Farming is by no means the easiest or most economically viable way of making a living nowadays.  But the local community in the Rogersville rural area still tries and the monks are happy to be part of this community.    Mankind will always need farmers because farmers produce food.  We believe that the smaller farmer will soon come back into his own as consumers become more insistent on knowing where their food comes from and grow more interested in locally produced foods.  The new sensitivity to the environment will also favour the smaller farmer over the giant mass-producer.  So we believe that any farmer who can manage to hang on in there may see his fortunes turn around.    The monastery was founded with a specific view to monks who would engage in agriculture.  There is certainly something to be said for those who are trying to live a life of prayer focussed on God the Creator being in touch with the land and with animals.  Few monasteries remain that are still farming.    Our Lady of Calvary remains committed to this style of life and tries to husband its forestland and make its modest contribution to providing milk and chickens for consumption by the larger community.  Monks like to do things that are good in themselves without looking too hard at the financial returns.  This is in no way sophisticated or hi-tech farming, nor is it organic.  Just plain run of the mill like the monks that make up the community.  But we still hope that there might be others out there that might be interested in joining a farming monastic community rather than one that is involved in more enclosed industries.

the calves new born

chicken barn

green house our latest tractor