Sustainable Development
Sustainable Partnerships and Practices
Kelp Farming at St. Joseph Villa
The Sisters of St. Joseph are partnered with the Shinnecock Kelp Farmers to cultivate and harvest kelp off the shores of St. Joseph Villa in the beautiful Shinnecock Bay. The kelp uses the harmful nitrogen people put into the bay as a food source to grow and give off oxygen, which helps restore the health of the bay and the shellfish population.
Wastewater Management
Two innovative, alternative wastewater management technologies are installed on our campus to reduce the amount of nitrogen discharged into the groundwater. This will improve the sewage disposal system to a more sustainable method, all while reducing the nitrogen threat to the groundwater.
Solar Energy
In response to our Land Ethic Statement, our congregation partnered with organizations interested in producing clean, sustainable energy generation and use on Long Island. Our campus now has an IMW ground-mounted solar array system of 3,192 solar panels supplying energy for our needs.
Sustainable Landscape
To make our Brentwood Campus more sustainable, we replaced lawns with rain gardens, native grass meadows and native plants. These drought-tolerant natural areas offer habitat for wildlife, attract insects and pollinators, and increase overall biodiversity while still maintaining an aesthetically pleasing campus.
Woodland Preservation
The Brentwood Campus contains significant natural resources. Our 40 acres of woodlands overlie a large amount of pure drinking water and contain a diversity of plants, trees and birds. In collaboration with the NYS DEC, we are establishing a conservation easement to preserve the woodlands in perpetuity. We are also working on the restoration of degraded woodlands around the property, removing invasive species and planting new native trees and understory to recreate healthy forest ecosystems.
Ecological Cultural Initiative
Committed to fostering sustainable living, we are partnered with the Ecological Cultural Initiative in Hampton Bays. Its mission is: To foster a resilient, ecology-based coastal community through sustainable food production, wellness, and environmental stewardship.
Their Good Ground Heritage Garden at the St. Joseph Villa provides visitors with the opportunity to learn organic gardening practices. ECI works with local food sellers and culinary experts to provide healthy meals featured at its farm-to-table dinners. The beehives provide honey, and ECI sponsors a Farmers Market held in Hampton Bays.