| Villa Maria Farm is part of the Villa
Maria Community Center, the Motherhouse complex
of the Sisters of the Humility of Mary, located
on 728 acres of land in Western Pennsylvania. The
Villa Maria campus includes 280 acres of farmland,
400 acres of forestland, a 95 acre Audubon Wildlife
Sanctuary, wetlands, hiking trails, organic gardens,
and pasture for sheep and cattle. Earth Spirituality,
environmental education and ecological stewardship
are among the many ministries of the HM Sisters.
Taking an integrative and ecological approach to
spirituality, agriculture, land management, and
education, the Sisters created EverGreen as an
environmental ministry that would complement the
Land Management ministry. Motivated by the Story
of the Universe, EverGreen seeks to promote sustainability
through experiential and educational programs on
earth spirituality, ecology, healing, and the creative
arts. EverGreen holds book and discussion groups
geared towards rethinking human-earth relations
and provides a place for gathering to appreciate,
learn, and experience the sacred mysteries of the
universe. Villa Land Management is responsible
for hands-on stewardship projects on the Villa
Maria campus, including the farm, tree nursery,
wetlands, bird sanctuary and walking trails. This
ministry seeks to create a land management system
based on spirituality, sustainability, simplicity
and the preservation of local life systems. In
addition to supplying fresh vegetables and flowers
to the Villa Maria community, the organic gardens
help to feed people who are poor and hungry: over
70% of the produce is donated to outreach programs
serving areas in Western Pennsylvania and eastern
Ohio. The Farm is home to 15 brood cows, 13 ewes,
and maintained bee hives. Land Management also
sponsors educational programs about topics related
to ecological land management, wildlife, and sustainable
agriculture. In addition to children and youth
programs, student internships are also available. |
| Christianity (Roman Catholic) |
| United States of America (Western Pennsylvania) |
| 1864–Present |
| Although the Sisters of the Humility of Mary
have practiced conservation and organic gardening
on their land since 1864, when the congregation
established their motherhouse on 240 acres of farmland
in western Pennsylvania, they have made explicit
commitments to do so over the past few decades.
In 1968, the congregation adopted a comprehensive
conservation plan that included provisions to protect
wetlands. A forestry stewardship plan was adopted
in 1977. In 1983, an outreach program was initiated
to provide local food centers with fresh, organic
produce. In 1989, an environmental Reflection/Action
Group was established by the HM Congregation under
the Direction, “Care and Protection of the
Environment of our Planet”. Between 1991
and 1993, consultants were hired to perform an
environmental audit and resource assessment and
to advise the congregation about earth healing
measures. EverGreen was officially established
in 1995 with the dual-intention of fostering greater
awareness of the connections between spirituality
and the environment and promoting new conceptions
of human-earth relations through education, celebration,
and advocacy. Since 1995, Villa Maria has been
in the process of becoming an entirely organic
farm. In 1997, the congregation adopted the following
Direction Statement: “We will claim / the
depth and significance / of our charism of humility
/ which connects us / with the whole earth community
/ and unites us / in our ministries / on behalf
of the poor.” In 1999 Villa Maria received
the Lawrence County Conservation Farm of the Year
Award from the Lawrence County Conservation District.
The following year, the farm received the Area
One Tree Farmer of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania
Tree Farm System of the Bureau of Forestry. |
Land Management
“Recognizing
that the land of Villa Maria is an integral part
of the heritage and charism of the Sisters of the
Humility of Mary, we are called to: reverence Earth
and humus as God’s gift; function as a
model of sustainability for the congregation
and the
surrounding rural community; serve the Villa
community and the guests who use the facility;
extend the
fruit of our labor to feed the poor and needy
of the area; preserve the diversity of the living
presence that surrounds us; and nurture this
land
in peace, harmony, and beauty for present and
future generations.”
EverGreen
"EverGreen, a ministry of the
Sisters of the Humility of Mary, is rooted in
a spirit of humility and the holy ground of Villa
Maria. Earth education programs and experiential
activities are designed to integrate spirituality,
simplicity, and sustainability for people of
all
ages, cultures, and religions. EverGreen provides
a gathering place to experience Divine Presence
and more abundant life by: appreciating the mysteries
of the universe; learning from Earth’s
ecosystems; renewing creative energies; networking
for eco-justice
and global partnerships; and choosing alternatives
for a sustainable future.”
Partner Organizations
Audubon Society
Earth
Ministry Network
Global Education Associates
Lawrence
County Conservation District
Natural Resource
and Conservation Service
Ohio Ecological
and Food Association
Pennsylvania Alliance
for Environmental Education
Pennsylvania Association
of Sustainable
Agriculture
Sisters of Earth
Slippery
Rock
University/Youngstown
State University
Western Pennsylvania
Conservancy
Western Pennsylvania Earth Literacy
Network
|
None Listed
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| None Listed |
| None Listed |
| None Listed |
Villa Maria Farm
EverGreen
P.O. Box 206
Villa Maria, PA 16155–0206
Phone: 72. 964.8920, ext. 3350
Fax: 724.964.8082
Email: BODonnell@humilityofmary.org
Land Management
P.O. Box 732
Villa Maria, PA 16155–0206
Phone: 724.964.8920, ext. 3262
Fax: 724.964.8082
Email: Fromeo@humilityofmary.org
Sisters
of the Humility of Mary |
