Archive

Twenty-six Mount Mercy freshman showed at Prairiewoods on Tuesday, August 24 to learn about service. These students arrived on campus on Sunday, had orientation on Monday and on Tuesday they were at Prairiewoods to learn about the importance of service in their lives. Staffers Emy Sautter and Cliff Schueler and volunteer Joyce Hanson supervised as [...]

Several times a year, Prairiewoods serves as a site for the Institute of Spiritual Healing and Aromatherapy, which teaches classes in spiritual healing and aromatherapy. People from all walks of life, from nurses, chaplains, massage therapists to just people with an interest in healing, take a series of classes to to prepare them in the art [...]

Due to the high flooding of the Maquoketa River, Prairiewoods’ retreat cabin at Lake Delhi was flooded over the weekend. The cabin was severely damaged and is no longer habitable. We thank you for your prayers and ask you keep our neighbors in your prayers, as well. Many of them lost their entire homes to [...]

It’s not everyday that Iowa Governor Chet Culver is at Prairiewoods. On Wednesday, July 21, Culver, local politicians and Prairiewoods and I-RENEW board members, gathered on the Prairiewoods’ grounds for the beginning of a unique collaboration. With $50,000 from the Iowa Power Fund Community Grants Program through the Office of Energy Independence, I-RENEW  will construct a [...]

There is a rhythm to life at Prairiewoods. While it’s always business as usual for the staff, the “business” changes a bit during the summer. It’s retreat time. I created a brochure awhile back that tries to explain the concept of “retreat.” Going on retreat is really a step away from your everyday life. It [...]

The 2010  Garden Party saw its highest number of attendees at our annual fundraising event! Nearly 200 people gathered at Mercy Medical Center on Saturday, June 5 to enjoy music by Nina Swanson and Carol Montag, a silent and live auction and a wonderful meal. A warm thank you to the Prairiewoods’ board members who [...]

Thank you to all the Rockwell employees who participated in the United Way of East Central Iowa’s Day of Caring at Prairiewoods.  Held on Wednesday, May 12, the Day of Caring brought more than 1200 volunteers from local companies and organizations together to complete more than 110 service projects at area nonprofits. At Prairiewoods, the 35 [...]

All of us who work at Prairiewoods recognize how valuable volunteers are to an organization like ours. Last night, Wednesday, April 28, we said a formal “thank you” to our volunteers with an appreciation dinner. Most of the staff took a turn in the kitchen to help prepare a meal for 35 of our volunteers. [...]

It’s spring time and work in the vegetable garden has started. Staffperson Mary Ellen Dunford is coordinating efforts to turn our patch of soil into something of wonder. We have volunteers (seen here is Carol Hartman) and so far we’ve planted potatoes, radishes, Swiss chard, flowers and carrots.
Mary Ellen, who is schooled in permaculture, is [...]