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Villa Garden: 'Field of Dreams'

by Anita Beskar, FSPA

It’s not Dyersville, Iowa, but the garden at Villa St. Joseph in La Crosse is a “Field of Dreams” for the FSPA. For several years a group of FSPA dreamed of restoring a Villa garden that would once again tempt our palates with homegrown vegetables and fruits. In the summer of 2006, the endeavor was initiated, and in 2007, a garden burst into a harvest of plenty.

“It fits the Franciscan spirit—love for the earth, getting our hands dirty and then getting down on our knees and digging in the earth,” observed a Villa sister as the sisters reflected on their experience of the garden progress during the summer of 2007. Not only did the garden’s riches grace the tables at St. Rose, the Villa and the La Crosse houses with nourishing, fresh vegetables, but it provided a memorable time for the Villa sisters. As one reflected, it “reminds us of the early days when we did all the gardening and farming.” Early morning walks and wheelchair excursions allowed sisters to monitor the garden’s progress, cheer the workers and celebrate the rich harvest. Plucking raspberries to share, looking forward to fresh rhubarb from newly-planted starts, and savoring the anticipation of the first tasty asparagus next spring “adds to this place!” another sister noted.

Onions ripen in the garden behind Villa St. Joseph in La Crosse.

“It is great that they weigh the produce,” reflected one sister. More than a ton and a half of produce balanced the scales of the rich harvest. Included in this abundance were 35 pickings of beans (249 lbs.), 41 pickings of broccoli (235 lbs.), 33 pickings of cucumbers (294 lbs.), and 27 pickings of tomatoes (617 lbs.). “How wonderful to have this type of food as we go through the cafeteria line!” was the common theme of gratitude from the sisters.

This small initiative reflects only one way in which FSPA continue to promote sustainability of Mother Earth. When we consider that most food in the U.S. travels more than 1500 miles before it reaches the dinner table, we cannot minimize the impact of raising and buying local and seasonal foods. Our corporate witness does make a difference!

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