Honoring Cathy Bruemmer’s 28 Years of Stewardship & Radical Hospitality

(Scroll down to leave Cathy a message.)

On June 9th, Cathy Bruemmer will drive off the land and into an early retirement.

If you’re reading this, you probably have a story about Cathy, who has been an important part of what makes Hedgebrook Hedgebrook for nearly 30 years. I’ve been struggling to write something about this change for more than a week. I am so happy for her but it’s hard not to feel bittersweet.

Cathy started at Hedgebrook as a gardener in the first week of June, 1997, just after The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy was published. 

Over the next 28 years (minus a two year period during the dot.com bust), Cathy tended the organic kitchen garden, oversaw building repairs, chopped wood for fires, led writers on nature walks, managed teams of chefs and housekeepers and land workers, implemented our land use plan, ferried writers to and from town and the shuttle, responded to their off-hours texts and calls, and more, so much more. Her contributions to this place, and the idea that it’s built on, are everyplace. That gorgeous wisteria arbor in the garden? Cathy saved it from the axe. Our digital application process? Yeah, that was Cathy’s idea, too. (She was the one who recycled the paper applications, pulling each staple and paper clip.)

Cathy’s tenure at Hedgebrook has spanned five changes in leadership, dozens of Board members, and cohorts of writers from every corner of the globe. She holds the conscience of this place of sanctuary, keeps its secrets, holds its history, and reminds us of its intentions. I am so grateful to know her and to have learned from her. 

After caring so well for Hedgebrook, she continues to care deeply about its future. In true Cathy fashion, in letting us know she was retiring, she also let us know that Hedgebrook’s endowment is in her estate plans. She wasn’t crazy about the idea of this post, but she was happy to let me share that point.

She’ll only be 2½ miles away but we will all miss her presence on the land.

My ask of you: please hop into the comments or on social media to congratulate Cathy on her retirement or offer best wishes for her future. She’s opening her private Instagram account so she can stay in touch. Let’s shower her with love.

—Kimberly

Show Cathy some love by leaving a message for her below: