URBAN GARDEN RESIDENCY

Are you interested in creation care, sustainable living, and working with the earth? Are you seeking to grow closer to God and be formed in contemplative spirituality? The Benedictine Way would love to hear from you! The community is seeking an Urban Gardening Resident who would live in Christian community at The Benedictine Way, pray and be formed in Benedictine Spirituality, and serve the poor and forgotten through the management of the community’s three urban gardens.

Life at The Benedictine Way centers around three things: Prayer, Service, and Christian Community. The Urban Gardening Resident would join the monastics in prayer at least twice per day, Tuesday-Saturday, normally Lauds & Holy Eucharist (8-9 AM) and Vespers (5:30-6 PM). The resident would also join the community three times per week for meals, sharing in fellowship around homecooked food on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings after Vespers.

Monastics, Oblates, and Service Corps members at The Benedictine Way live into God’s call to serve in a variety of different ways. The Urban Gardening Resident would serve through the management of the community’s gardens (about 25 hours/week).

These responsibilities include:

  • Start seeds and plant seedlings in the garden.

  • Encourage growth through watering, spreading compost, pruning, weeding, etc.

  • Improve the sustainability of the garden by monitoring soil health, addressing pests and sickness, building garden beds, maintenance of drip irrigation system, etc.

  • Harvest garden produce during and at the end of the growing season.

  • Coordinate with Food Pantry Director to transport produce to The Benedictine Way’s biweekly food pantry. 90% of the garden’s produce is given away at the pantry.

  • Maintain inventory of gardening supplies.

  • Communicate with and manage volunteers who may assist with gardening duties.

  • Prepare garden beds for the next growing season.

  • Envision new and innovative ways to improve the efficiency of the gardens.

The minimum time of residence for this opportunity is the 2024 growing season (approximately May 15 through November 1), with the option to remain longer – a decision made in conjunction with the Prior of The Benedictine Way. The Urban Gardening Resident lives on the campus of The Benedictine Way, with housing and utilities provided along with a monthly stipend of $1,000.

The Rule of Benedict teaches us how to live in peace with one another, how to listen to God and one another more deeply, and how to live a life of simplicity and service. We invite you to consider this residency for a time of spiritual growth and renewal.

Interested?
Please email a copy of your resume and a description of why you feel called to this residency to the Prior of Incarnation Monastery and The Benedictine Way, Br. James Dowd, OSB: jdowd@episcopal-ne.org. You may learn more about The Benedictine Way and our ministries at www.thebenedictineway.org.