Work with Your Hands

Join monks in meaningful, incarnate work. Brew beer, build structures, tend gardens, and experience the dignity of honest labor in monastic community.

Flexible durations
Work alongside monks
Travel assistance included

Available Projects

3 slots available
Help Benedictines Brew Traditional Beer
St. Benedict's Abbey
Bavaria, Germany

Join our brewing monks in crafting traditional Benedictine ale. Learn ancient brewing techniques passed down for centuries while working alongside the community.

Duration:2-4 weeks
Difficulty:Moderate

Tasks include:

Grain preparationFermentation monitoringBottling & labelingCellar maintenance
5 slots available
Build a Garden Shed with Carmelites
Carmel of the Sacred Heart
County Clare, Ireland

Help construct a new tool shed for our monastery gardens. Work with wood, learn carpentry basics, and contribute to the monastery's self-sufficiency.

Duration:1-2 weeks
Difficulty:Beginner-friendly

Tasks include:

Foundation workFramingRoofingFinishing touches
6 slots available
Organic Garden Expansion
Abbey of Our Lady
Burgundy, France

Expand our vegetable gardens and help establish new raised beds. Work the earth, plant seeds, and help feed the monastic community through honest labor.

Duration:1-3 weeks
Difficulty:All levels

Tasks include:

Soil preparationBed constructionPlantingIrrigation setup
2 slots available
Restore Historic Chapel Stone Work
Monastery of the Holy Cross
Tuscany, Italy

Assist in preserving our 12th-century chapel. Learn traditional stone masonry while helping maintain this sacred space for future generations.

Duration:3-6 weeks
Difficulty:Intermediate

Tasks include:

Stone cleaningMortar repairDocumentationPreservation techniques
8 slots available
Build Guest House with Cistercians
Cistercian Abbey of St. Mary
Oregon, USA

Join a major construction project building new guest accommodations. Gain hands-on construction experience while living in community with the monks.

Duration:4-8 weeks
Difficulty:All levels welcome

Tasks include:

FramingInsulationDrywallPainting
4 slots available
Orchard Restoration & Harvest
Trappist Monastery of the Redwoods
California, USA

Help revive our neglected apple orchard. Prune trees, prepare for harvest season, and make cider with the fruits of your labor.

Duration:2-4 weeks
Difficulty:Beginner-friendly

Tasks include:

Tree pruningOrchard maintenanceHarvest assistanceCider making

What to Expect

Daily Rhythm

Participate in morning prayer, work 4-6 hours daily, share meals with the community, and have time for rest and reflection. A balance of labor and contemplation.

Accommodation

Simple, clean rooms in the monastery or nearby guest houses. Shared bathrooms in most locations. Meals provided—often grown or made by the community.

Experience Level

Most projects welcome beginners. Monks will teach you what you need to know. Come with a willing heart and readiness to learn—no prior experience required.

Travel Assistance

We help coordinate your travel to remote monastery locations. Guidance on trains, buses, or car rentals. Some monasteries offer pickup from nearby towns.

Ready to Get Your Hands Dirty?

Experience the satisfaction of honest work, the rhythm of monastic life, and the beauty of creating something lasting.