October 16, 2025

Dear Friends,

The luminous Harvest Moon earlier this month is a fine reminder of life’s cycles and seasons, including our own. This month we’re sharing stories, both big and small, of “coming full circle.” In that spirit, don’t miss news of a transformative gift from founders of The Meadow, Hunter Mohring and Karen “KB” Bailey. Read on!

Thank you, as always, for being part of it all,

The Boxerwood Team

For Hunter Mohring, donation of The Meadow brings her life’s work full circle. “When I first discovered natural burial, it was like a flash of insight – here was something that enabled folks to live and die affirming their spiritual and environmental values," she said. "Boxerwood has been doing this work of environmental education for years, helping people understand their place in the natural world. Together, we can offer our community a complete circle of care – nurturing environmental stewardship from the earliest ages through life's final chapter."

Concerned about the impact of golf course construction on Woods Creeks, all 6th graders at Maury River Middle School this year are monitoring the health of the creek at six points along its run through Lexington, plus the Maury River above and below Jordan’s Point. Although new to MRMS, the students were already proficient in water testing protocols, which they had learned in elementary school during Boxerwood-led programs. Applying these skills to a new, real-life concern brings this earlier teaching full circle – these 180 students are no longer followers, they’re leaders. The Woods Creek investigation is a dynamic example of Project NEST in action, our field-based work with key RCPS teachers.

The annual Back-to-School Appeal concludes at the end of the month. We’ve made progress, but haven’t yet met our goal of $30,000. Thank you to the 71 supporters who collectively have already donated $22,025 – we’re almost there! When you donate to the Boxerwood Educational Foundation, 100% of your gift helps subsidize the costs of providing nature-based programs for children from low-income families. Help kids, schools, and Boxerwood in one sweet gift: win-win-win!

Back in 1990, Laurie Macrae gave Elise Sheffield a job. Hiring was tight in schools then, so Elise was relieved to find a position teaching for a local homeschool cooperative run by a handful of parents, including Laurie. “That’s where I first met outdoor hands-on learning!” said Elise, now Boxerwood’s Program Director. As happens, time carried the homeschool group down varied lifeways, yet somehow Boxerwood emerged as part of the weave. One co-op parent, Dr. Lenna Ojure, became a member of the Boxerwood board. Now treasurer of the Boxerwood Educational Foundation, she also serves on the Rockbridge County School Board. Two others, Peggy Leasure and Katie McNeil, have also worked or volunteered as Boxerwood educators. Elise arrived at Boxerwood in 2005. 

Laurie found her way to Boxerwood as development coordinator and now interim director, after also serving on the school board, running a business, and more. “35 years later, Laurie's my boss again!” marvelled Elise. This week at Boxerwood, Elise had the honor of teaching Laurie’s grandson, Riven, now a Waddell 4th grader. The circles – they keep a-turning! As she completes her invaluable work as Boxerwood’s interim director, we thank Laurie for all the ways she inspires us.

Photo: Elise (right) and Laurie (left) with Laurie’s son Mez Welch, grandson Riven, and Shanti Leasure, now a Boxerwood part-time contractor. Mez and Shanti were among the homeschoolers whom Elise taught long ago.

Thank you to professional photographer Keely Naffsinger Massie for creating an opportunity for family photos at Boxerwood this fall. Keely is offering her services as a fundraiser for us, with $50 from each booking donated to Boxerwood. Date: Sunday, Oct. 26 from 1:00 - 6:00 pm, with each session lasting 15 - 20 minutes. Limited offer. Register now.

Fall reflections from our Garden Steward, Karen Stanley

Is dropping seeds the end of a tree’s yearly growth cycle—or the beginning of another? Maybe it’s simply part of a continuous circle, from germination to termination. Interestingly, as a tree’s health declines, it often produces an especially large crop of seeds—a “last effort” to pass on its genetic material. In doing so, it uses up more of its remaining energy to give future generations a better chance.

Winter birds are back, and so is the annual Rockbridge Bird Club Seed & Suet sale – just in time to stock your feeders before the first cold snap. The sale is a valuable fundraiser for Boxerwood and helps us care for the garden’s diverse wildlife habitats. Wild bird seed and products come directly from a family-owned supplier in Ohio that purchases seed from small Midwest farms. Offerings include crafted blends, suet cakes, and bird feeders. Order forms must be received online or by mail no later than October 27.

Speaking of full circle, Rockbridge County High School Agriculture teacher Gwen Gosney just welcomed 200 gallons of homegrown compost for her program’s new raised beds. The compost came from Fairfield Elementary, whose students last year diverted 2,659 lbs. of food waste to their school-based composters. The story doesn’t end there, though. The Fairfield composting is part of Boxerwood’s Waste Buster program, a methane-prevention enterprise that also happens to generate quantified and verified carbon offsets for the COREworks marketplace. Bottom line: when you secure a carbon offset from COREworks, 100% of your quick transaction helps fund the next carbon-reducing project, in a homegrown, wild and wonderful, perpetual cycle of good!

In middle school, Jacob Zimmerman traveled with Boxerwood to Glen Maury Park to test the health of the Maury. “I remember it being catered to our region,” he explained. “So we were testing water for pesticides and animal waste because of the farms near our rivers.” The water testing also felt personally relevant: “My grandparents owned a farm, and still do, and that’s where we got our water for our animals. So the health of the river was important for us too.”

Boxerwood is fortunate to be a feather in the Bird Club’s nest. This month, we’re especially heartened by the Club’s annual bird seed fundraiser to benefit the woodland garden and its habitats. Our gratitude, though, is year-round. We thank the Club for hosting and leading the birdwatching events that meander through Boxerwood the second Saturday of every month. Bird Club activities are open to all, and this month, the Club will also be welcoming folks from Outdoors Adaptive Recreation (OAR) for special field-based birding as well. Year in and year out the Rockbridge Bird Club reminds us we’re better together when we care for our winged friends. Thank you, Rockbridge Bird Club!

Boxerwood Education Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Federal Tax ID: 54-1937944

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