News Archives » Lavista Learning Garden
May – Heartfelt Reflections from OMI Novices May 1st, 2025
Introduced by Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director, La Vista Ecological Learning Center
La Vista joins all those on our planet who are feeling the great loss of Pope Francis who heard the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor and acted on what he heard in a most remarkable way.
This Novitiate year we have been immersed in his words as they come to us in his encyclical Laudato Si. As we ended our time together here at Immaculate Heart of Mary Novitiate in April, the Novices offered to share their thoughts about ecological conversion as described in Laudato Si. May their words honor the memory of Pope Francis.
A Dialogue with Earth by Edwin Silwimba
Over the past seven months at La Vista Ecological Learning Center through the classes we had with
Sister Maxine, I had an opportunity to talk to Earth and learn from Earth how to care for him/her better, how to love him/her and how to be a better steward for the gifts Earth gives me. The task is to carry this enlightenment to wherever I go in my ministry as a Missionary Oblate of Mary immaculate. My article is written in the form of a personal conversation between Edwin and Earth.
Edwin: I feel different now. I mean… I will see you differently. For the longest time, I looked at you from afar; your trees, rivers, animals, beautiful, yes, but distant. I never really heard your voice.
Earth (smiling): And now?
Edwin: Now I hear your sighs when I walk on dry, cracked soil. I feel your joy in birdsong and your grief in polluted skies. Seven months ago, I wouldn’t have noticed. But La Vista Ecological Learning Center changed me.
Earth: Tell me about it. What did they teach you?
Edwin: They taught me to pay attention to listening with more than just ears. I learned how ecosystems breathe together like a single body. I learned about sustainability, conservation, native plants, and waste reduction. But more than facts, they taught me relationships. That I’m not outside of you… I’m part of you.
Earth (gently): And you came all the way from Zambia for this?
Edwin (with a smile): Yes. I came from the heart of Africa, where the soil is red and warm, where the rain nourishes maize fields, and where I played barefoot as a child. I loved you then, but I didn’t know how deep that love could go. I didn’t know how much you needed me to care for them with intention.
Earth: You’ve always belonged to me, but now you’ve chosen to belong with me, and that’s different.
Edwin: Exactly. Stewardship isn’t just about duty anymore. It’s about kinship. I’ve started seeing my small daily actions as seeds. What I throw away, what I plant, how I use energy, it all speaks to how I love you.
Edwin (nodding): Yes. That’s what Laudato Si’ says, right? “Our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.”
Earth (softly): I have always been both sister and mother. And yet many forget.
Edwin: I was one of them. But now, I’ve begun to see you not just as ‘environment,’ but as a sacred presence. I’ve stopped asking, “What can I take?” and started asking, “How can I give back?”
Earth: Then you are living integral ecology where care for creation is one with care for people and with the life of the spirit.
Edwin: Yes. I still have much to learn, but I know now that to be a good steward is to walk humbly, love deeply, and act wisely. Now I’ll plant consciousness with a new heart. I want to share what I’ve learned with my brothers, my community. I want to walk more gently and help others see that you are not just a backdrop to our lives, but a sacred companion.
Earth (softly): That is enough to begin healing.
Edwin: Thank you, Earth for your patience. For never giving up on us.
Earth: And thank you for listening.
READ E News and Eco-spirituality Calendar NEWSLETTER
Visit La Vista Ecological Learning Center‘s Website
Friends of the Oblates Preserves Receives Award @ Illinois State Fair August 25th, 2021
(Photo L-R): Bill Rathmann, DNR Director Colleen Callahan, Sister Maxine Pohlman, Robert White, Connie Rathmann, Sandy Budde, Bill Zimmerman
Illinois State Fair at a Glance:
- The Illinois State Fair is an annual 11-day festival celebrating agriculture, farmers and related industries
- First celebrated in 1853 in Chicago, IL, the fair is now in its 158th year.
- The fair has moved to Springfield, IL and is held nearly every year with few exceptions (it was canceled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic)
- Average attendance is around half a million, climbing to nearly 1 million in 2012 and 2013 and dropping back down to about 500,000 in 2019.
- Corn-dogs-on-sticks, a popular edible treat at U.S. fairs is said to have originated at the Illinois State Fair
Introducing the Lavista Learning Garden June 17th, 2020
 |
 |
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Since its inception in 2001, La Vista Ecological Learning Center has taught that how we eat determines, to a great extent, how we care for creation. That is why we were aligned with the Community Supported Garden at La Vista for 15 years. Since that project ended in 2019, we have established La Vista Learning Garden under the umbrella of the Oblate Ecological Initiative.
MISSION
The Learning Garden will be a model and gathering place for novices and area participants to learn and practice:
- sustainable gardening skills like creating a garden plan organic soil preparation and fertilization crop rotation choosing vegetables and their planting times methods for harvesting vegetables growing fruit trees native flower propagation a variety of composting methods
- raising and caring for chickens
- backyard beekeeping
- cooking and nutrition
- hand-carving kitchen utensils
- DIY recycled garden decorations
STAFF
Vernon DePauw is our head gardener and teacher. He is a nationally known wood carver as well as a backyard gardener, poultryman, and beekeeper. Vernon has been a presenter at the Learning Center for several years. Vernon is faithfully supported by his wife Kathy who is also a volunteer.
Sister Maxine collaborates with Vernon to plan, organize, advertise and execute programs.
Volunteers – A small group of volunteers contribute their skills.
This project has been made possible with the support, encouragement and help of Seamus Finn, OMI, and OMI Novitiate Leadership: Pat McGee, Frank Kuczera and Humphrey Milimo.
[Novices and Vernon with hives built by Vernon and painted by novices.]
