Monastery of Saint Gertrude
Abstract | The Benedictine Sisters of Idaho adopted a Philosophy of Land Use in 1993 to guide the maintenance of the grounds of the Monastery of St. Gertrude, 1,400 acres in a section of the ancient homeland of the Nez Perce Native American people. The Philosophy calls the Sisters to care for land that was entrusted to them by God, to live harmoniously with the rest of creation, and to promote reverential and responsible stewardship. In adopting the Philosophy of Land Use, the Sisters committed to: adopting an environmentally-friendly lifestyle, participating in ecological healing efforts, educating themselves about ecology, balancing ecological land management with profitable land use, and maintaining a spirit of reverence and an environment of peace for visitors and guests. One thousand acres of the Monastery’s woodlands are certified as a Stewardship Forest under the Idaho Department of Lands’ Forest Stewardship Program. The forest is carefully maintained under a management plan that includes selective harvesting and thinning, protecting wildlife habitat, planting seed varieties best suited to the land, and responsible resource use. The remaining acreage includes an organic garden and orchard that supply the monastery and retreat center with fruit, vegetables, herbs, and flowers, as well as crop and pasture land leased to a local farmer. |
Religion | Christianity (Roman Catholic) |
Geographic Location | United States of America (Cottonwood, Idaho) |
Duration of Project | 1993–Present |
History |
In 1990, the Monastery of St. Gertrude appointed a Stewardship of the Land Committee to explore the community’s relationship with and responsibility for, its 1,400 acres of land; to compose a long-range land management plan; and to articulate a statement about land use that would be acceptable to all members of the community. This process took three years. In 1993, the Philosophy of Land Use was adopted. One year later, the Sisters succeeded in getting 1,000 acres of their land certified as a Stewardship Forest and developed a comprehensive forest management plan designed to balance sustainable productivity with wildlife habitat protection and aesthetic pleasure. In 1998, the Monastery became a member of the American Tree Farm System. It received the Idaho Tree Farm of the Year award in 2001 and was a western region finalist in the 2002 national competition. The Monastery’s recent “Plant a Forest” campaign raised $35,000 to plant 70,000 trees between 1999–2002. Another 12,000 seedlings were planted in the spring of 2004. |
Mission Statement |
Philosophy of Land Use
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Partner Organizations | American Tree Farm System Idaho Department of Lands Idaho Forest Owners Association Northwest Management, Inc. |
Long-Term Goals | None Listed |
Bibliography | None Listed |
Additional Research Resources | None Listed |
Contact Information | Monastery of St. Gertrude Sr. Carol Ann Wassmuth, OSB HC 3 Box 121 Cottonwood, ID 83522–9408 Ph: 208.962.3224 Fax: 208.962.7212 Email: st_gertrude_justice@hotmail.com |