Article: Connected to the land: trappists put 3,000 acres to use with organic farming, forest preservation--and coffin-making.

The monks at New Melleray Abbey, south of Dubuque, Iowa, near Peosta, in the midst of rolling, partly forested hills, have farmed their land for more than 150 years. Recently the management of their cropland and timber has drawn praise from local and national environmental organizations.

New Melleray's limestone walls rise above the nearby fields like an old feudal manor house. Housed inside are 36 Trappist monks, who live a life of prayer, work and hospitality to guests.

A visit to the abbey's church demonstrates the monks' efforts to stay connected with the land on which they live. The solid oak of the stalls, the plain granite altar and the abundant ...

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