Karen Keigwin

Mayapple.farm Mayapple Farm is becoming something rare. Tucked into Wills Valley, beneath Lookout Mountain in northeast Alabama, something unexpected is taking place. This land is revealing itself as living ecological sanctuary- shaped by spring fed water, wetlands, forest corridors, hidden stone formations, and quiet, thriving life. What was once overlooked is now unfolding into something far more rare and meaningful. I’m building Mayapple Farm step by step as a place where people can experience the land gently — through primitive camping, boondocking, woodland trails, and ecological storytelling. This is not a high-impact development project. It is a stewardship project. Visitors will be invited to slow down, observe, and reconnect with the natural world — while respecting the delicate systems already thriving here. You’re not just visiting land here. You’re stepping into a living ecological corridor. The Experience Evenings here unfold quietly. As the light softens, people gather with a drink in hand — and soon, a parade of ducks appears, making their way back from the creek for the night. We call it “Drink & Ducks.” In those same moments, you might notice a heron passing overhead, or catch a glimpse of hooded mergansers along the water. Wildlife moves through this land in ways that feel both ordinary and completely unexpected. Mayapple Farm is also a working goat farm, home to Syfan Spanish goats, who play their own role in stewarding and shaping the land. A walk through the trails is not just a hike — it’s a quiet step back in time. Through a self-guided path, you’ll move through shifting microclimates and small ecosystems, each revealing something different — from forest floor to stone, from water to ridge — all part of a much older story still unfolding. What Your Support Will Build Your support will help create the first low-impact phase of Mayapple Farm, including: • primitive camping and boondocking pads • trail clearing and woodland access • signage and educational wayfinding • creekside gathering spaces • ecological protection measures • simple infrastructure that allows the land to be shared responsibly The camping and access areas are intentionally placed in a separate portion of the property near the creek — away from Merlin’s Wall, wetlands, and sensitive forest habitat — so those areas remain protected. Why This Matters There are fewer and fewer places where land is allowed to remain whole. Mayapple Farm exists to protect one of those places — and to quietly share it in a way that doesn’t damage what makes it special. This is about doing things differently. Slower. More intentionally. With restraint. A Small Invitation Every donation counts. One of my favorite sayings is: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. That is how Mayapple Farm is being built — thoughtfully, patiently, and with long-term care. If this vision speaks to you, I’d be grateful for your support as Mayapple Farm grows into a place where people can reconnect with nature and experience the quiet beauty of the land. What is left behind becomes the future. Welcome to Mayapple Farm.