Estate “The Tree Care Specialists” maintains the trees high above the hermitages and throughout the grounds. Trees By Joyce Kilmer I think that I shall never see A poem as lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the sweet earth’s flowing breast; A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray; A tree that may in summer wear A nest of robins in her hair; Upon whose bosom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain. Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree. There …
The Prairie Has Much to Teach Us
The prairie teaches us to take time to slow down, develop and nurture deep roots. The prairie has much to teach us. During the winter months prairie plants experience an important period of dormancy. With spring will come a rush of new growth, but first the prairie rests, gathering strength, while nature lies in a deep freeze. What a privilege to be surrounded by the restored Wisdom Prairie lands here at Holy Wisdom Monastery. Restoration of native species provides spaces with unique beauty, a balm for souls and healing and care for the natural environment, especially our precious lakes. Prairie …
Community Workdays Provide Opportunities to Help
Help spring clean the prairie at an upcoming Community Workday. (Photo by Brit Cerdena) One Saturday per month, Paul Boutwell, groundskeeper and restoration ecologist at Holy Wisdom, holds a workday so that volunteers who enjoy helping on the prairie and grounds or with cleaning tasks can provide help. Held April through November, the day starts out at 8:30 am when participants meet in the monastery gathering area. Introductions and a synopsis of the tasks to be accomplished are shared. If participants wish, they can start the day with community prayer at 8:00 am on the lower level of the monastery building. Paul …
Update on Wisdom Prairie Project
Prairie land and oak savannas greatly reduce phosphorous runoff into our lakes, as compared to agricultural land. The newly acquired land (above) is currently planted with corn. It’s seemingly a quiet time of the year on the prairie. The phone call and email inquiries about the parcel the sisters purchased in September 2012 have gone the way of the birds for the winter. However, the Wisdom Prairie Project fundraising efforts continue, despite the long winter months. As of this issue of Benedictine Bridge, we have raised over $1.5 million on our way to the $1.9 million goal to help cover both the acquisition and restoration costs of …
Update on the Wisdom Prairie Project
The restored prairies at Holy Wisdom Monastery are blanketed with snow, but progress on the Wisdom Prairie Project continues even during the winter. Back in October, we introduced the Wisdom Prairie Project in Benedictine Bridge, detailing the unique opportunity the sisters had to acquire and restore an additional 53 acres of farmland to prairie. A five-minute video introduction to the project is also available here. I wanted to give an update on the project. I am pleased to report that we have broken the $1.4 million mark on our way to the $1.9 million fundraising goal! Recent donations have come in from a …
Holy Wisdom Monastery Makes Visionary Land Acquisition, Launches Wisdom Prairie Project
The new Wisdom Prairie Project land is adjacent to the monastery grounds (see monastery in background). Restoration efforts will turn the rows of corn into native prairie. “Restoring the Land, Protecting the Lakes.” That’s the theme of the latest visionary project of the Benedictine Women of Madison, known as the Wisdom Prairie Project. Learn more about the Wisdom Prairie Project through this five minute video. The sisters are pleased to take a leap of faith in living out the caring for the earth portion of their mission by acquiring 53 acres of farmland adjacent to their current property with the help of a $1 …
Holy Wisdom Monastery Receives $1000 from MG&E for Having the Oldest Refrigerator!
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 …