Loretto Motherhouse Farm educates for Earth’s future

From intensively rotating cattle, to restoring native habitat, to using no-till practices and cover crops, the Loretto Motherhouse Farm strives to regenerate the soil, leaving this land healthier than we found it. Under the care of Farm Director Cody Rakes are nearly 800 acres, including land in grain crops, cattle pastures, native plantings for pollinators and wildlife, managed woodlands and numerous lakes, ponds, streams and creeks.

At the 2024 Loretto Assembly the Community resolved the following: “That the Loretto Motherhouse Farm further Loretto’s mission by using the Loretto Land Ethic and Laudato Si’ as guiding principles.” These principles guide the care of the Motherhouse land with the core views “that careful consideration be given to the long- and short-term interests of the following: the life-enhancement of the immediate users, the local community, future generations of humans, the local bioregion and the planetary community.” With these principles in mind and the need for ongoing education for ourselves and others in regenerative Earth-centered practices, we are committed to spreading our work’s message through events like farmer field days, hayrides for visitors and annual events like Ag Bash. These events bring local farmers and others onto the property to look at real-world examples of the innovative practices we use to further our core values. As Cody has said many times, “The work we do on this land is important, but what is even more important is the impact we can have on thousands of other acres by hosting educational events and working with other farmers to implement these practices.”

This year the farm will be working with the University of Kentucky and the Organic Association of Kentucky to host at least two farmer field days on the property. These events will focus on our regenerative cropping systems, and include hands-on work with cattle for farmers. This past January, Cody was a featured speaker at the Kentucky Organic Conference sharing on “Grazing Our Way to Conservation”; he spoke about how we use environmentally-friendlier methods to raise our cattle.

This summer, for the first time, the Motherhouse is partnering with New Pioneers for a Sustainable Future to host a weeklong environmental summer camp, linking 50 elementary-aged kids with nature and the land. In keeping with the theme “Where the Wild Things Are,” students will learn about everything from aquatic animals to soil life.

Our busy summer includes adding native grass plantings, silvopasture and spreading bio-char as part of new grant projects. Through these practices, combined with educational events, we are renewed in our commitment to continue protecting Earth by implementing the values of Loretto’s Land Ethic and Laudato Si’ and working with others to expand our impact to farmers in our area and beyond.

Each community can take from the bounty of the earth whatever it needs for subsistence, but it also has the duty to protect the earth and to ensure its fruitfulness for coming generations.

Pope Francis, Laudato Si’ (click to read the full text of the encyclical)

To read all of the articles in the summer 2025 issue click here.