Land Stewardship

Saint John's Arboretum encompasses over 2700 acres settled by Benedictine monks in 1864.  Since its founding, the abbey has been guided by the Benedictine principles of stability, hospitality, and stewardship.  In 1997, this longstanding principle of stewardship led the monks to designate the lands of Saint John's a natural arboretum.  Saint John's Arboretum is advantageously located in the unique area of terminal moraines (glacial deposits) that distinguish central Minnesota.  The varied terrain and its location between the hardwoods and prairies creates considerable diversity in the habitats found there.