Sister Lucy educates and nourishes through FSPA garden

ST. JOSEPH’S RIDGE (WKBT) — “What do you have there? More tomatoes?” exclaims Sister Lucy Slinger of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.

In the FSPA garden, there’s plenty of tomatoes to go around.

“These kids have picked I think it’s 90 something pounds of tomatoes,” says Sister Lucy.

And there’s more where that came from: fruits, squash, beans, sweet potatoes; all part of a bountiful harvest picked by the hands of some very helpful stewards.

“It’s a very productive garden thanks to the interns and thanks to the heavy work of the interns and volunteers,” says Sister Lucy.

The FSPA garden on St. Joseph’s Ridge works as a living classroom; with curious pupils— this time from Aquinas High School, and Sister Lucy as their professor.

“Everything I do out here is to just either pass my knowledge onto the next generation or encourage people to develop a real sincere care and respect for nature.”

Sister Lucy joined the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in 2001 — vowing to live a life based on the values of St. Francis Assisi.

“A reverence for nature is what I really am about,” says Sister Lucy. “I believe the land is sacred, and I believe it’s up to us to take care of it and do the best we can with what God has given us.”

“She’s made us more aware of the importance of nature and the importance of natural foods,” says Sister Karen Kappell, a close friend of Sister Lucy.

Lucy was equipped for this organic lifestyle, if you will, well before the sisterhood, growing up on a farm in Michigan, getting a master’s in plant pathology and a PHD in instructional education. Later teaching for 15 years at UW-La Crosse.

“She’s very learned, and she likes particularly passing on to what she learned from others,” says Sister Karen.

Her classroom curriculum is simple:

“Number one have fun, but number two get some kind of connection with nature,” says Sister Lucy. “I just have them doing weeding, harvesting.”

All that tilling and tending is going towards something much bigger–providing nourishment for the rest of the sisters at FSPA.

“In today’s world, almost everybody is eating processed food,” says Sister Lucy. “We want to provide healthy good food for the congregation.”

And the sisters love it.

“We love fresh vegetables, vegetables that are locally grown; we’re all grateful for them, says Sister Mary Kathryn Fogarty, a retired sister of FSPA. “I like pickles, I like cucumbers,” as she acknowledges her plate. “And I have it on my plate today!”

Sister Karen’s favorite: “Lately I had a tomato, a big ripe tomato, and it was just super, super good.”

Sister Lucy’s favorite: “As far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing better than green beans!”

No matter the vegetable or flower or fruit, it’s clear the garden is flourishing with good things.

“You know everybody is born with this amount of energy, given to them from God to do work, to do good work. I couldn’t be happier spending mine on sharing what I know with others,” says Sister Lucy. “It’s beautiful, and I love living out here.”

If you know someone who is going good works in your community, please nominate them to be considered for our next Hometown Hero.