Who we are and what we are doing —
The Melrose house was established in 1961, in Brewster, New York, about an hour northeast of New York City. In 2004, we began to pursue our interest in sustainable living by starting Bluestone Farm and Living Arts Center. Grown organically, the produce we cultivate and store (by drying, lactofermenting, and freezing) feeds us throughout the year. Over the last five years, the farm has come to include beekeeping, duck and chicken flocks, maple syrup and honey production, and wine-making among other activities.
Living alongside Sisters Carol Bernice, Catherine Grace, Emmanuel, and Heléna Marie are three Resident Companions: the Reverend Suzanne Guthrie and her husband Bill Consiglio, and Anne Ditzler. Together, we are engaged in weaving together our worship and our work, inspired by the writings of the late Thomas Berry, Brian Swimme, and Ellen Davis, among others. (Learn more about the "new cosmology" and the spirituality of farming.)
Sited high in the woods of Putnam County NY, the convent and the farm are a beautiful setting in which to make a working retreat, or simply to visit. Our accommodations are comprised of guest rooms in the Longhouse, which are complemented by a full kitchen and a sitting room. Guests may join the Sisters for worship in our small, rustic chapel, and for our corporate meals.
Working toward our vision —
Since moving here in 2003 we have made huge strides toward establishing gardens, orchards, berry bushes, chicken and duck flocks, bee hives and constantly growing skills for food preservation and other "living arts". There is more to do—more projects, further land improvement and expanded ways to share what we are learning with others. We have been considering, discussing and praying about our long-term vision for this land for several years; we now have a discernment brochure that explains a bit about this part of our journey, and also a detailed description and map of our future.
We'd love to have your feedback on this vision!