Mission Statement
Our mission with Osage Moon is to provide habitat for wildlife and sanctuary for humans.  We aim to foster a thriving ecosystem of meadows, woods and wetlands, while operating in harmony with our ranch and farm neighbors. Our process is to turn old pastures into native-grass prairies flush with seeds, and transform forests overgrown by cedar and honey locust trees into healthy woods abounding in nutritious plants and mast-bearing hardwood trees. The emphasis is on deer and birds of all kinds, including waterfowl, songbirds, birds of prey, hummingbirds and upland game birds, plus

butterflies and moths. In addition, for both ourselves and to pass onto future caretakers, we will be creating aids for reflection, wisdom and emotional healing that assist contemplation and personal ritual -- labyrinths, small chapels, meditation benches, artwork and altars. We'll blend these in along trails throuout the environment except for sensitive areas reserved solely for wildlife. We are also giving thought to a unique memory meadow for accepting unembalmed bodies and cremation ash, with an open-air structure for funeral services. next


What did Osage Moon used to be?

Osage Moon consists of three small parcels that were combined into one large 75-acre one, bucking a contemporary trend of fragmenting property into smaller units, a process devastating to wildlife. The front property, the original Osage Moon, was a run-down 22-acre horse farm with a large dilapidated barn. It is divided by McClung Creek into north (front) and south (back) pastures. It contains the residential area. West of the original 22-acres is the Poplar Place, 11 acres also divided by the creek. Completely overrun by junk, it had an abandoned 1936 house, barn and several ruined outbuildings. All but the barn and well house were torn down.  It is named for the large silver poplars on its fence. Behind them both are 43 acres of dense woods called the Back 40. Except for a failed attempt in the 1990s to create a mobile home park in the trees, it has been unaltered for many decades.

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Did the land always look this way?

Before settlers arrived, this area was a prairie frequented by roaming buffalo and other hoofed animals. Periodic wildfires and the animals' constant browsing kept trees and brush restricted to areas along creeks and bottomlands. It was much more open back then.  In the late 1800s and turn of the century, this area was more populated than it is now. Life focused on farming, probably cotton. Large bois d'arcs and other hardwood trees were harvested from the bottomlands, often clearing the woods entirely and causing erosion. The town of Rogers was located one-half mile to the east where several roads met. As the family-farm economy gave way to manufacturing, residents sold their land and moved away. The schools, businesses and homes were torn down. Only a small cemetery remains. New residents, far fewer than before, moved in and built homes. Now the land is used mostly for raising cattle and hay, with some large-scale farming of wheat, corn and sorghum.

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What is the overall plan for Osage Moon?

Our goal is to restore the land to its original state as best we can. The first phase was to create a base of operations and residential area in the far northeast corner, on a one-acre tract separated from the wildlife meadows by a quarter-acre pond. That entailed turning a dilapidated old barn into a workshop/garage with an air-conditioned break room and bathroom. We drilled a well for water and put in a plumbing and septic tank system. A 20+ year-old RV was bought and semi-renovated to live in and an awning built to shelter it from the weather. We erected a new front fence and gate, and put in a road system, including repairing a large culvert so we could cross the creek with vehicles. This took over a year. The second half of this phase is to build a permanent home. That process started in miid 2005 and should be completed by the end of 2006. The second phase is to begin improving conditions for wildlife. While the property has abundant protective habitat for wildlife, it has far too little food. Pasture must be transformed into prairies with seed-bearing forbs and grasses, and the Back 40 woods must be thinned out and clearings created so that sunlight can enter and allow mast-bearing plants such as native grasses, pigeonberry shrubs and buckeye trees to grow. More ponds must be added. The third phase is to install the trails and devotional aids. Also part of this stage is the possible creation of the natural cemetery with an open-air shelter for funeral services and group visits by naturalists and others. Of course, these stages overlap a lot.

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