Last month Becky and I visited the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas.  I had a meeting with the Sustainable Sites staff.  The Sustainable Sites headquarters is located at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower  Center.  It was quite an amazing place.

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center mission is to:

“Increase the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants, and landscapes”

All of us here at Habitat for Hope believe very strongly in sustainable practices related to our property.  We want to be good stewards of the beautiful land that God has given to us.  This is one reason we are participating in the Sustainable Sites Initiative.  The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is a great study in how to promote and educate people on the importance of sustainable landscapes.

This year Greenbuild was in one of my favorite cities in the world: Chicago. Greenbuild is the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green, sustainable, eco-friendly building. Close to 30,000 people from all over the world were in Chicago for three days of outstanding educational sessions, renowned speakers, green building tours, special seminars, and networking events. This year Mark and Andy joined me for the conference; our goal was to find more partners to join us in the Barn Raising Project. We talked to all sorts of companies that make healthly products ranging from countertops to HVAC systems.  Our team feels so strongly about including safe, healthy options in our design scheme – we are confident these additions will only increase the beauty and wellness families with critically or chronically ill children will achieve when utilizing our facilities.

This past March Mark, Becky, and I visited Seamark Ranch just outside of Jacksonville, Florida. One of our Master Planners, Marc Newman, said it would be a great place to visit because they were in the midst of building out a plan similar to ours. While our ministries are different, much of what we both do is to form community around hurting people.

According to Seamark Ranch, their organization is a, “non-denominational, Christ-centered children’s home and school committed to sharing the Gospel, hope, healing, and a brighter future with abused, neglected, abandoned, and homeless children.

Seamark Ranch, located on a beautiful 468-acre campus in Northeast Florida, seeks to provide a “traditional home” environment where each child can experience the security of boundaries and the acceptance of unconditional love. The Seamark approach is therapy-based and individualized. They strive to heal wounds and help children prosper in faith, in school, and in the community.

The loving care of live-in houseparent couples is supported and enhanced by professional, on-site counselors. A ranch manager teaches self-reliance and personal pride through farm work. Recreational experts manage aquatic, equestrian, and sports activities, while volunteers contribute in a variety of important ways. “

Seamark Ranch is building a community for these children. A place where they can safely interact with each other and the local community. Their Master Plan consists of 4 boys homes, 4 girls homes, chapel, administration center, equestrian center, staff homes, recreation areas, agriculture center, and nature trails.

Mark, Becky, and Ioved experiencing how God is blessing Seamark Ranch. It was truly one of those places where Jesus’ light is shining.

Check out Seamark Ranch at www.seamarkranch.com