By Kris Vance, Indiana NRCS State Public Affairs Specialist

For more than 170 years, the forests surrounding Saint Meinrad Archabbey have done more than provide a scenic backdrop for prayer, study and reflection. They have helped build the monastery itself, sustained generations of monks, supported wildlife, protected natural resources and served as a living example of stewardship in southern Indiana. Today, that legacy continues through a combination of long-term forest management, conservation planning and partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Founded in 1854, Saint Meinrad has an incredible historic lineage. Derived from an abbey in Switzerland, Saint Meinrad is one of only two archabbeys in the United States and one of just 11 in the world. Situated on 2,318 acres in Spencer and Perry Counties in Indiana, the property includes approximately 2,025 acres of forestland, representing nearly 87 percent of its land. And the connection between the monastery and its forests runs deep.

“The forests have helped build Saint Meinrad into what it is today,” said Mark Hoffman, director of operations for the archabbey. “The timbers used for framing many of the buildings on campus were harvested from abbey property and processed through our own sawmill. Furniture and woodwork still used today came from these forests and was crafted by members of the community.”

That relationship with the land has existed for generations. Since the archabbey’s beginning, forest stewardship has been an important part of its mission. As early as the 1920s, monks and staff have actively planted trees, managed woodlands and worked to ensure the long-term health of the property. Many of these forested areas were enrolled in the Classified Forest and Wildland Program through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Division of Forestry. 

“Ever since the 1920s, the monks planted trees almost every year,” said consulting forester Michael Gregg, who has worked with Saint Meinrad for more than 14 years. “A lot of times it was white pine, but they also planted walnuts and other species. There has always been a desire to take care of the land and be part of nature.”

One example of that commitment can still be seen today on a tract where monks hand-planted approximately 3,200 white pine seedlings across four acres decades ago. Those trees matured into a successful stand that was harvested several years ago, demonstrating the long-term vision that has guided forest management at the archabbey. That long-term vision remains evident in the archabbey’s approach to conservation.

In 2007, Saint Meinrad enrolled 384 acres of former cropland and pastureland into the Wetland Reserve Easement program through NRCS, converting those acres back into wildlife habitat. The restoration improved water quality, reduced soil erosion and expanded habitat connectivity across the property.

More recently, Saint Meinrad has partnered with NRCS through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program’s (EQIP) wildlife initiative, which provides financial assistance to enhance forest health and wildlife habitat. Conservation practices have included timber stand improvement, herbaceous weed control, brush management, conservation cover plantings and the creation of forest openings designed to benefit wildlife. Saint Meinrad also focused efforts on controlling invasive species like multiflora rose and Japanese honeysuckle across approximately 40 acres of woodland.

In addition to the forestry practices, the partnership with NRCS has also supported wildlife-focused management practices, including warm-season grass plantings, native tree plantings and strategically placed forest openings that create early successional habitat for birds and other wildlife. Makaslyn Dunham, a forester with Gregg Forest Services who has participated in wildlife monitoring efforts, said the response from bird populations has been particularly encouraging.

“What we’re hearing are not just birds passing through,” Dunham said. “We’re hearing territorial calls and seeing breeding behaviors. These birds are not simply using the habitat to migrate. They’re increasing in number.”

That distinction is important in a region where habitat loss and development continue to impact many species.

“A lot of areas are seeing declines because of land-use changes,” Dunham said. “That’s not what we’re seeing here. We’re seeing the opposite trend. This property has become a haven for species that may not have many places left to thrive.”

Wildlife observations extend beyond birds. Staff regularly document deer, pollinators, butterflies, and other wildlife across the property. Lead Groundskeeper Kraig Gogel has witnessed those changes firsthand.

“You’ll find everything here,” Gogel said. “We’ve seen woodcock nesting, heard quail calling, and observed wildlife using every stage of habitat across the property. The property has closed-canopy forests, young forests, native grasslands, and newly planted trees, and that creates tremendous opportunities for diversity.”

Saint Meinrad’s commitment to conservation extends beyond practices supported through NRCS programs. Across campus, staff have established additional pollinator plantings and native habitat and continued planting trees to replace aging stands. One former industrial site was converted into a pollinator meadow featuring native wildflowers, creating habitat while reducing mowing requirements and maintenance costs.

“It’s a win-win in every way,” Gogel said. “People can sit on a bench overlooking the wildflowers and enjoy the view. It reduces maintenance, helps pollinators, and creates a peaceful place for reflection.”

The monastery has also embraced broader sustainability initiatives, including approximately five acres of solar panels and a campus-wide geothermal energy system that has significantly reduced energy consumption and environmental impacts. Even with these modern advancements, the foundation remains rooted in the same stewardship principles that have guided the archabbey for generations. Hoffman believes NRCS has played an important role in helping the organization continue that mission.

“Would we have done all of these conservation efforts without NRCS?” Hoffman said. “I would hope to say yes. But the assistance and guidance have definitely helped navigate a direction.”

Looking ahead, Saint Meinrad plans to continue expanding wildlife habitat, planting native trees, managing forests sustainably and creating opportunities for people to connect with the land. For Gregg, the property represents something larger than a successful conservation project.

“This archabbey has become an example for neighboring landowners and communities,” he said. “People can see the tree plantings, the wildlife habitat and the conservation work taking place. They realize there’s a lot more going on here than just growing trees.”

That example is increasingly important as forests face changing markets, environmental pressures and growing demands for conservation.

“It’s very much a partnership,” Hoffman said. “A partnership with nature, but also with people and the community.”

At Saint Meinrad, that partnership has endured for generations. Through thoughtful forest management, conservation planning and a deep commitment to stewardship, the archabbey’s forests continue to provide benefits far beyond their boundaries, supporting wildlife, protecting natural resources and inspiring others to care for the land entrusted to them.

Special thanks to Sean Verkamp, Cole Scherzinger, Justin Wilkerson, Zach Musser, Jake Henry and Gina Wilcoxen, employees of Gregg Forest Services, who have played a major part of the forest management activities at Saint Meinrad Archabbey.