By KATH CAMERON

WANTAGE -- When you plant a garden, sometimes you get more than you expect. Gardeners Paul Cardillo and Brian Hennessey had a vision "inherited from area youth" in the early 2000s for a community garden at the historical Lusscroft Farm area of High Point State Park. Since installing the Medicine Wheel Garden in 2009, the community of volunteers and admirers continues to grow, drawing gardeners, farmers, educators, artists and nature lovers to celebrate this Sussex County gem each spring.

The Medicine Wheel volunteers are hosting their fifth annual Medicine Wheel Celebration on May 18 and 19 in conjunction with the Heritage and Agriculture Association, a friends group of Lusscroft Farm. The event features an array of local music, gardening workshops, tours, perennial plant sale, craft and food vendors, community discussions and more to support the continued growth and preservation of the gardens and historical buildings.

Hennessey sees the gardens and celebration as "living art and culture" in northwestern New Jersey. "The Medicine Wheel group has given Lusscroft Farm and New Jersey a healing and growing presence, a living example of people and nature together, which is the Sussex County motto," Hennessey said.

The Medicine Wheel Garden designed by Cardillo and a compost system designed by Hennessey were installed at Lusscroft Farm in 2009. The Medicine Wheel is a circular garden sliced into 12 sections, each featuring three medicinal and deer resistant companion perennials. The gardens use permaculture or permanent agriculture, a method of farming with natural cycles and interconnection. In 2010 a crescent-shaped moon garden was added. It's silvery, white and fuzzy foliage and flowers reflect the moonlight on summer evenings. In 2012, period plantings were installed at the the historical manor house and managers dwelling by the Medicine Wheel group.

Saturday, May 18 activities include a garden meditation, dedication of the wood carved owl in the Sister Moon Garden, Spirit Hoopers performance, garden tours, a plant walk, and workshops on gardening and mushroom propagation.

There will be morning roundtable discussions on water quality and community food protection with Sister Miriam McGillis of Genesis Farm and Dr. William Thomas of Montclair State University's School of Conservation. There will be an afternoon open mic with poetry and music, hosted by the musical duo Morning Door, from 3 p.m. to dusk.

"It is a fun and fundraising event," Hennessey said. "Plant sales, raffles and auctions will generate money for Outlook Lodge and other Heritage and Agriculture Association projects at Lusscroft Farm." The plant sale will offer native and deer resistant landscape, medicinal plants and herbs, heirloom and organic vegetables, fruits, berries and more.

Sunday, May 19, there will be a panel discussion on "Living Art and Culture in Northwest New Jersey," featuring internationally-acclaimed artist France Garrido and chainsaw sculpture Brett McLain. Sunday workshops include soil fertility and sustainability with Brian Hennessey, biology and structure of mushrooms with Ian Blanchard, garlic as medicine with Roman Osadca, and organic fruit orchards and propagation with Pete Tischler. Throughout the weekend there will be tours of the Medicine Wheel Gardens with designer Paul Cardillo.

An afternoon of local music features Alex Phillips, Maribyrd, Jordan Koza, Maura Glynn, the Hawk Owls, Eric Waldman, Mike Lawlor and Joe Biglin with Friends. The Matty Carle Band will headline the Sunday musical lineup. Music runs from 12 p.m. to dusk.

Originally posted here:

Medicine Wheel celebrates ‘living art and culture'