Hedgebrook’s waterfall and pond, mid-freeze during a January cold-snap.
Whidbey Island is famous for its winter storms, especially in January. High winds and lashing rain often take out our power and call many creatures into hibernation. That’s why, from mid-December to late January, we close our residency for six weeks to make room for the critical care and maintenance required to welcome residents for the rest of the year.
During our residency season, the Land team prepares cottages for each new group of writers, tends the gardens, and works alongside our hospitality team to care for residents throughout their stay. During hibernation, the team inspects the whole property, cleans every cottage inside and out, winterizes the garden, and brings in chimney sweeps and the septic pumpers.
Of course, caring for the land isn't limited to these six hibernation weeks. Repairs, upkeep, and unexpected problems are part of our work throughout the year. On a 48 acre property, there's always something that needs attention. Appliances burn out, roofs need cleaning, and the brush is always growing. In addition to 17 structures and six septic systems, Hedgebrook also has two wells and more than two miles of roads and trails. While some projects can wait another season, others can't. Our challenge is to make the most of the resources we have while caring for the land and buildings that make Hedgebrook possible.
Maintaining a property like Hedgebrook takes significant resources. Our team is resourceful, and much of the repair work gets done in-house, thanks to the talent and artistry of our Land Team. But some of our aging infrastructure needs more than another repair, and so we carefully track and prepare for the larger projects that are just as much a part of how we keep Hedgebrook nourished and nourishing for all who visit.
Projects that will keep Hedgebrook thriving
For 2027, we’re prioritizing two major repair projects: replacement of arbors in our garden and a refurbishment of Hedgebrook’s waterfall. If you’ve been on the land recently, you may have noticed the deteriorating arbors that hold up our grape vines and wisteria. Our land team jokes that, at this point, the arbors are being held up by the vines and not the other way around. The posts, which are rotting at the base, need to be replaced.
Hedgebrook’s aging arbors.
Our second project is especially close to our hearts: bringing the waterfall back to life. The sound of the waterfall has long been part of the Hedgebrook experience. Unfortunately, the tarp lining in the pond has been leaking for years, and monitoring the water level became another weekly task on our list. Low water levels put stress on the pumps, and this small chore had significant consequences if overlooked. Last winter, the pump finally burned out, and two attempts to repair it were unsuccessful. To get the waterfall back in good working order, we need to replace the pump and re-line the pond. Estimated cost: $8,500.
Hedgebrook's cottages, gardens, and gathering places depend on the ongoing support of a community of readers and writers who believe in this work. Much of this care happens behind the scenes, but its impact is felt by every writer who comes here. Regular gifts help sustain the daily work of caring for the land, while additional support makes larger repairs and improvements possible. Your gift this season can help bring the waterfall back to life, replace the aging garden arbors, and address other important repairs that protect the land and cottages that make Hedgebrook possible.
The land thanks you. So do the writers.