Across the Southeast, entire ecosystems have vanished — old-growth forests, native grasslands, wetlands, and the species that once depended on them. At Good Shepherd Homestead & Sanctuary, we are restoring what time, industry, and neglect have nearly erased. Our Wildlife Refuge and Endangered Species Restoration Program is one of the core pillars of our mission, and this season marks a major step forward.
"When we heal the land, the land heals us."
A Multi-Zone Protected Ecosystem
Every zone is monitored, stewarded, and maintained with trauma-informed ecological practices that protect both the land and the creatures who depend on it.
Restored water flow, native reeds, waterfowl nesting, and amphibian-safe zones filtering and storing water.
Pollinator corridors, ground-nesting bird habitat, native grasses, and wildflower restoration.
Longleaf pine stands, butternut groves, and mixed hardwood corridors for endangered tree species.
Restricted-access areas protecting sensitive nesting wildlife from human disturbance.
Educational areas where veterans and community members learn ecological stewardship firsthand.
Protected zones restoring native orchid populations and the mycorrhizal networks they depend on.
Restoring the Longleaf Pine:
A Southern Legacy Reborn
Once covering over 90 million acres, the longleaf pine ecosystem has been reduced to less than 3% of its original range. This tree is more than a symbol — it is a keystone species that supports the red-cockaded woodpecker, gopher tortoises, native orchids, fire-dependent grasses and wildflowers, and countless insects, birds, and mammals.
At Good Shepherd, we are actively reestablishing longleaf pine stands across our forest zones. Each planting is part of a long-term restoration plan that will outlive us and serve generations to come.
"The longleaf pine is slow to grow, but it is resilient — just like the people we serve."
Butternut Trees &
Native Orchids
The butternut tree — once a beloved source of food and medicine for Indigenous peoples — now faces extinction across much of its range due to butternut canker disease. GSHS is propagating disease-resistant butternut stock and establishing protected groves as living seed banks for future restoration.
Native orchids — including lady's slipper, purple fringed orchid, and grass pink — have nearly vanished from the Southeast due to habitat loss and disruption of the mycorrhizal soil networks they depend on. We are restoring both the orchids and the invisible fungal web beneath the forest floor that sustains them.
Every GSHS shop site and homestead is required to plant endangered species trees and native plants as a non-negotiable covenant of stewardship.
Healing the Land's
Lifeblood
Wetlands are the kidneys of the earth. They filter water, prevent flooding, store carbon, and provide habitat for hundreds of species. Many of Alabama's wetlands have been drained or damaged — but at Good Shepherd, we are bringing them back to life.
These wetlands now support herons, ducks, turtles, frogs, and countless pollinators. They also serve as outdoor classrooms for ecological education and refuge steward training.
A Covenant of Care
Every species restored is a promise kept. Click each species to learn about their story and our commitment to their recovery.
More Than Environmental Work
Hands-on restoration work provides structure, meaning, and connection to the land that heals invisible wounds.
Restored wetlands and forests filter runoff, recharge aquifers, and protect rural communities from flooding.
The next generation grows up learning to protect and restore, not extract and deplete.
Every tree planted, every wetland restored, every species protected is a gift to generations not yet born.