Just outside Madison, Wisconsin, a 170-acre oasis thrives with wildflowers, birds, and rabbits. Decades ago, this sanctuary was only 40 acres of farmland, cleared in the early 1900s.
Since the 1950s, the Benedictine sisters at Holy Wisdom Monastery have grown their land. It is now a haven for many plant and animal species.
Sister Lynne Smith calls their land a "refugia." This means a place where peace lasts even during hard times.
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Start Your News Detox"We need refugia now for the human spirit," Sister Smith said. "We can come here and remember what it means to be human. We remember that the best part of us is kind, generous, and caring."
She added, "We want this to be a place where we live humanly and nurture those values."
Creating a Haven
Their "refugia" took time to build. In 1996, the sisters started a project to restore a 10,000-year-old glacial lake. They removed 85,000 cubic yards of built-up silt. Then, they replanted the shoreline with native plants.
In 2009, they replaced their old monastery with an eco-friendly building. It earned a special certification for sustainability called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Ten years ago, they added 463 solar panels to the property.
The group of sisters has changed over time. As of 2026, there are four sisters at the monastery. They are Sister Smith (71), Sister Mary David Walgenback (86), Sister Everline Jeruto (53), and Sister Joanne Kollasch (95).
Leah Kleiman, a land restoration specialist for the county, noted, "They’re small, but they’re mighty."
