Rachel Kitch
Lilly 2010
I spent the summer of 2010 interning with the Community of the Holy Spirit, an Episcopal
women’s monastic order. There are four nuns who live on the farm and four companions (people who
have not taken life vows) who live alongside them. The Sisters there believe in the deep connection
between the natural world and the Divine. They see Creation as the primary revelation of God and as
people of faith they work hard to tread gently upon the Earth.
While I did my internship I lived on the convent My time was divided between working on their
organic farm and spending time studying and reflecting. I loved it. The mornings were early – we started
harvest at six – but I loved getting up early and going straight to the garden. I learned so much about
farming. I planted, harvested, weeded, prepped beds, did pest control, and also learned to preserve food.
But I was also given time to read and to be quiet. I learned about monastic life, which I knew absolutely
nothing about beforehand.
The internship program with the Community of the Holy Spirit at Bluestone Farm was wonderful
because everyone was committed to helping me to learn what I wanted to know. I got to work with the
bees because I was interested. I loved to cook and was invited to take a turn preparing the main meal of
the day. When I wanted to learn more about dairy farming, they arranged for me to go visit the local
dairy when we went to get our milk for the week.
We had services three times a day during the summer: once in the morning, once at midday and
finally in the evening. I learned a great deal about different ways of worshipping, including meditating,
while I was at the farm. In addition to working together and praying together, every day we shared a
main meal. Often we ate for lunch what we had picked that morning.
I am very grateful that I was able to have an internship where I lived with people in community.
It was an opportunity to experience contemplative life, to learn farming by doing the work and to spend a
summer actually having time to reflect. I met amazing people. I ate amazing food. I had my hands in the
dirt every day. I learned to connect food and faith. I am sad to leave the farm but also excited for all of
the other young adults who will get the chance to spend the summer there!