Mulching the veggies

This week, Br. Jacob came back from his camping vacation. He is sold on Lake Taghkanic State Park, NY, and vowed to return there some time. Br. David Bryan returned from his three week mission at House of the Redeemer, NYC, where he was "Father June" (priest in residence). Br. Bruno is on a short vacation visiting the Community of St John the Baptist, in Mendham, NJ. Br. Ephrem has been the Episcopal priest in residence at the Chautauqua Institution for the whole week, in Chatauqua, NY.

Br. Josép visited our friends Janet Vincent and Kathleen Stanley in Cottekill, NY, to meet their new puppy. He will do some vacation cum dog-sitting there later this month.

Peeps and beasties. From top left, clockwise: Br. Josép making the acquaintance of Pip the puppy (two pictures); some studious reading prayerfully done; chipmunk on the driveway; a contractor repairing the roofing of the enclosure around a repointed chimney;  Dave Coppola and Br. Jacob taking a break from vegetable gardening.

Summer is good for gardening projects. Our friend Dave Coppola who is visiting us for a few weeks has done great work in tidying up and beautifying the Little Cloister. He is a tireless gardener. Not to worry, he didn't move the Great Oak.

The men in formation and Br. Josép went about mulching our vegetable garden some more under the supervision of Br. Jacob who tends the veggies. Whenever we have a tree trimming or removal job, we ask the tree service to accumulate the mulch near our uphill red barn. With the help of our ATV, six men made reasonably short work of it. It would have taken Br. Jacob for ever to do this on his own. 

Mulching. From top left, clockwise: gathering mulch uphill into the ATV; intern Jeremy determinedly getting to work; spreading pails of mulch on the vegetable garden; unloading the mulch.

This Saturday we said goodbye to the YASC missioners who spent their two week orientation at the monastery. At the end of mass, the monastic community got together around them for the laying on of hands and a blessing from our Superior, Br. Robert James.

Br. Bernard will be on vaction this coming week. The Monastery Column will be on a hiatus until Sunday, July 13.