This blog a journal about our lives, travels, fashion, and style. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. It begins at 3:20 a.m. Father Stan prepares for the commencement of vespers, another of the seven daily prayer services, with holy water. And theres a chance, too, that American monasteries will be forced to rely on the arrival of more monks from overseas. Couldnt this go badly? Mepkin Abbey is located at 1098 Mepkin Abbey Road in Moncks Corner - just far enough of a journey to explore a day away from it all. Just what I wanted: more opportunities to be a monk. During my first couple of weeks at the monastery, I felt immense gratitude nearly every day and nearly every hour of every day. line-height:20px; Now the books suggested by the monks are helping to change my life. He now ranks equivalent to a bishop in the churchs worldwide hierarchy. read more, I only had about an hour to spend here, but I cant wait to go back! The area has been known as Mepkin for centuries, and was originally the estate of several historic families. Mepkin Abbey is truly a wonderful place to viit. Yes, I got Bobby to show a real, genuine smile! Since youre a frequent reader of our website, we want to be able to share even more great, As a frequent reader of our website, you know how important, A Catholic guide to your mid-life calling. I wore an unflattering, hoodie-like habit. I first met Jessica while I was working a full-time job before I went full time with photography! They include readings not only from the Bible but from the church fathers and mothers. Lately, though, Brother Josephs health has taken a turn for the worse, narrowing the scope of his monastic life. Anyone can read what you share. And maybe in spite of yourself, youll start to become more like Jesus. The grounds are gorgeous, the monks are welcoming and the liturgies are simple but reverent. Peaceful place to reflect. Simple gorgeous grounds and a beautiful day. Mepkin is one of only 15 Cistercian Trappist monasteries in North America and the only one in South Carolina. I cant wait to see what the future holds for the two of you! Based in Charleston, SCContact me at catie@catherinehurtphotography.com. I can't imagine a month with 7 at home. One of them being a monument to The Charleston Nine, the brave 9 fireman that died trying to put out a fire. Copyright 2023 America Press Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Sometimes prayer takes us where we don't intend to go. At 3:20 a.m. they gather for Matins, chanting the Psalms for an hour with a long break for silence. In 1936 the well-known publisher Henry R. Luce bought the property. (i wondered why there wasn't any mention of his wife?!?! Mepkin Abbey is truly a wonderful place to viit. Ancient Italian city of Norcia now known for its singing monks. And if that means closing Mepkin, that means closing Mepkin., I believe theres going to be a turnaround, he added. For decades, the monastery relied on an egg farm that produced as many as 30,000 eggs per day. Mepkin Abbey used to be a plantation on the banks of the Cooper River, but it is now the home of Trappist Monks and a retreat center for those who want to take a break from the everyday stresses of life. He works as a securities lawyer for a bank in New York City. Bono) would put it, I still hadnt found what I was looking for. (AP Photo/Bruce Smith) 2680 Lohr Dr, Mt Pleasant, SC 843-819-9705; dennis@charlestonphotoart.com; I am also serving Hilton head, Columbia, Savannah, Myrtle beach; PORTFOLIO. You get up ungodly early, sure. There is nice small gift shop which helps support the community. During the spring and early summer (before the heat and humidity), it is a wonderful place to visit or have a quiet picnic on the bluff surrounded by flowers and serenity. Jessica pushed me and saw potential in me that I didnt see myself. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. These cookies help us improve our website by collecting and reporting information on how you use it. Our wedding is on Friday, May 4, 2018 - Star Wars Day! Methodists are people who believe in individual conversion, study of the scriptures, evangelism. I'm Jessica and I'm so happy you're here. And for those who just want to stroll through the well-manicured gardens and enjoy the beauty of live oak trees with Spanish moss, abundant flowering plants and interesting wood sculptures, this is the place to go. Throughout my tenure at the abbey, it always felt as though there was somewhere that I was supposed to be, and something that I should be doing there. In the Benedictine tradition, guests are to be received as Christ. Flickr/Davey Borden. Still, Mepkins future is anything but certain. I sensed that I was just scratching the surface of the monastic experience and that as a mere visitor to an abbey guest house, I was still on the outside looking in. I explained that we couldnt sit together at meals. The door is open so that guests can hear the reading while we eat in silence. Prayer was a quiet time, reading the Bible and petitioning God, usually at the start of the day. Interview: Whats it like to photograph Pope Francis? Whats a monk? Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}337N 7957W / 33.117N 79.950W / 33.117; -79.950 Fun fact: Jessica asked me to photograph her wedding before I even thought about being a wedding photographer. We checked out the gardens which was very nice, especially the oak trees that hang over the Cooper River. in 4 reviews, There is also a gift shop where you can buy crafts from other Moncks and they also grow and sell mushrooms. in 6 reviews, If you are planning to attend the crche display in November make you reservation via the web in October it fills up fast. in 2 reviews. Mepkin sits above the Ashley and Cooper Rivers, so its pre-AC builders did what sandlappers do and set the buildings at an angle. Such a great blog post about the Mepkin Abbey wedding venue! The abbeys new affiliate program will offer two new short-term monastic options for people of any, or no, faith traditions: a monthlong monastic institute, open to men and women, and a yearlong residency. Parenting six children is a monumental task. And, of course, things in my life need to change. But Mepkin Abbey had fed my soul. Wondering why we ask for your email, or having trouble registering. You will find it there. Mepkin Abbey is located at 1098 Mepkin Abbey Rd., Moncks Corner, SC 29461. I hope so. The monastery sits on a bluff above the Cooper River, its 3,200 acres a patchwork of pine forest and vast lawns punctuated by ancient oaks that drip with Spanish moss. ! Our people were hungry to pray like monks. Several Methodists commented on how infant-like their bald heads seemed, some with little white hairs jutting out, some not. The only drawback was the occasional boater to disturb the tranquility. This is such a serene locale, I don't see how anyone could not be touched by the experience.. Its gardens are now known as the Mepkin Abbey Botanical Garden. But enough of my talking, see for yourself how beautiful it was! For more information: mwfitzpatrick65@gmail.com, Mepkin Abbey As a monk at Mepkin Abbey, a Trappist monastery in South Carolina, he maintains that Roman Catholic orders code of prayer, work, seclusion, poverty and chastity. The alligators were swimming in the pond and even popped out before the ceremony to say hello! One is from Thomas Merton, the most famous Trappist. Be aMonk. Youre in church, but your entry and exit are separate from theirs, and you cant go past the divide. Before you go, check the hours and for special events here on their . All are welcome. With a few limitations, the Abbey and the Mepkin Gardens are open to the public on a daily basis. A day after the animal rights organization PETA called for a boycott of Mepkin Abbey eggs, and nearly a year after the group first complained to the abbey about egg production there, Abbot. We ask readers to log in so that we can recognize you as a registered user and give you unrestricted access to our website. I should have trusted my people to sort out what they stood to learn, what they should leave behind, and where Jesus was at work. Walking paths, benches overlooking the river. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Nor can he fully participate during the roughly five hours set aside each day for agricultural work and the upkeep of the monasterys grounds. Mepkin Abbey: Our Wedding - See 138 traveler reviews, 104 candid photos, and great deals for Moncks Corner, SC, at Tripadvisor. Before air conditioning that meant you had to angle your house on the land so as to catch the best breezes. Logging in will also give you access to commenting features on our website. Having a month off from parental responsibilities is a great luxury which I hope is afforded equally to both partners. The main thing I learned from taking Methodists to Mepkin was about prayer. In this Oct. 30, 2013, Abbot Stan Gumula discusses recent additions at Mepkin Abbey during an interview at the abbey in Moncks Corner, S.C. Mepkins interest in cultivating what they call interspiritual experiences via the longstanding programs at their retreat center and with its proposed affiliate program is evidence, Father Stan said, of the abbeys welcoming and accepting nature. Check out some of our wedding photos from this place. And its not backbreaking work, because were an older community., (In the 1950s, when their numbers were higher and the average age was much lower, the monks working life was more varied and physically intense; they ran a lumber mill, raised cattle and had a large-scale bakery.). Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use Bookwhen. The cookies collect information in a way that does not directly identify anyone. Its the way St. Benedict prescribed things in the fifth century. But theres no TV. Now you see why I was hesitant to taint Mepkin with Methodists. read more, I only had about an hour to spend here, but I cant wait to go back! Trappist monastery in Berkeley County, South Carolina, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Mepkin article on their new mushroom production replacing the egg production, St. Mary Help of Christians Church, Aiken, St. Mary of the Annunciation Church, Charleston, Cathedral of Saint John and Saint Finbar, Charleston, Cardinal Newman High School, Forest Acres, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mepkin_Abbey&oldid=1085714570, Trappist monasteries in the United States, Buildings and structures in Berkeley County, South Carolina, Tourist attractions in Berkeley County, South Carolina, Roman Catholic churches in South Carolina, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 2 May 2022, at 01:43. I highly suspect he has learned that for himself.Stephen, thank you for sharing your experiences with us. The World Is Changing. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. She did as one does when one is nervous, like she knew exactly what she was doing, head up and eyes straight ahead. I didnt know what he meant. They were, in a way. Im pretty sure I was even holding back tears at this point. There were 57 manger scenes on display. //-->. Some aging monasteries, including Mepkin, have had to rely on greater numbers of paid employees and volunteers, which has helped avert a shortage of labor. I dont want to spend my remaining years simply hanging on, Father Stan said. (Other religious organizations, like Hillsong Church, for example, have used Instagram and other platforms to reach and engage with younger generations.) Or maybe, more selfishly, I wanted to keep my spiritual treasure to myself, to not spoil it by mixing it with my work. They only have one child left at home.I greatly enjoyed this article, I have been to Mepkin several times and had a wonderful experience each time. Each passing nod by a fellow resident, a further embrace into the community. Every morning for the rest of his life, the monk confronted two habits. Mepkin Abbey: Weddings to Final Resting place - See 138 traveler reviews, 104 candid photos, and great deals for Moncks Corner, SC, at Tripadvisor. A glimpse into monastic life at Mepkin Abbey with Fr. For us, the silence is second nature, he said, adding that visitors often find it conducive to a transformative experience. I first met Jessica while I was working a full-time job before I went full time with photography! I meant that the monks have their own dining hall and guests have a separate one. We clomped in and sat down. And, for me, that kind of strength could only have come from having lived the monastic life in that community., That sense of welcomeness and hospitality, he added, is just a wonderful aspect of the place. This article planted in me a desire to go again.I do not understand why people read an article in which the author shares something personal of his spiritual life and experience, and people have a need to respond with criticism. Brother Joseph Swedo was bent forward in his chair, his rugged hands folded delicately in his lap. It was a call for which I had been waiting, albeit not a call to vocation. But it also allows them to inculcate their charism with particular intensity. You'll have to buy some of the Mushrooms that the Monks grow (dried or fresh). Thankfully, the monastic guest program at Mepkin is open to all: those discerning a vocation or not, Catholic or not, men or not. We cannot find a time, until the Reformation, when there was Christianity without monks and nuns. Were a very nonjudgmental and nonexclusive community, he said. Thank you and God bless you and your loved ones. This is one pretty place. Address: 1098 Mepkin Abbey Road Moncks Corner, SC 29461. Who was I to deny this nourishment to others? font-size:20px; We ask our visitors to confirm their email to keep your account secure and make sure you're able to receive email from us. I reminded him recently of those shit-shoveling days. So she gathered her tray and breezed out of the guest areaand right into the monks area. But as a church we had long since forgotten how. Another Trappist community facing similar challenges the Abbey of Our Lady of the Holy Trinity, in Huntsville, Utah celebrated its final Mass last August, then shuttered its monastery. Stephen, his wife Dina and the youngest of their six children live in Bronxville, N.Y. Stephen and Dina have made pilgrimages with America Media to Ignatian Spain and the Holy Land. While the monks do not participate in any way in the ceremony, they are pleased to make the gardens available for weddings. This intimate Spring wedding at Mepkin Abbey was EVERYTHING. MONCKS CORNER, S.C. A year and a half ago, I could do anything run the chain saw, cut up trees, use a backhoe.. This is a must see, bring your camera and walking shoes. Joe Tedesco, https://mepkinabbey.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/IMG-0010-scaled.jpg, https://mepkinabbey.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/logo.png. Wendy Mogul gestaltet als unabhngiger Knstler einzigartige Designs fr Produkte wie T-Shirts, Sticker, Poster und Handyhllen. It's very beautiful all times of the year and I plan to go as often as I can. I've known Jessica and Bobby for a few years now. In keeping with broader declines in the ranks of priests, nuns and brothers, Mepkins monastic community is dwindling. The local mushrooms are available for purchase but also served in numerous fine restaurants in the area. A visit will give you an interesting look into a more devout way of life. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The community sees itself as a steward of the monasterys grounds, and as a leader in the local environmental movement. It is way off the beaten path Not a place for active kids. Walking paths, benches overlooking the river. We do not provide an option to turn off essential cookies because they are required to deliver security and enable core site functionality. Founded by monks from the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky in 1949, after a 3,132-acre plot was donated to the Catholic Diocese of Charleston by Henry and Clare Boothe Luce, Mepkin was placed under a conservation easement in 2006, in concert with several neighboring properties. Nothing says Charleston, South Carolina like the glowing oaks dripping with Spanish moss, salty air, alligators swimming in the ponds, and the Azaleas blooming everywhere you look. I am middle-aged, happily married and the father of six children. They have a terrific gift shop. Only 13 monks remain, down from a peak of 55 in the mid-1950s. Every sunrise and sunset, a sign of Gods presence. Needless to say, bring along a camera. Across all orders, the number of Catholic brothers in the United States has declined by more than two-thirds since 1965, according to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. font-size:20px; It is in the Souths Low Country. Monks arent the ones living in silence and solitude. I ended up making so much progress on those three goals during my month at Mepkin that I wonder whether I should have included another threeor 10. Meet the monks of Mepkin Abbey, a Trappist monastery in South Carolina, who are trying to maintain age-old religious traditions in a rapidly evolving world. Father Butter was there, 102 years old. During my month-long monastic immersion, I lived in a small, comfortable room in the monks dormitory. He is no longer strong enough, he said, to regularly attend the first or last of Mepkins seven daily prayer services vigils at 3:20 a.m., and compline at 7:35 p.m. Make sure you visit the website for prayer service times, it's a wonderful time with the Lord. Actually we were obeying. Good lesson for a pastor. Check out some of the. Once several of the Boone Methodists processed out of their choir stalls and into the procession of monks for the liturgy. There was no room for a wall, and if there were, itd have just blocked the breeze. The Mepkin Abbey gate is open from 6am-6pm. Meghan + Grayson | Mepkin Abbey Wedding October 06, 2015 in Wedding mekpin abbey wedding Vendors: Tags: mepkin abbey portraits, mepkin abbey wedding, moncks corner wedding, moncks corner wedding photographer, moncks corner wedding photography Kelsey + Peter | Wickliffe House Wedding LeeAnn + Justin | Confederate Home and College Wedding Laurens built his home there, and it was known as the Mepkin Plantation. I felt privileged to reside in such a beautiful place, to live in silence and to brush against the gentle disposition, intelligence and wisdom of the monks. Planning your wedding can be overwhelming and stressful, but it doesn't have to be! Upcoming Events at Mepkin Abbey Schedule; From 3 Mar 2023 March, 2023 3 Fri 3 days Tai Chi Retreat - Friday-Monday, March 3-6, 2023 6 Mon 1 week 7 Day Individual Retreat - Monday-Monday March 6-March 13, 2023 10 Fri 3 days Individual Retreat - Friday-Monday, March 10-13, 2023 . There are many picturesque spots in the areas visitors may walk around in. We took a tour of Mepkin Abbey and it cost $5 per person. I reported to the retreat house, a gleaming glass and steel half-cloister that is the most recent addition to the abbeys modern buildings. All Benedictinesthe larger umbrella under which Trappists existpledge to receive every guest as Christ. Do it anyway. What should I wear? Since Methodism is a revivalist sect, if were not reviving anybody, what are we doing? But what Jaylynn heard is that she couldnt sit with me. Fortunately, there will be time for that, as the monks invite anyone who has completed the month-long program to return to the abbey at any time for a shorter stay. This is a fabulous place to Those blessings included daily Mass, which at Mepkin Abbey begins at 6:30 a.m. The horn of a freight train blaring from across the Cooper River, a temporary reminder of the noise and distractions of the outside world. Every morning, hours before the sun, the monks and the Methodists bowed and twirled and chanted psalms. A Bible at the conclusion of vigils, the first of seven daily prayer services at Mepkin Abbey. Stephen B. Mepkin is fairly unique in the Trappist world for how deeply it invites guests into its life. You know, they rev their hands up when they pray, like theyre getting going. Sure enough, I noticed in the next office: the monks circle their hands like theyre cranking an engine. read more. It's a MUST SEE! The ceremony will begin at 4PM. Well worth the trip! White robes, long sleeves, beards, and bald heads. It's located outside of Charleston in Berkeley County. We laughed while we worked, in an altogether more talkative way than I thought monks would be given to. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Javascript must be enabled for Bookwhen to function properly. The Mepkin Abbey grounds are one of the most gorgeous, tranquil, and peaceful places in all of Charleston. The overarching sense here is that Mepkin has so much to offer to the worlds spiritual searchers irrespective of their ties to any formal religion. But maybe a smaller number will. I got this, eating with monks, righto. Stay a while and say hello! These cookies are essential to our website working properly. So why was I hesitant to bring others there? But theyre interested in prayer, and theyre interested in finding ways to connect with their center., The Trappists, he added, have been around for a thousand years. For a Month. To be sure, many of the Trappist traditions at Mepkin are helping to sustain the monastery. The first record of the name was a 1681 grant to the sons of Sir John Coleton, one of the Lords Proprietary of South Carolina. He is the head, we are the members. The early returns, 500 years on, are not positive. Good point. The people might move without you. I knew what you were thinking, Scott said. Can It Last? Monks at Mepkin also adhere to a strict vegetarian diet and maintain a largely silent atmosphere although its not as if we dont speak, Father Stan explained. The monastery grounds include a graveyard containing the ashes of Henry Laurens, as well as the graves of John Laurens, Clare Boothe Luce, and Henry Luce. The sign asks you to sit in the back, but the request is only there, it seems, to be flaunted. The Abbey gift shop offers homemade jams, jellies and preserves produced by other Trappist monasteries and the mushrooms grown by the Mepkin Abbey monks. Benedict instructed that a novice's street clothes should be kept. The, crche exhibit is incredible and extensive - be sure to vote for your favorite. Required fields are marked *. The main architecture is the trees. The gardens are well maintained, the docents (tour guides) have so much information to share with you. Were all getting old., Read: Silent, Yes, but Never Withdrawn: Readers Respond to this Dwindling Catholic Monastery. Peaceful place to reflect. I joined the monks in chanting psalms during the seven offices of the Liturgy of the Hours, the first of which, Vigils, kicks off at 3:20 a.m. He asked his first question: What are they doing with their hands? Trappist monasteries in the United States are likely to consolidate, Father Stan said. I just felt like I had to acknowledge that part of who I am, he said. I dont even remember what I said, but I guess it was funny! If you're in the Charleston area in November or December you must visit this unique display. } The weather was perfect but this is such an enchanting place. The monks used to run a chicken farm. Gay Rowzie - Monday-Monday, April 3-10, 2023, Individual Retreat - Monday-Friday, April 10-14, 2023, Individual Retreat - Friday-Monday, April 14-17, 2023, Individual Retreat - Monday-Friday, April 17-21, 2023, Individual Retreat - Friday-Monday, April 21-24, 2023, Individual Retreat - Monday-Friday, April 24-28, 2023, Individual Retreat - Friday-Monday, April 28-May 1, 2023, Individual Retreat - Monday-Friday, May 1-5, 2023, Caregivers' Retreat - Friday-Monday, May 5-8, 2023, Individual Retreat - Monday-Friday, May 8-12, 2023, NO PUBLIC BOOKINGS - Friday-Monday, May 12-15, 2023, Individual Retreat - Monday-Friday, May 15-19, 2023, Individual Retreat - Friday-Monday, May 19-22, 2023, Directed Ignatian Retreat - Monday-Friday, May 22-26, 2023, Individual Retreat - Friday-Monday, May 26-29, 2023, Individual Retreat - Monday-Friday, May 29-June 2, 2023, NO PUBLIC BOOKINGS - Friday-Monday, June 2-5, 2023, Individual Retreat - Monday-Friday, June 5-9, 2023, Individual Retreat - Friday-Monday, June 9-12, 2023, Individual Retreat - Monday-Friday, June 12-16, 2023, Individual Retreat - Friday-Monday, June 16-19, 2023, Seven Day Directed Ignatian Retreat - Monday-Friday, June 19-26, 2023, NO PUBLIC BOOKINGS-Monastic Institute, June 26-July 31, 2023. I worked for four or five hours a day in the abbeys mushroom-growing operation. Thank you! [1] The plantation, which was created from several smaller plantations, contained over 7200 acres when Luce bought the property for a reported $150,000. I have, in the same position, a photo of Mepkin Abbey. Mepkin, by contrast, invites guests all the way up into their stalls for prayer. Oh clement, oh loving, oh most sweet Virgin Mary. They sing it with such tenderness it nearly overwhelms my Protestant objections. Mepkin Abbey is not exactly a place of retreat from the "real world," nor is it a sanctuary populated by holy and wise men who might deign to bequeath upon their worshipful and awestruck. PETA cited earlier statements by Pope Benedict XVI on factory farming, in which the pontiff criticized the "industrial use of creatures, so that geese are fed in such a way as to produce as large a liver as possible, or hens live so packed together that they become just caricatures of birds" as being incompatible with Biblical teachings on animals. //-->. You might think theyre wrong when they actually couldnt be more right. Some tips for making the most of your twilight years. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. And for the last 73 years since he joined the order at age 17, answering a call from God, he said physical labor has been an integral part of his daily routine. Have been visiting the Abbey for many years, primarily to view the annual crche display. He stage-whispered to each one of us with inappropriate loudness, When youre 102, Ill come pray for you. Abbot Stan stood off in the corner, his shepherds crook beside him, and openly wept. Grab your camera and make your way through the centuries old Oak lined drive to Mepkin Abbey. All the buildings have been built around the trees.. Their digital presence is also extremely limited. And because Trappists see their lifestyle as a vocation, or a call from Jesus, they dont actively recruit new members. Our church in Boone, North Carolina, was rarely open when he wasnt there, ministering and serving and encouraging. We rounded a corner into the reserve sacrament chapel, and there the monks were. Serene and Mepkins openness is in some ways related to its topography. Mepkin Abbey is not your typical attraction. Go back to your seats! } In recent months, the abbey, in response to its aging population and its lack of young novices, formed a committee for its future development and drew up a set of programs aimed at attracting a younger and more spiritually diverse group of people. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. In January 2007, a PETA investigation found that the abbey's hens endure constant abuse for almost two years before they are killed. She cruised over to the monks block of butter and started to help herself, when 95-year-old Father Christian, with bent back and long beard and twinkle in his eye, asked, Oh, I see youre joining us today? He was genuinely delighted. The weather couldnt have been any more perfect. I would like to do one of these (when the kids are grown). i agree!!!! You are never in a bad location. Hes a round man in every way: midsectionally round, bald of head round, broad of smile round, love of Jesus round. In what has become a Christmas tradition, the monks of Mepkin Abbey, even before . Monks seem against all those things. I think the reason they took to monastic prayer so profoundly is that Methodism is a revivalist sect. In everything we do here, we try to respect the land, the ecology and the environment, Father Stan said. Why am I being asked to create an account? Thank you! In addition to the vast garden you can view on your own, the have guided tours of the monastery at 11:30 and 3:00 most days. Walking paths, benches overlooking the river. Father Gerard-Jonas Palmares inside one of the locations where mushrooms are grown at Mepkin Abbey. I am middle-aged, happily married and the father of six children.