Pamlico Rose

01/26/2026

Hesed House of Hope
This last week, in commemoration of Martin Luther King Day week, members of our team traveled to our host site, Hesed House of Hope (HH), https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83709870727?pwd=zkdcb1PdJE1RH4AP02sxzqw8tAJWvA.1, in Lincolnton, NC to begin support of the development and build phase of their wellness garden. On Wednesday and Thursday, I joined Nina and Chris, our PRI Wellness Corps members supporting our flagship gardens in Aurora, as we built 5 robust and sturdy raised beds and laid out a radial design of raised beds in their 19 x 22-foot space that will grow veggies by late spring. We were joined in our efforts by HH volunteers and Megan Trawick, Deputy Director of VolunteerNC. Hesed House is a months long transition program for the unhoused, offering housing stability while securing employment and establishing financial security. It serves female and male residents to include children of residents. A big thanks to Keith Poston, HH Director, for all his help in making this a successful venture. We look forward to placing a Wellness Corps member there shortly and going back to help their gardens grow!

01/20/2026

Walk for Peace

We have been following the progress of "Walk for Peace" undertaken by 22 Buddhist monks from Texas and their peace canine companion Aloka, with a final destination of Washington, DC. It has been a fascinating experience for those who turn out to engage and listen at each of their daily stops, but following them through their Facebook account and live interactive map has been the next best experience. They are currently in NC making their way around Greensboro, NC and stopping just outside Julian this evening. You can follow them on their page, Walk for Peace, walkforpeace2025, and on their live map, https://dhammacetiya.com/walk-for-peace/live-map/. They will continue east through NC before turning "left" or north into Virginia. As you can see by their page, the reception they are getting at each stop, large metropolis to small rural town, has been amazing.

This Live Map is for seeing the exact route and stop locations for today.This map is updated in every 15-60 minutes. It only shows the approximate location of the journey. The best spots to visit us are at the stop locations (at lunch and night rest).

01/20/2026

For those interested in regenerative agriculture and sustainable living, what looks like an amazing online free summit, starts tomorrow.

New Year, New Earth Summit
"More people than ever are waking up to the fact that the old way of living isn’t working, and they’re looking for something real to build instead…

So we’ve gathered globally respected permaculture experts and regenerative leaders for a FREE, live 3-day online summit…
Designed to show you how a different way of living is possible, and how to start building it at home, with practical steps you can actually take in 2026."

https://www.ecoversity.org/nynesummit




The Wellness Garden of Aurora NC

Join the free New Year, New Earth Summit to learn how people around the world are building resilient, nature-aligned lives. Jan 20–22.

01/18/2026

Part of our mission, beyond building and sustaining gardens and providing resources to other community-based garden, is to also provide education and our experiences for those we are serving. Nina, PRI Wellness member serving at our Wellness Garden of Aurora NC, has graciously accepted my offer to pen a periodic blog on gardening over the coming weeks and months. So herewith, the first blog of Nina's Gardening Musings. Enjoy!

https://www.pamlicorose.org/post/in-the-weeds-1

Nina's Gardening Musings "Thyme to Grow" by Nina WisemanWe are fortunate to have a considerable amount of gardening, wellness and public health knowledge and skills represented in our Pamlico Rose Institute staff and PRI Wellness Corps members. We garden with the best of them, but as part of our mis...

01/02/2026

Happy New Year!

As 2026 begins, Pamlico Rose is growing more than gardens. We are cultivating a statewide movement for wellness and community.
Our Wellness Gardens of Aurora, our flagship site in rural Beaufort County, has become a model of transformation, resilience, and belonging, especially for underserved communities. From vibrant raised beds and a learning pavilion to a woodshop, meditative pergola, and a 25-foot greenhouse under construction, Aurora is where wellness takes root through hands-on learning, climate-smart gardening, and deep connections to nature and each other.

In partnership with AmeriCorps NC, PRI Wellness Corps, https://www.pamlicorose.org/pri-wellness-corps, is already expanding this vision across North Carolina, creating new community and wellness gardens alongside local partners.
That grassroots momentum continues to grow digital roots.
This spring, we launch the Pamlico Rose Institute Academy. This new online learning space will bring our mission to digital learning spaces across the state. Through courses in healing practices, horticulture, and community well-being, our “digital garden” will support Veterans, seniors, students, and lifelong learners as they chart a path toward living fit, in body, mind, community, and environment. Whether in person or online, we’re building something bold together for 2026 and beyond.

To help share our mission, we’ve revamped our website at www.pamlicorose.org to better reflect our growing efforts. There you’ll find our new blog, "In the Weeds," offering insights, knowledge, and stories on gardening, wellness, and the healing power of nature (check out our first blog, “Turning Over a New Leaf” here, https://www.pamlicorose.org/blog. Our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/) continues to grow with videos featuring members, gardens, and the communities we serve.

Follow us on Facebook as we chronicle events and activities across our sites in Aurora, Washington, Durham, Whitsett, Lincolnton, and beyond. In the coming days, we’ll introduce our host sites and share how these partnerships are helping North Carolinians grow wellness together. You can also follow our Aurora site directly at the The Wellness Garden of Aurora NC, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562388838650 for events and updates from our flagship garden.

And finally, a new chapter begins.
As we bring a graceful close to the story of the Rose Haven Center of Healing, we can share that the residence, barn, and surrounding gardens have been purchased by Thad and Liam Aley. We’re confident they will continue investing in making Washington a more inclusive and caring place to live. Through art, community, and stewardship of the gardens we nurtured, they carry forward the healing spirit of Rose Haven. We wish them every success on this next adventure.

08/26/2025

A New Chapter for Pamlico Rose Institute: Growing Forward

Pamlico Rose Institute has always been rooted in the belief that wellness begins in nature, and that healing happens when people feel safe, connected, and supported. Originally focused on serving women Veterans, our mission found early expression in the creation of the Rose Haven Center of Healing, a historic home, art space, and healing garden in Washington, NC.

But seasons change and so must we.

In 2025, we experienced a 50% cut in our AmeriCorps funding, part of a broader shift in federal and philanthropic priorities. This, combined with the rising costs of sustaining a physical facility like Rose Haven, placed tremendous pressure on our ability to maintain both operations and mission integrity. While this decision has been a difficult one, we are taking the pragmatic step to sell Rose Haven to continue serving those communities we have supported over the last three years and to expand our model to other locations.

Proceeds from the sale will help us meet our AmeriCorps budget shortfall over the next two years, allowing us to sustain our programs, retain critical team members, and keep building what’s working best: our wellness gardens for underserved communities.

These community gardens are living laboratories for healthy eating, connection, and healing. They reflect our growing mission to advance Total Life Fitness, a holistic, nature-based model for wellness that meets people where they are and fosters resilience through gardening, creativity, movement, and mindfulness.

While we may be parting with the physical infrastructure of Rose Haven, we carry forward the purpose and the lessons it taught us.

Through our AmeriCorps grant, we are actively pursuing partnerships with local and statewide nonprofits to expand access to nature-based wellness programming. These collaborations will continue to emphasize the core elements of our approach: creative expression, physical movement, and connection to nature through gardening. Together, these experiences promote healing, foster resilience, and support underrepresented groups across North Carolina.

The experience of creating and sustaining Rose Haven has deepened our commitment, and far from uprooting us, it’s giving us the momentum to grow outward. We’re planting those roots in new communities, reaching more people, and ensuring that what we’ve cultivated together continues to thrive.

Because wellness isn’t about where you are, it’s about what you grow.

Robert Sands, Executive Director

06/18/2025

To Our Followers,

As you may know, our program, PRI Health Corps, was one of eight in North Carolina—and among over 1,000 programs nationwide—abruptly terminated by the AmeriCorps Agency.

Background:
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), which oversees AmeriCorps, issued a mass termination of programs in all 50 states, Washington D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The notice stated:

“It has been determined that your award no longer effectuates agency priorities. You must immediately cease all award activities. This is a final agency action and is not administratively appealable.”

Approximately 80% of all AmeriCorps State and National (ASN) programs were impacted, with some states seeing complete elimination of their AmeriCorps State programs. This sweeping decision prematurely halted over $400 million in grant funding already allocated for the 2024–2025 program year, and ended service for more than 32,000 AmeriCorps members.

In response, 24 states and the District of Columbia filed suit against the agency and the Trump administration, arguing that the terminations violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), which requires public notice and comment before federal grants can be revoked.

On June 5, a federal judge in the U.S. District Court in Maryland ruled that CNCS had indeed violated the APA and ordered the restoration of funding and reinstatement of members in the states and territories named in the lawsuit. The ruling responded to the harm caused to state programs, students, and organizations nationwide—including members of the National College Attainment Network (NCAN).

What This Means for PRI Health Corps
We are pleased to share that our funding has been officially restored as of last week. While the six-week disruption deeply affected our operations, we are moving forward with renewed purpose. Over the next 2½ months, we will do everything we can to fulfill this year’s goals—including harvesting produce from our four wellness gardens and distributing it to the communities we serve. Attached is a photo of our harvest by Nina and Chris, our members serving the The Wellness Garden of Aurora NC.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who reached out with words of support, resources, and encouragement during this uncertain time. Your solidarity has meant the world to us.

With gratitude,
The PRI Health Corps Team

05/26/2025

🌹 Remembering and honoring those who gave all 🇺🇸 ❤️🤍💙

05/17/2025

Happening today!

Updated flyer

05/09/2025

We are sad to announce to the community that our amazing AmeriCorps project has been defunded. Our team has worked hard for those in need in Beaufort County and their efforts will be sorely missed 🌹

To all of the friends of Pamlico Rose,

We are very sad to announce that our relationship with AmeriCorps and Public Health Corps has come to an end. The funding for our program as well as 7 other AmeriCorps programs in North Carolina has been terminated four months early. The potential for working with AmeriCorps again in the future is possible, but as of now it is over.

The news was devastating to hear, and even more devastating to relay the information to you all. Ending early leaves us with many unfinished projects and work that still needs to be done. We will be fundraising and working hard to continue to support our gardens until the end of the summer as the original grant would have provided.

If interested, we have several ways that you can help support us during these next four months. You can buy our book "On Herbs," as well as the option to donate directly through our website PamlicoRose.org. We have a number of items on Facebook marketplace made by artisans who were part of our project for sale with 50% of the proceeds going to Pamlico Rose. Link to one of the items available, rest also listed under Robert Sands profile: https://www.facebook.com/share/182v6h5GQx/

We would love volunteers to help us out through the summer as well!

While our federal funding has stopped, our mission will not. Like a tree that has lost its leaves in the fall only to grow back in the spring, Pamlico Rose Institute and Rose Haven will continue to survive and support our programs for women veterans and the communities supported by our gardens!

Thank you for all of your support! It means the world to us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaGW-5oyRBE&ab_channel=PamlicoRoseInstituteforSustainableCommunities

04/23/2025

As we near the close of our Earth Day Week celebrations, only one event remains—details on that in just a moment.

We kicked things off on Friday, April 18 with the opening of Stoke of Nature, an art exhibit by Robert Sands at the Gurkin Makerspace on the campus of Rose Haven Center of Healing. Through mixed media, Sands explores the many “faces” of nature—from awe to exhilaration to fear.

On Saturday, we welcomed a beautiful day with plein air painting hosted by Pamlico Rose in celebration of Earth Day. Yesterday, we held our first annual PRI Health Corps Plant Sale—thank you to everyone who purchased plants and helped support our mission of building and sustaining wellness gardens across Beaufort County.

To wrap up our week of events, this evening we’ll host a special book signing for our newly released On Herbs: A Sprig of Knowledge for a Healthier Life. The event will also feature a silent auction showcasing upcycled woodworking, alongside original artwork by Sands—some of which is featured in On Herbs and Stoke of Nature. Both the book ($26) and artwork will be available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting PRI Health Corp. The silent auction pieces can be found here: https://givebutter.com/c/gxN0bz

🌹

04/22/2025