Maryknoll Meadow: A Living Landscape of Collaboration and Regeneration

The Maryknoll Meadow is more than a landscape project, it's a living, evolving demonstration of what can happen when ecological design, community action, and spiritual intention come together. A collaboration between Grow Monrovia, the Maryknoll Sisters, designers Leigh Adams & Gisela Garay and dozens of community members, this project transformed 20,000 square feet of unused lawn into a thriving meadow full of native plants, pollinators, and possibility. With each passing day, new blooms open, birds and insects return, and the space becomes more alive.

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A Living Landscape, Built by Many Hands

The transformation began with the clearing of 20,000 square feet of lawn, but it quickly became more than just a landscaping project. As the space opened up, volunteers worked together to reshape the ground and prepare it for something new, something alive and interconnected.

Logs from three full trees were brought in and given new purpose. These logs now line the garden paths and form the hugelkultur mounds, where they will slowly break down and enrich the soil over time.

To rebuild the earth, the team used lasagna mulching, layering 1,600 pounds of recycled cardboard with compost and approximately 370 cubic yards of mulch, the equivalent of about 148 truck beds of organic material. This method helps suppress weeds, retain moisture, and activate microbial life in the soil, all reducing the need to disturb its natural structure through digging or tilling.

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A Meadow in the Making

Today, the area is no longer just a blank stretch of green. Nearly 700 native plants and trees have been planted, along with generous amounts of wildflower seed. The meadow now changes with the light and season, drawing in birds, butterflies, and pollinators of all kinds.

Over 600 volunteers helped bring this to life, participating in hands-on workshops where they learned practical, regenerative gardening techniques. People came to build, but also to listen, share stories, and grow alongside the land. Every bed, path, and plant was placed with care to create a habitat that supports both people and wildlife.

A Model for Regenerative Community Landscapes

The Maryknoll Meadow is now a vibrant, water-wise habitat that replaces what was once high-maintenance turf with something far richer and more resilient. Every tree trunk, seedling, and shovel of mulch tells the story of collaboration and care, for the Earth, for each other, and for the generations yet to come. The Meadow reflects the values of the Maryknoll Sisters, a deep reverence for creation, a belief in spiritual ecology, and a commitment to doing the work together. It is a place for walking, gathering, quiet observation, and continued learning.

This project is a model for what’s possible in Southern California and beyond: transforming lawns into living meadows, inviting the community to be part of the process, and honoring the spiritual and ecological interconnectedness of all life. 

Media links

https://www.growmonrovia.org/post/maryknoll-sisters-presence-in-monrovia-god-writes-straight-with-crooked-lines

https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/a-monrovia-convent-was-battling-rising-costs-heres-how-ripping-out-its-lush-lawn-will-preserve-its-future

https://www.monrovianow.com/2022/09/maryknoll-grounds-being-transformed-to.html?m=0

https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2022-07-01/learn-how-to-diy-remove-your-lawn

https://abc7.com/water-conservation-drought-save-lasagna-mulch/12248255/