Roots to Sky Sanctuary is a BIPOC founded and led team that gathers decades of collective expertise in education, arts & humanities, entrepreneurship, health and wellness, regenerative farming, environmental justice, mindfulness, and restorative justice.
We were founded and incorporated in the year 2020, the same year COVID upended our world. We officially acquired the land in December of 2020. We are a certified public benefit corporation (B-corp) as well as a non-profit organization that is fiscally sponsored by The Social Good Fund.
Roots to Sky Sanctuary spans 125 pristine acres of agricultural fields, mature forests, and flowing springs, located in the secluded Backbone Mountain Range at the southern tip of Western Maryland. The land is a stone’s throw from the headwaters of the north branch of the Potomac River and is situated 3 hours from Washington DC, near the Eastern Continental Divide in the heart of the Allegheny Mountains. Before European settlers, these mountains were migratory routes for the Cherokee, Iroquois, Delaware, as well as dwelling places for villages of Massawomeck and other Monongahela Culture indigenous groups.
On the Lion’s Gate portal day, all partners finally met and set in motion to put an offer on the land. Roots to Sky Sanctuary was launched! We officially closed on December 8, 2020 and became the stewards of the newly formed Sanctuary. A dream to build community began with following the children’s spirit knowing the earth said yes to our humble intentions to listen and awaken to our interdependence in the natural world. Sanctuary became rooted...
Our first large volunteer weekend was in collaboration with Wholesome Humanity, Mettā Creation, and Plant Path Nursery. Volunteers helped clean and activate the Shell house, learned to identify edible plants and foraging, pine forest rejuvenation, and helped set up our Empress Tent!
Our friends at Plant Path Nursery donated over 100 trees, including apple, chestnut, elderberry, and hickory. Over 30 volunteers helped clear a plot of dead bull pine to plant our orchard.
Our first major grant award was a 2-year project funded by the Mellon Foundation giving birth to our inaugural Fellowship program and the launch of “Re-storying the Potomac.” Our cohort of fellows included Solana Booth, Antonio Carassco, Mēlani N. Douglass, Ilene Evans, Zach Herring, and Thomas Stanley.
Under the guidance and instruction of Jerome Haferd, CCNY architecture students spent an entire semester researching and designing projects that contributed to Roots to Sky Sanctuary and/or 2) the Re-storying the Potomac project and Fairfax Stone Site. The students traveled in March 2022 to present their proposals and experience the Sanctuary in real life!
From the day we walked across the threshold of Roots to Sky began the energetics of healing with food. Our hands fed many in community from the ramps.
Re-Storying the Potomac Fellow, Antonio Xocoyotl Carrasco III, leads the MaxaCali Native American Church. As a third generation ceremonialist, he shared with us the practices of sweat lodge and sitting with the fire.
Laid down the wood planks - 2022 - we officially opened the Studio space on the top floor of the shell house. A 1,200 square foot activation area brought to life with a beautiful wood floor. This space was mainly finished through the support of volunteers over multiple volunteer weeks.
Our first music and arts festival where over 300 people gathered for incredible live music, workshops, plant walks, and activist circles. Headlining this incredible event were Rising Appalachia, Born I, and Yemanjo amongst many others.
Over the years, we have built intentional ritual gatherings with a growing community that is aligned with the values and vision of the Sanctuary! This event was primarily intended for black folks and people of color to be in community and heal together through shared meals, music and art, mindful movement, somatic breathwork, and tending to the land!
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