The Monastery of St. Gertrude in Cottonwood, Idaho, is nestled on a wooded hillside overlooking the Camas Prairie, part of the ancient homeland of the NezPerce Indian Tribe. As a community our history is closely connected with ownership of this land. The Sisters moved to Cottonwood because a benefactor donated a small parcel of land to them. Through the years they acquired other sections and presently we are responsbile for 1400 acres. Many of the stories of our community's early history revolve around this land. Pioneer Sisters talked about tramping through the woods looking for the cows, pinning up their habits and helping bring in the hay, spending much of the summer hoeing the orchard and garden. When the monastery building was constructed in the l920's, the stone was quarried from the nearby hillside. Many quiet walks and happy picnics have taken place on these grounds. We see ourselves as a co mmunity intimately related to the land.
But like so many things that we hold dear, we took the land for granted. We realized that we had never articulated a common understanding of what it meant to own this land and so, in 1991 we began a process of writing our Philosophy of Land Use. In this document, adopted unanimously in l993, we express our belief that land is a gift and through it we receive our life and sustenance. The contemplative environment it provides constantly renews our inner spirits. We experience an interconnectedness with the land and recognize our responsibility to reverence and care for the resources it provides. In order to achieve this we commit ourselves to choosing a lifestyle that will give witness to our love of the earth, to joining with others who are endeavoring to heal the wounds that have been inflicted upon our planet, to clallenging ourselves with ongoing education in ecology, to using our land for financial profit in a responsbile manner, and to sharing the atmosphere of peace and prayerfulness provided by our surroundings with others. All decisions concerning our land flow from this philosophy.
Some of these decisions have been of a very practical nature. We have rejuvenated the orchard originally planted by our pioneer Sisters. Watching the new trees take hold, blossom and begin to bear fruit has been exciting. We made a definite commitment to continue with our extensive vegetable garden even when it means hiring personnel to supplement what the Sisters are able to do. A lively volunteer program has helped us here. One of latest achievements has been the establishment of an herb garden. This was sparked by a renewed interest in herbal remedies and we now use our own herbs to make tinctures, tonics, tea, salves and soaps.
But since the largest portion of our land is wooded, our biggest investment has been in the careful management of the forest. The first step was to set up a long-range plan for our 1000 acres of woodlands. This involved, first of all, education in the theory of forest tending which is known as silviculture. The Extension System out of the University of Idaho proved to be a valuable resource. We also hired a natural resource management company to give us professional advice. By l994 we had completed a management plan that was approved by the Idaho Department of Lands and which we are now actively implementing. This involves practices such as logging, thinning, pruning and controlled burning, all done with the future health and productivity of the forest in mind. In one area that was crowded with dying and stagnant fir, we have begun an aggressive process of clearing and then replanting pine and larch, spec ies more adapted to this area.
In all of this we are striving to be sensitive to the natural flora and fauna, managing in such a way that their habitat is not destroyed. We are rewarded with the breath-taking colors of wildflowers, the song of more than fifty species of birds and the graceful dash of white tail deer. Their presence assures us that our woods encompass a wholesome ecosystem.
Our endeavors have been recognized in a variety of ways. Professional foresters' groups have come for tours. The local public school brings students for educational events. In 1995 we were designated a Stewardship Forest by the State of Idaho. We were named Idaho Tree Farm of the Year in 2001 and were one of the three finalists in the Western Region of the country in 2002.
As Benedictines we see a close relationship between our monastic charism and our involvement and care of the land. Our vow of stability sets the stage for a long-term commitment to wise management of these resources. A deep sense of belonging would never allow us to cut, destroy and run. What happens to this land happens to us and the ones we love. The challenge of Benedict is to find a balanced way to live out the gospel message in our times. This balance is also the key to good land and forest management. If we remember we are guests on this planet, not owners or renters, then we will treat it with the reverence that Benedict advises. Walking gently on this planet, living simply and caring for and sharing our resources - this is the Benedictine way.
Sister Carol Ann Wassmuth, OSB
Monastery of St. Gertrude
HC 3 Box 121
Cottonwood, ID 83522