At the Malvern motherhouse of the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, vocations to religious life aren’t the only thing flourishing. In recent years, a thriving vegetable and herb garden—lush, colorful, and deeply loved—has taken root, bringing fresh, healthy harvests to the sisters’ dining tables.
The seed for the project was planted in 2023, when the motherhouse’s dining room director at the time began a modest one-bed garden, growing romaine lettuce, tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, herbs, and wildflowers.
Inspired by its success, the following year brought a much larger vision. Guided by General Superior Sister Mary Ellen Tennity, the idea blossomed into an eight-bed “Peace Garden,” designed to provide fresh, organic produce for the IHM sisters at the Villa Maria House of Studies, where they host retreats and gatherings.
Current dining room director and executive chef Craig R. Tinley embraced the mission wholeheartedly. Having previously worked in a corporate dining setting that emphasized sustainability and a “farm-to-table” approach, he was eager to create something similar for the sisters.
The 2025 Peace Garden at the IHM Motherhouse in Malvern features raised beds filled with seasonal produce and herbs, supported by rain barrels installed for sustainable irrigation as part of a broader initiative led by Dining Services Director Craig Tinley.
Today, the Peace Garden overflows with beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, celery, corn, cucumbers, onions, peppers, winter squash, tomatoes, and potatoes.
Fruit harvests include cantaloupe and strawberries, while herbs – basil, chives, dill, parsley, rosemary, and sage – add fragrance and flavor to the kitchen’s creations.
Each March, seeds are planted and nurtured indoors before being transplanted in May, “after the last frost,” Tinley explained. He follows a growing plan from the Old Farmer’s Almanac to guide sowing, transplanting, maintenance, and harvesting.
The sisters play an active role in both planning and tending the garden. Rain barrels installed by the maintenance crew collect water for irrigation, supplemented by the care of Tinley and Sister Anne Marie Stegmeier, director of the IHM Spirituality Center.
Tinley’s team of six chefs weed and fend off pests in the garden, which always welcomes volunteers to lend a hand, Tinley says.
When harvest time comes, the kitchen staff transforms the garden’s bounty into delicious meals: potatoes become potato salad and hash browns; tomatoes are turned into Caprese salad, salsa, and rich marinara and pomodoro sauces; eggplant takes center stage in Greek moussaka and Italian eggplant Parmesan; broccoli appears roasted, steamed, or tossed into salads. Fresh fruit selections sweeten desserts, while the flowers brighten the sisters’ tables.
Tinley calls this approach “seed to table,” and says the sisters are deeply grateful for the organic nourishment it brings.
The Peace Garden is more than just a food source, according to Tinley.
“The garden has brought joy to the sisters’ days as they watch it grow,” he said. “It’s a sign of hope, peace, and tranquility at the IHM Motherhouse.”
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