Black Earth Institute is based at Brigit Rest, a farm in southwestern Wisconsin. Fellows gather for retreats every fall.

Natural History of Brigit Rest

The 22-acre farm called Brigit Rest, after the Celtic goddess/Christian saint, is located in Wisconsin’s Driftless area, so called because the last four glacial periods did not affect the region. The topography is dramatically different than the rest of the Midwest, representing an island of much older land in the plains.

Brigit Rest is near the ancient Indian trail between the Four Lakes (Madison) area and Blue Mounds, then to the mining area near Mineral Point and down to the Mississippi. The trail may have been used by Mound Builder peoples as long ago as one thousand years. During the Black Hawk war in 1832, after Black Hawk’s partial victory at the battle of Wisconsin Heights 10 miles to the north, the Iowa militia marched through. Army records that describe the intersection warn against descending down into the ravines due to the dangers of brambles and rattlesnakes. The old road still exists on the property, cutting through a circle of trees that represents the Celtic tree alphabet.

To the south, Blue Mounds can be seen clearly. In legends of the Hotcak (Ho-chunk) Nation, Blue Mounds was called Wihagadja or “the place of the second born daughter.” It is said that Earthmaker sat on a rock outcropping and looked over the land. When the Hotcak Nation lived in and around Blue Mounds, Earthmaker’s smoke would lie horizontally if he were happy and rise straight up if he were not. Now the blue haze only rises straight up.

In addition to the Celtic Tree Circle, several other areas for meditation and creativity exist on the land. A grove of pines (the “Pine Chapel”) provides shade all year round as well as coolness in the summer. At the base of the hill below the house, a massive hickory tree spills its nuts every fall; documents tell of this hickory tree being a destination in the 19th century for nut gatherers, while beside it is a 100-year-old tree that provides apples for cider. Further down the hillside is the largest white oak tree in the township, perhaps in the county. An old wildling apple growing beside a sinuous “snake” of a horizontal root of a large poplar that has been dubbed “Eve’s Bower” and is a fine place for hiding away. A large black walnut grove provides more nuts each fall as well as dappled shade through the summer; wind chimes hung there make a “Wind Chamber” that is one of the camping areas on the land.  Relatively flat trails lead through the woods, and several other camping areas offer privacy and an opportunity to wake up in nature.

Nearer the house, large organic vegetable beds provide much of the household’s food.  A vineyard can produce several varieties of wine.  The orchard provides apples, pears, peaches and cherries; the garden has raspberries and blueberries as well as the vegetables.  Beside the house, a small waterfall and pond and a fire circle provide a location for outdoor meetings and enjoyment.