Care of the Land: Forest and Field

Forest and Farm

The largest portion of our landholding — 1,000 acres — is in timber with stands of ponderosa pine, fir and larch. The forest land adjacent to the Monastery is a favorite area for retreatants to use for walking and relaxing. Every effort is made to keep it peaceful, attractive and quiet. Wildflowers and song birds are important parts of this particular environment.

The remaining forest land is managed for timber and provides a source of income for the Monastery. In addition to timber income, the land provides a place to walk, gather wild berries and harvest Christmas trees. Present forestry activities include: selective harvesting to remove inferior trees, pre-commercial thinning of overcrowded areas and pruning to improve timber quality.

In 1994, our woodlands were accepted into the Forest Stewardship Program of Idaho. We are following a management plan that was specifically written for our woods and approved by the Idaho Department of Lands. This plan identifies our goals for the property and lists the steps needed to achieve these goals. In 2001, the Monastery was awarded Idaho’s Tree Farm of the Year.