Ecospirituality
THE ANCIENTS KNEW THAT WISDOM WAS FOUND IN NATURE AND CREATION
“In Wisdom is a spirit that is intelligent, holy, unique….Wisdom penetrates all reality…. She is found in the design of the universe and cosmos. Wisdom is the Artisan of all.
(Book of Wisdom 7, 13-30)”
Reverence and care for nature and the cosmos are core to living spiritually and in respectful relationship to the community of all creation. With the arrival of the Daughters of Wisdom in 1949, the commitment to simple living furthered the ancient tradition of caring for the land and its natural resources.
Wisdom House is committed to environmental sustainability through such practices as water and energy conservation, waste management, and the conservation and improvement of wildlife habitats. In accordance with these practices, these efforts support a pollinator friendly native plant landscape that benefits the larger ecosystem within the broader context of conservation ethics.
Since Colonial times, all who have lived here were dependent on the land. Since 1990, several contemporary environmental initiatives that give expression to our belief that Wisdom permeates all reality have taken place at Wisdom House.
Land Acknowledgement
We would like to acknowledge that Wisdom House is located on the land of Indigenous ancestral tribes of Litchfield.
Litchfield is located on the Pootatuck tribal homelands and is situated on the homelands of the Weantinock peoples whose descendants are the modern day Schaghticoke people. A small portion of Tunxis homelands can also be found in Litchfield.
Supporting Sustainable Environments
Spirituality connects us with a greater whole. Honoring the Earth and her natural resources, we develop a spiritual connection to the world around us.
Our actions matter and at Wisdom House, we put Eco-spirituality at the forefront of how we operate our campus.
Renewable energy Generation
We installed 80 solar photovoltaic panels in 2011. This 15.2 kilowatt system generates approximately 15,500 kilowatt hours of clean, renewable energy annually. This will displace the production of 10.7 metric tons of CO2, the amount that is sequestered annually by 2.3 acres of pine forest. This, along with other conservation measures will offset almost 25% of the electrical use of the Wisdom House campus. Wisdom House also participates in the Clean Energy Program with Connecticut Light & Power.
Environmental Care
Toxic pesticides are not used on our grounds. Our campus consists of 14 acres of grassland and 7 acres of wildlife habitation for nesting of native wildlife, which are registered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Plants native to Northwest Connecticut are predominantly used and efforts are ongoing to remove invasive plants. Most plants are deer resistant to minimize the presence of Lyme disease ticks.
Energy Conservation
Compact fluorescent bulbs are used in 98% of our center. Electric light fixtures and kitchen coolers have been retrofitted for energy efficiency and appliances have been replaced with those Energy Efficiency Rated / Energy Star. Natural ventilation with ceiling fans exists in most rooms and programmable thermostats, computerized heat controls and heat zoning regulate the interior climate. Cast iron boilers/furnaces (c.1950) were replaced with energy efficient Buderus furnaces. All 380 windows in the Main House, Chapel, Farm House, Marie Louise Carriage House and Spruce Brook Barn meeting space have been replaced with thermal windows. Seven doors were also replaced. Motion sensors regulate lights in halls, washrooms, some meeting rooms and outdoor areas.
Water
Artesian wells at Wisdom House provide all the water for our facility. Signs and information in our literature advise guests to bring their own bottle to fill with our well water rather than commercially bottled water. Reusable drinking water bottles (BPA free) are available to purchase in the bookstore. Toilets are gradually being replaced with low water use models, and low flow shower heads are in use. Drought resistant plants and grass require no watering of the landscape.
Reduction of waste & Recycling
Many printed communications have been replaced with electronically transmitted news and our printed seasonal brochure has been shorten over time to reduce paper material. In our offices, paper is reused on reverse side in copiers/faxes and envelopes are recycled and used for interoffice communications. Bubble wrap and packaging are reused/ recycled.
Historic Preservation
Our 70 acre campus is bordered by stone walls from New England’s “Golden Age of Stone Walls” (1775-1825). The stone walls closest to the main center were restored in 2010. The exterior of the 1770 Farm House has been preserved, and a list of owners appears next to the front and rear doors.
PARTNERING FOR PROTECTING LAND
Land Conservation Agreement Signed to Protect 54 Acres at Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center
February 11, 2020
The Daughters of Wisdom and Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center in partnership with the Litchfield Land Trust signed a Land Conservation Easement agreement yesterday, February 10, 2020, at Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center in Litchfield, CT.
This agreement assures the protection of 54 acres of the total 74 acreages of land that will be retained forever in its natural, scenic and open space condition of rare plants, water and animals. This signing extends the environmental commitment of the Daughters of Wisdom and Wisdom House beyond its present sustainability efforts which include 80 solar panels on the barn, artesian water wells, energy-efficient lighting and more.
The Conservation Easement was signed by the Daughters of Wisdom’s Provincial, Sr. Catherine Sheehan, DW, Treasurer, Sr. Evelyn Eckhardt, DW, and President of the Litchfield Land Trust, David Geiger. Those present included members of the Land Trust, Deborah Kelly, Executive Director of Wisdom House, and former Director, Sr. Rosemarie Greco, DW, who, with Dr. John Fulkerson, a Litchfield Land Trust Board member, spearheaded eight years of study and planning to prepare for this agreement.
The Land Conservation Easement marks the beginning of the seventh decade of the Daughters of Wisdom’s presence and their ministry at Wisdom House. In 1949, the land was purchased from Margaret and Frederick Busk to become a novitiate for training new members of the Daughters of Wisdom.
To learn more about The Litchfield Land Trust, click here: litchfieldlandtrust.org
