John Geissler

Robin Pierzina, O.S.B.
Saint John’s Abbey Arboretum border marker

A big perk of being part of the land stewardship effort of Saint John’s Abbey is the opportunity to inspire and be inspired by students of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. We were so fortunate to have four full-time student land managers along with crew leader Brother Jeremy Welters, O.S.B., working to improve the Saint John’s Abbey Arboretum this summer. This energetic team completed a multitude of stewardship projects with an infectious enthusiasm! It gives me hope when I see future leaders work so hard to learn about and care for the natural world. I’m confident our readers will be equally inspired by them.

Conal Brady. I am a senior at Saint John’s University, majoring in environmental studies and minoring in biology. I grew up in Mililani, Hawai‘i, but I currently live in Anchorage, Alaska. Whether in Hawai‘i, Alaska, or Minnesota, I constantly seek opportunities to contribute to conservation and land stewardship. Though the work is very physical and challenging, I find it rewarding. It is awesome to see the progression of different projects and witness how our work is making a difference. For example, I find joy in watching an oak seedling grow, especially one that I planted; or walking on a section of a boardwalk that I just installed.

This work allows me to learn about different aspects of nature in Minnesota. Coming from out of state, I wasn’t familiar with the wildlife, plant species, or the natural history of Minnesota. Being a student land manager has taught me a lot; I am excited to share this knowledge with others. This was my second summer working in the abbey arboretum, so I was excited to return and continue the work I had already done—as well as start new projects. One of my favorite projects was repositioning floats and fixing the boardwalk in the wetlands. I really enjoy the physical work— and who doesn’t love to wear waders at work!

“The work has taught me that conservation does not end when a tree or pollinator plant is planted. It takes constant vigilance, care, and action to ensure a plant or seedling stands a chance of surviving.”

— Lucy Keefe

Lucy Keefe. I am a senior at the College of Saint Benedict majoring in environmental studies with a minor in gender studies. I sought the student land manager position in the fall of 2019 after hearing Mr. John Geissler speak about prescribed burns and the work he did within the abbey arboretum. I knew immediately that steward-ship was something I wanted to do and experience! Due to the pandemic, however, I was unable to work here in 2020. Getting a second chance this past summer has been one of the most meaningful and challenging moments in my life.

The work has taught me that conservation does not end when a tree or pollinator plant is planted. It takes constant vigilance, care, and action to ensure a plant or seedling stands a chance of surviving. I find this work rewarding as I get to see the difference that my fellow workers and I make. I felt especially honored to organize a pollinator garden near the abbey guesthouse. Using my knowledge of prairie and pollinator plants was exhilarating; I can’t wait to see the garden in full bloom! I am proud of this project and the work our crew put in to make the inner campus habitat come to life.

Charlie Matuska. I am from Cold Spring, Minnesota, and a sophomore at the university studying global business (major) and considering an environmental studies minor. Because I wanted to work on campus, be outside, and do something meaningful, working here has been especially significant for me. I was responsible for the general well-being of the abbey arboretum, in particular the next generation of trees—a rare and unique experience that I enjoyed immensely.

One of my favorite projects was nicknamed “The Cedar Skeeter” because of the unique way we used two canoes to transport a “barge” of cut cedar sections. These cedars were salvaged from a campus construction zone. Since they have such thick and dense branches, they are perfect for creating a wave-stopping and sediment-trapping buffer protecting the north shore of Lake Sagatagan. The teamwork needed to make this project a success was a highlight of the summer for me. What I’ve learned has been another pleasant surprise. Every week we read a chapter from the book Minnesota’s Natural Heritage and then explore and discover how it relates to the Saint John’s Abbey Arboretum. Learning to identify different types of trees was great—I had almost no experience doing this but now feel confident identifying more than twenty species.

Nathan Meyer. I’m from Iowa City and am now a senior at Saint John’s University majoring in communication and minoring in English. What, you may wonder, is a communication major doing out in the field for the summer? I love my academic work, but that wasn’t my reason for stepping into the realm of land stewardship. No, it was because I’m a runner that I was attracted to this position. I run cross country and track, and so I’ve gotten to know the abbey arboretum pretty well over the past couple of years. The monks have graciously allowed us to explore the trails and wooded scenery of this special place. I could not pass up the opportunity to give back and assist in the arboretum’s preservation. Coming to work each morning, I looked forward to what the day had in store. I’ve been blessed to have a great team of fellow student land managers and supervisors who make the job, even on the more demanding days, an absolute joy.

Epilogue. I add my thanks to the monastic community for their commitment to the stewardship of this beautiful land and for their willingness to use it as an educational tool to connect students of all ages to the value of stewardship. As a past student land manager myself (1996–1999), I know the life-changing power of this place and experience! Twenty years from now, when these students return to campus, they will be filled with pride, seeing the long-term impact of their hard work.

Mr. John Geissler is the Saint John’s Abbey land manager and director of Saint John’s Outdoor University.

Article originally published in the Abbey Banner, Fall 2021

Student Land Managers

John Geissler