Ecological Stewardship: The Remarkable Environmental Restoration at Holy Wisdom Monastery

Sacred Land Restoration: How a Community of Women Religious Transformed 170 Acres into Thriving Native Ecosystems

In the rolling hills just outside Madison, Wisconsin, a remarkable environmental transformation has taken place over the past three decades. The women of Holy Wisdom Monastery have orchestrated one of the Midwest’s most impressive ecological restoration projects, converting 170 acres of previously farmed and degraded land into vibrant native prairie and oak savanna ecosystems. This ambitious undertaking represents not just a commitment to environmental stewardship, but also a profound spiritual mission that connects faith, community, and conservation in ways that offer valuable lessons for land management across America.

“Humans need creation to find ourselves,” explains Sister Mary David Walgenbach, one of the Benedictine women who has helped guide this ecological renaissance. “When we lose touch with the natural world, we lose something essential about our own humanity.” This philosophy has driven the community’s environmental work since the early 1990s, when they first began to reimagine their relationship with the land they steward. What started as a modest prairie restoration of just 20 acres has expanded into a comprehensive ecological project that now encompasses the monastery’s entire property, including restored wetlands, oak savannas, and prairie ecosystems that once dominated the Midwest landscape but have now become some of North America’s most endangered habitats.

From Farmland to Prairie: The Journey of Ecological Transformation

The transformation of Holy Wisdom’s grounds didn’t happen overnight. When the Benedictine women first acquired additional acreage surrounding their original property in the mid-1980s, they inherited land that bore the marks of decades of intensive agricultural use. Soil erosion, diminished biodiversity, and the encroachment of invasive species all presented significant challenges. “We realized that simply owning this land meant we had a responsibility to heal it,” recalls Sister Lynne Smith, who has overseen much of the ecological work. The sisters partnered with local conservation experts, university researchers, and hundreds of community volunteers to develop a comprehensive restoration plan that would unfold over decades rather than years.

The process began with extensive research into the pre-settlement conditions of the land, examining soil samples, historical documents, and remnant plant communities to understand what species naturally belonged in this ecosystem. Teams of volunteers then worked to remove invasive species like buckthorn and honeysuckle that had choked out native plants across much of the property. The most labor-intensive phase involved collecting, preserving, and planting native seeds—over 500 species of grasses and wildflowers that once thrived in Wisconsin’s prairies and oak savannas. Year after year, sections of former agricultural fields were prepared and seeded, while controlled burns were introduced to mimic the natural fire cycles that historically maintained these ecosystems. “It’s been a lesson in patience,” Sister Lynne acknowledges. “Nature works on its own timeline, and restoration requires both active intervention and the humility to step back and let natural processes unfold.”

Biodiversity Returns: The Ecological Impact of Patient Restoration

The environmental results of this decades-long effort have been nothing short of transformative. Where corn and soybeans once grew in orderly rows, visitors now find themselves surrounded by a rich tapestry of native grasses and wildflowers that change with each passing season—the purple coneflowers and black-eyed Susans of summer giving way to the golden hues of bluestem and Indian grass in fall. Wildlife monitoring has documented dramatic increases in biodiversity, with more than 200 bird species now recorded on the property, including several that are state-listed as threatened or endangered. Populations of native pollinators have surged, with researchers documenting dozens of bee and butterfly species that had disappeared from surrounding developed areas.

Perhaps most significantly, the restoration has improved the land’s ecological function. “We’ve measured substantial improvements in soil health and water quality,” explains Dr. Rebecca Johnson, an ecologist who has studied the Holy Wisdom restoration since its early days. “The deep root systems of prairie plants prevent erosion and filter runoff, protecting the watershed of nearby Lake Mendota.” The restored landscapes also serve as significant carbon sinks, sequestering atmospheric carbon in plant biomass and soil organic matter at rates far exceeding those of conventional agriculture. In an era of climate change, this carbon sequestration function represents an important ecosystem service with global implications. The monastery’s land has become a living laboratory for researchers studying everything from soil microbiology to climate resilience, offering crucial data on how restoration efforts can help mitigate environmental challenges at both local and global scales.

Beyond Conservation: The Spiritual Dimensions of Land Stewardship

For the women of Holy Wisdom, however, the restoration effort has always transcended purely environmental objectives. “This work is a form of prayer,” Sister Mary David reflects. “When we restore the land, we’re participating in creation in a profound way.” This spiritual dimension infuses the community’s approach to land management, informing everything from their decision-making processes to the way they invite others to experience the restored landscapes. The monastery regularly hosts contemplative hikes, outdoor worship services, and ecological education programs that encourage participants to develop their own meaningful connections with the natural world.

The Benedictine tradition has always emphasized the sacred nature of place and the importance of stability—remaining rooted in a particular location and developing a deep relationship with it over time. At Holy Wisdom, this ancient wisdom has found contemporary expression in the community’s commitment to ecological restoration. “When Benedict wrote his Rule in the sixth century, he instructed monks to treat all things as vessels of the altar,” explains Sister Joanne Kollasch, one of the community’s founding members. “For us, that means recognizing the sacredness of this land and treating it with the same reverence we would give to any holy object.” This perspective offers a counterpoint to utilitarian views of land as merely a resource to be exploited for human benefit. Instead, the monastery models a relationship with the natural world based on reciprocity, care, and a recognition of intrinsic value that transcends economic considerations.

Community Engagement: Expanding the Circle of Ecological Stewardship

While the Benedictine women provide the spiritual foundation for Holy Wisdom’s ecological mission, they have never worked alone. The restoration project has always relied on broad community participation, with thousands of volunteers contributing more than 60,000 hours of labor over the years. Local school groups regularly visit for environmental education programs, while university students conduct research projects on the property. The monastery hosts workshops on everything from native plant identification to seed collection techniques, empowering participants to apply ecological restoration principles in their own landscapes.

“What makes this project so remarkable is how it has created concentric circles of engagement,” observes Mark Anderson, a restoration ecologist who has consulted on the project. “At the center, you have the Benedictine women with their spiritual commitment to the land. Around them, you have a core group of dedicated volunteers who return season after season. Then you have the thousands of visitors who experience this place once or twice but carry its lessons with them.” This ripple effect extends the impact of Holy Wisdom’s work far beyond its physical boundaries. Numerous visitors have initiated their own restoration projects after being inspired by what they witnessed at the monastery. Local landowners have created prairie corridors that connect with the monastery’s restored ecosystems, effectively expanding habitat for wildlife and creating ecological networks that transcend property lines. Even the municipality has adjusted its land management practices after seeing the success of Holy Wisdom’s approach to restoration.

As climate change, habitat loss, and biodiversity decline pose unprecedented challenges to our planet’s ecosystems, the story of Holy Wisdom Monastery offers both practical guidance and spiritual inspiration. “We’re not just restoring native plants,” Sister Lynne emphasizes. “We’re restoring right relationship—between humans and the land, between contemplation and action, between individual needs and the common good.” In an age often characterized by environmental despair, this community of women religious has demonstrated that patient, community-based restoration efforts can heal landscapes and, perhaps, show us something essential about ourselves in the process. As one regular visitor put it: “These sisters aren’t just growing prairie—they’re growing hope.”