Sweet Land

Our community is currently located in one large home in Nanjmemoy Maryland, south of Washington DC.

Here we live on 50 acres of deeply forested land upon the beautiful Nanjemoy Creek, a wide tidal waterway, teaming with eagles and herons, flowing into the lower Potomac River.

Our proximity to Washington DC makes it fairly easy to connect with the economic, social, and cultural life of that city. But we are very rural, and the history, the land, and the people of this area provide a wonderful extended community to be a part of.

The Region

The Nanjemoy region is special for many reasons. One most natable is that sprawl and development from Washington DC has tended to occur more in the north, east, and west of the city, leaving the south less harmed until fairly recently.

Nanjemoy is the most obvious example of this condition. Primarily filled with forests and farms, Nanjemoy is designated by the county plan to remain a rural and agricultural zone. This means that it is harder for the developers - who certainly have designs on this area - to get the permits they seek for large-scale housing developments.

One of our main goals for our community is to push back against the amazing flood of developer money that is pressing to have Nanjemoy on the chopping block.

The Creek

The Nanjemoy Creek is another primary feature of this region. It begins as a small flowing creek but quickly enters into a tidal zone and grows wide and miraculous.

(Following from tne Maryland DNR website) Nanjemoy Creek is a partially established greenway targeted by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) for the conservation of its unique natural habitat. TNC has established a 688-acre preserve in the upper reaches of Nanjemoy Creek that will soon be expanded by the addition of another 900 acres.

The preserve protects the largest great blue heron rookery on the East Coast north of Florida.

In addition to the rookery, Nanjemoy Creek is habitat for the federally listed Dwarf Wedge Mussel (Alasmidonta heterodon), Virginia wild ginger inhabits the uplands along with several trees unusual in coastal Maryland, such as overcup oak and basket oak.

The tidal portions of Nanjemoy Creek are accessible by kayak, canoe and small boat from nearby Friendship Landing, where there is also a one-mile shoreline trail.