Madison Gas and Electric (MG&E) offers incentives to help their customers become aware of the cost of operating appliances. Recently they offered $50 in exchange for energy inefficient appliances, with a reward to the person turning in the oldest refrigerator by August 31, 2013. Holy Wisdom recycled three old refrigerators. According to Sister Mary David Walgenbach, “We had an old one in what I still refer to as the horse barn. Someone had given it to us for keeping medicine for the horses and water for the riding students. It has been in the horse barn since the 1960s (Holy Wisdom …
Holy Wisdom Monastery partners with Dane County on Care for the Earth efforts
Sister Mary David Walgenbach demonstrates the prairie seed-sowing technique used in the Wisdom Prairie Project. Holy Wisdom Monastery is pleased to share that its partnership with Dane County is growing. County Executive Joe Parisi joined us on Thursday, July 18 for a press conference to share the news that the county intends to buy a 60-acre portion of the sisters’ prairie so that it can remain in prairie into perpetuity. Prairie helps reduce the amount of run-off of pollutants (especially phosphorous) that would otherwise end up in Madison’s lakes. Dane County Supervisor Sharon Corrigan introduced a resolution at last night’s …
Spring on Wisdom Prairie
The bluebirds have returned for the season! Robins, the harbinger of spring have also arrived. The jonquils and daffodils are blooming, the trees are budding and the sisters have started working in the vegetable garden. Spring has arrived at Holy Wisdom Monastery and on what is now known as Wisdom Prairie. “In the spring, we orient ourselves toward God’s creation – the sunlight, warmth and rain – after being inside all winter. A new season bursts forth,” said Paul Boutwell, groundskeeper and restoration ecologist. Sandhill cranes strolling up to the Mendota Prairie overlook. In addition to the welcome sight of …
Why We Care for the Earth
The sisters’ commitment to caring for the earth has deep roots in our Benedictine spirituality. Having made a promise of stability, we seek to work for the good of the place where we live. This refers to both the people and the land which is our home. Benedict tells his community members to care for the tools of the monastery as if they were the sacred vessels of the altar. By this he lets us know that all things are holy. Such a mindset leads us to care for creation by reducing, recycling and reusing whatever we can. A monk …
Many thanks to Estate “The Tree Care Specialists”
For the third time, the Sauk City-based company Estate “The Tree Care Specialists” sent members of their staff out here to do some paid and donated work to help remove unwanted trees on the property. Periodically, it becomes important to remove trees that have died or non-native trees that don’t fit into the prairie landscaping at Holy Wisdom Monastery. “Estate is so helpful in providing professional services to remove trees that we don’t have the staff and volunteer capacity to remove,” says monastery groundskeeper Paul Boutwell. “I appreciate their donated labor and professional expertise.” This past March 12, several staff …
Holy Wisdom Monastery supports ARTICULTURE exhibit on Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Holy Wisdom Monastery is pleased to support the ARTICULTURE, an art exhibit reception hosted by Forward Community Investments that will celebrate local artists and chefs while highlighting sustainable agriculture. Monastery chef Barbara Wright will provide a dish of colorful vegetables from our monastery gardens, complemented by feta yogurt dipping sauce. You are invited to attend this exhibit! It will be at the offices of Forward Community Investments, located at 2045 Atwood Avenue in Madison, on Wednesday, April 17 from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm.
Gratitude to Fiskars for their in-kind donation of pruners
Holy Wisdom Monastery is grateful to Fiskars Brands, Inc. for their recent in-kind donation to the Benedictine Life Foundation of Wisconsin, Inc. for five hand pruners and five telescoping pruners. “These pruners will allow more volunteers remove invasive species from our property,” said Paul Boutwell, groundskeeper at Holy Wisdom Monastery. “Volunteers are integral to helping to maintain the nearly 100 acres of prairie that we maintain, and having the proper equipment for our volunteers is vital. We need volunteer help because we can’t do it alone.” Fiskars is an international company based in Madison that is a leading global supplier …
Reducing Phosphorous in the Lake Mendota Watershed
This morning, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Yahara Lakes Community Breakfast, sponsored by the Clean Lakes Alliance. There were a thousand people in attendance, from business leaders to elected officials to people who enjoy using the four lakes in the Madison area. Everyone there was concerned about the water quality in our lakes. An article in the Wisconsin State Journal describes in detail the Clean Lakes Alliance’s ambitious plan to reduce the amount of phosphorous in the Lake Mendota watershed by 50% in ten years. Holy Wisdom Monastery is doing its part to be a part of …
Feeding the Spirit and the Body at Holy Wisdom Monastery
by Barbara Wright, chef and kitchen manager For most of us food plays many important roles in our lives. It defines our culture and brings our families and friends together. Eating gives us pleasure, comfort and can entertain us as well. One of food’s most important roles is to provide us sustenance, to nourish our bodies, to give us the energy we need to accomplish what we do in our lives and to make us healthy and fit. Food provides a rich profusion of experiences for our senses and adds to our daily topic of conversation. As the chef at …
Madison Bach Musicians Return for Prairie Rhapsody Benefit Concert
For the third year in a row, the Madison Bach Musicians (directed by Trevor Stephenson) will return to Holy Wisdom Monastery to play at the annual Prairie Rhapsody benefit concert on the evening of June 28, 2012. This year, Trevor has put together a spectacular lineup of musicians to accompany him on the harpsichord, including Erin Cooper Gay (soprano) from Toronto and Chicago-based Anna Steinhoff (viola de gamba). Jacob Stockinger of The Well-Tempered Ear blog (and formerly the music critic for the Capital Times) wrote the following about last year’s concert, excerpted from his July 19, 2011 blog post: Several things made …