When my niece was really little she looked across the table at our Aunt Sherri and said, “I can feel the love coming out of your heart and going into my heart.” I’ve also felt this love from (and for) Aunt Sherri ever since I was little, although I didn’t quite have the words to…
When some calamity befalls us, such as last month’s derecho that brought devastation to Prairiewoods’ tree canopy, as well as widespread destruction to the greater Cedar Rapids area and indeed the whole bio-region, it is a good time to slow down, to pause and reflect, to root deeply, to breathe into the pain of loss…
During this time of pandemic and PanDeepening, the land at Prairiewoods remains open to visitors. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a many-time visitor, we’d love to see what you’re seeing at Prairiewoods and hear about your experiences. Here is our map of the beautiful 70 acres, as well as our photo scavenger hunt: Trail…
This time of PanDeepening has called many of us to open our minds and our hearts and to broaden our awareness of the larger Earth community of which we are part. As we reflect on the wider “We,” we human-kin might find ourselves at a loss for understanding the languages of our plant- and creature-kin, our…
Today amid religious traditions, such as Yom Kippur, a Jewish day of serious reflection, and Ramadan, the Muslim 40 days of fasting, abstinence and prayer, Christians mark the silence and stillness of Good Friday, the holy day between Passover and Easter marked by many as the most somber, reflective day in the Christian year. We…
Every story has a beginning, even though there may be no exact moment we can point to and say, “Here is when the first seed was planted. This is where the story began.” This is true of Prairiewoods’ story. The beginning of Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center doesn’t rest in one specific moment in time; our…
In the United States, our favorite hobby is gardening, followed closely by studying our genealogy (according to ABC News and Reference.com). We swab our cheek, mail it to an ancestry company and wait weeks for information on the generations that came before us. We find solace in knowing where we come from; it tells us…
Prairiewoods values its collaborative partnerships with other nonprofits, churches and civic organizations, and local city and county governmental offices. One such partnership has brought us much joy and bountiful harvests in the last few years! Four years ago, when Pope Francis’ eco-encyclical Laudato Si’ was published, we invited Earth-loving friends to come to Prairiewoods to…
When I see a tyrant, Bloated with ego, I must look beyond His twisted fury At the ancient tree behind him. Then I remember what is real. Those beautiful gnarled branches Still creaking, reaching out Providing shade, even to tyrants. Her roots still pushing Against rock-hard darkness Deep in the ground Under everyone’s feet. Where…
Have you noticed the many changes happening around the Prairiewoods Center? We’re working with Backyard Abundance to create new permaculture landscaping that features edible landscapes (with lots of veggies and herbs for snacking), a Healing Garden, a mushroom growing area and Outdoor Classrooms. These are all part of the Garden of Eat’n that began this…