration Ecology Capstone program. Students from this leading school of ecological restoration plan and execute a restoration project, from beginning to end. Here is this year’s group!

Thanks to all the rain, this Sunday, January 8, 2006, was the first day since last winter that water was flowing rapidly from the Middle Pond to the West Pond and out toward the large wetland Southwest of Earth Sanctuary. The beavers have been busy keeping the weirs dammed up with mud and sticks and as a result the Middle Pond is at its highest point since 2000. It’s a challenge keeping the water flowing!

Clark Sarbaugh is a high school up and coming filmmaker who has just finished a beautiful video that captures the magic and surprise of Earth Sanctuary. Please let us know what you think of his work.

Comment from a recent guest at the Earth Sanctuary Retreat House: “There’s something inherently mysterious about those ancient sculptural forms – what is it? Spent several hours each day slowly walking the trails between them, rediscovering how tuning into the minutiae of nature quiets the mind. And each day brought at least one amazing auspicious encounter: a bald eagle on the Middle Pond, Pileated Woodpecker on the Celestial Trail, two owls in the bog at dusk, a crystal in a tree, evidence of beavers near West Pond!” - M.A.K.