Benedictine Farm was created with reverence to the monastic gardens and landscapes of the Benedictines from the 5th to 16th centuries with the overall subject matter being that of the Pastoral Genre. The curated environment encompasses 40 acres in rural Worthington, Pennsylvania. On three acres of land, a number of gardens have been replicated based on 16th c. designs and philosophies on the natural world including, a Herbularius (medicinal herb garden), Hortus (Vegetable garden), Flowering beds, and a Hortus Conclusus (Enclosed Garden). Among the acreage, (locus amoenus), paths have been cut for contemplative walks, eventually reaching a patch of wood at the top of the land. At the base of the gardens, sits and acre pond to catch fish from. Period correct Heritage breed chickens free range the honey bee meadow providing high quality eggs.

The construction of the gardens and the chosen genus of herbs, vegetables, and flowers have been informed by in depth research of monastic records, herbals, and manuscripts of the European Middle Ages. Literature, paintings, poetry and travels to European historical sites , visited by founder, Cassandra have also been utilized.

With a comprehensive range of medicinal plants, herbs, and flowers grown with organic practices, Benedictine Farms prepares Tisanes blended with monastic concepts of healing. We also offer honey, and a full range of historical herbs and flowers grown in our greenhouse. Open for visitation for those interested in beauty and horticultural history; experiencing how the Benedictine monasteries, natural landscapes, gardens, the arts, literature and bucolic lifestyle informed one another throughout centuries until present day.

As Benedictine Farm continues to grow, we will embrace multiple facets of “the Arts” pertaining to the Benedictines and Pastoral Genre, i.e immersive events, lectures, and performances. Skill based workshops will be taught by artisans that are experienced in traditional crafts that proved to sustain the self sufficient life style of both the monasteries and country life.

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APOLOGIA> In this description, I attempt to give an condensed overview; a history of the Pastoral in literature and the Arts. The eras of this genre can be traced back to 3rd c BC and reach the dawn of the Romantic period. With this being said, most books I have read on the topic are in numerous volumes laid over 1000+ pages. This is an exceptionally edited vignette to give the reader a sense of the topic throughout the centuries. Secondly, my aim is to explain why and how the Benedictine Monasteries are not merely related, but played a crucial cultural and intellectual role in the fate of the Pastoral genre.

KEY TERMS

Arcadia (Greek: ApKádia): a region in Greece located the in the central finger of Peloponnese. In Ancient Greece, its fascination lay in the remote distance from the city of Athens. Regarded as a bucolic setting where cave dwelling shepherds and their God of nature Pan resided. In later terminology; a physical and metaphysical place of the locus amoenus in the Pastoral tradition.

Pastoral (Latin: pastor>shepherd) works of literature pertaining to a sometimes idealized version of the countryside. Themes of shepherds, shepherdess, country dwelling poets in remote wooded landscapes, solitude, unrequited love and the corruption of city life are utilized.

Idyll (Greek:eidos>picture) The most idealized form in Pastoral literature; an extremely happy or peaceful picturesque scene usually unsustainable.

Bucolic (Greek:boukolos>herdsman) a more realistic form of poetry in the pastoral mode with a focus on animals.

Locus Amoenus translates from Latin to “pleasant place” used by modern scholars to refer to an idyllic landscape in painting or literary terms typically involving trees, shade, meadows and running waters and song birds.

Eclogue a short pastoral poem

Georgic (Greek: geōrgos>farmer) a poem or book dealing with agricultural or rural topics; specifically on the toil in opposition to the more leisurely qualities of the Idyll.

Pastourelle Medieval (old) French lyric form and poetic genre that originated in the 12th c and flourished through the 13th. It typically presents a dialogue between a knight and a shepherdess; romantic overtones in a rural setting exploring emotions of love in shepherds and shepherdess.

What is Pastoral?

Pastoral art, poetry and literature principally offer a conventionalized picture of rural life, the naturalness and innocence which is contrasted favorably to the corruption and artificialities of city life and the court. It deals with tensions between nature and art, the real and the ideal, the actual and the mythical. Although pastoral works have been written from the point of view of a shepherd they were often penned by sophisticated urban poets. It represents a continual longing for a non existent Golden Age in idyllic landscape or garden settings, using the simple image of the shepherd to represent complex, often social and political issues. Its origins can be traced back to the 3rd c BC.