Turtle clan Chief Vincent Mann from the Ramapough Lenaape is given a friendship gift while Chuck Stead and Chris St. Lawrence look on / Photo by Geoff Welch

The sun shone bright and hot Sunday as people from across Ramapo, and beyond, gathered to celebrate the huge new medicine garden in Torne Valley. Covering half an acre, the Ford Motor Company built a large, raw-post and fenced-in garden that will feature Sweet Grass for basketry and smudging as well as herbs and other native plants.

Dr. Chuck Stead and wife Katheen stand in the middle of the newly planted Sweet Grass spiral at the Torne Valley Medicine Garden / Photo by Geoff Welch

Town of Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence spoke about the importance of the work in Torne Valley, led by environmental educator Dr. Chuck Stead.

Stead played host to members from the Ramapough Lenaape and Mohawk nations at the Ramapo Saltbox for a private dinner, where Rockland County Forager Paul Tappenden prepared foods picked seasonally fresh (except for the venison, of course, which is native to these parts).

Rockland County Forager Paul Tappenden feted guests and friends Saturday night at the Saltbox with foods picked and prepared fresh / Photo by Geoff Welch

At Sunday’s Healing of the Earth Ceremony, Sweet Grass was planted in the middle of the garden in a large spiral. Members from both the Ramapough and Mohawk were on hand for the ceremony which included gift giving and thanks for the occasion. Arden Hill Nursery in Sloatsburg worked with Stead to get the Sweet Grass, keeping and watering the the 350 plus young grass clumps before they could be planted.

The Medicine Garden was planted at one of Ford’s former lead paint dump sites and will become part of the growing complex of historical and environmental features taking root in and around the Ramapo Saltbox Environmental Research Center in Torne Valley.