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Santuario Sisterfarm is a nonprofit organization founded in 2002 by Latina women and Dominican Sisters and co-directed by Adrian Dominican Sisters Carol Coston, OP and Elise D. García, OP. Located in the Hill Country of south-central Texas and rooted in the rich multicultural legacy of the Borderlands, Santuario Sisterfarm is dedicated to inspiriting the work of transforming human relationships with Earth and among ourselves, from dominance to co-creative partnerships.

Our focus in carrying out this work is on cultivating diversity—both biodiversity and cultural diversity. As Indian physicist and ecologist Vandana Shiva writes:

An intolerance of diversity is the biggest threat to peace in our times; conversely, the cultivation of diversity is the most significant contribution to peace—peace with nature and between diverse peoples.

“Cultivation of diversity” is at the heart of Santuario Sisterfarm’s three major projects.

Living Lightly on Earth: An ethic of living lightly on Earth and modeling Earth-enhancing ways for humans to live on the planet is the principal way we live out our mission. Santuario Sisterfarm has created a small-scale, replicable model of sustainable living on the seven acres in which the organization is located, using “Permaculture” practices which stress Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share. These include a variety of composting practices to help build soil fertility and recycle wastes; organic gardening of vegetables and herbs with a focus on heirloom and non-genetically modified seeds; use of nontoxic and biodegradable household and office products; rain catchment, graywater, and other water conserving systems; and renewable energy and energy-saving devices, as well as environmentally friendly building materials. Educational tours for groups and individuals are available by appointment.

Sor Juana Press: Santuario Sisterfarm has established Sor Juana Press in order to publish the works of women—particularly women of color and women religious—on topics related to Earth and spirituality. We invoke the name of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, a Mexican Sister and scholar in the 1600s, who wrote plays, poetry, and music, and was eventually silenced after publicly advocating women’s right to education. Seven books have been published to date.

Latinas in the Borderlands: Santuario Sisterfarm has embarked on a journey—an eco-ethno-spiritual quest—with Latinas in the Borderlands to create a multilingual, multiracial, multicultural space where mujeres can go deep into the spirit of ancestral connections to the land, cultural traditions, women’s ways of knowing, and struggles for justice. Led by Board President María Antonietta Berriozábal and Vice President Janie Barrera, the work is continuously unfolding, drawing on the gifts of each of the participating women.

The photo, taken from space by shuttle astronauts, captures the curve of Earth over the San Antonio/Balcones Escarpment.

 

 

Where the Pure Water Flows:
The New Story of the Universe
and Christian Faith
by Margaret Galiardi, OP