Yesterday we had a group of 21st Century Scholars take a tour of our place. This program for teens will pay for their college education at any Indiana institution if they keep their pledge to be drug-free, alcohol-free and smoke-free and keep their grades up. They toured the organic gardens, greenhouse, alpacas and fiber room. We were glad they included us in their time at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods!
Tomorrow we'll have a group from Community Christian School's daycare program. They will participate in a general tour of the Sisters of Providence grounds, including White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, of course, and then partake in a habitat scavenger hunt. Fun!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
In appreciation of Amanda
Today we're saying good-bye and thank you to Providence Volunteer Minister Amanda Sneed. As a summer volunteer she worked with the alpacas, in the organic garden and with the farmers' markets. She'll enjoy a little vacation before heading off to Chicago for the next part of her journey. Thank you, Amanda! And best wishes!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Organic cropland
White Violet Center for Eco-Justice at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind., manages the 343 acres of state certified organic cropland owned by the Sisters of Providence at and around Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
After experiencing one of the wettest springs in many years our crops are finally in the ground. We have 100 acres of wheat, about 130 acres of soybeans and about 95 acres of corn.
David Harris, of Greencastle, is the farm manager. He and Farm Assistant Jeremy McKenzie are finding it hard to keep up with everything coming on at once, David said yesterday.
We accomplished some sporadic field work in May, but didn't get any corn out until June. David said the plan was to plant in May, then harvest hay, and maybe start doing some cultivating before harvesting wheat the July 4 weekend. "Since we didn't get done planting until the end of June it's just been crazy," he said.
Now everything needs to happen at once. White Violet Center staff members and volunteers put hay up in the barn yesterday and once last week. David was hoping to get the wheat harvested this week. More rain came this morning.
Despite the stress of getting all the seeds planted and having to switch from corn to soybeans in early June, David said the crops are coming up well and everything has a good stand.
We're having trouble finding buyers for our organic crops in these difficult economic times. Prices are fluctuating and buyers aren't willing to commit right now, David said.
So the wheat is off to the grain storage bins...
Aaahhh, life on the farm.
After experiencing one of the wettest springs in many years our crops are finally in the ground. We have 100 acres of wheat, about 130 acres of soybeans and about 95 acres of corn.
David Harris, of Greencastle, is the farm manager. He and Farm Assistant Jeremy McKenzie are finding it hard to keep up with everything coming on at once, David said yesterday.
We accomplished some sporadic field work in May, but didn't get any corn out until June. David said the plan was to plant in May, then harvest hay, and maybe start doing some cultivating before harvesting wheat the July 4 weekend. "Since we didn't get done planting until the end of June it's just been crazy," he said.
Now everything needs to happen at once. White Violet Center staff members and volunteers put hay up in the barn yesterday and once last week. David was hoping to get the wheat harvested this week. More rain came this morning.
Despite the stress of getting all the seeds planted and having to switch from corn to soybeans in early June, David said the crops are coming up well and everything has a good stand.
We're having trouble finding buyers for our organic crops in these difficult economic times. Prices are fluctuating and buyers aren't willing to commit right now, David said.
So the wheat is off to the grain storage bins...
Aaahhh, life on the farm.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
What a busy time for this organic farm and eco-justice education center! We've had so much rain it has been crazy trying to get our more than 300 acres of certified organic crops in the ground this year. Now the hay needs cut and the vegetables are being harvested for the market today and the Sisters of Providence dining halls.
In the alpaca pastures ...
Four alpaca crias were born this spring and two more are on the way. Of our about 65 alpacas many of them are for sale ... about 18 or so. Click on Alpacas at www.whiteviolet.org to see our sales list.
In the gardens ...
Our Weekly Wednesday Farmers' Market at the Woods (3-6 p.m.) is in full swing. The tasty organic vegetables offered this week are turnips, lettuce, radishes, and green tomatoes. We'll also have herbs and cut flowers. (We might have some carrots, green beans and potatoes.) In addition to the vegetables, we always have homemade lip balm made from our own beeswax; Royer Family Farm beef, lamb and pork; Swiss Connection cheese and ice cream; and fair trade coffees, teas and chocolate bars.
In the orchards ...
We've been dealing with some fire blight and such this year. The garden manager applied a clay spray this week.
In the Classified Forest ...
We now have an 18 year plan for the 320 acres of Classified Forest at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods owned by the Sisters of Providence. Read more about our recent DNR statistical survey under Agriculture at www.whiteviolet.org.
This is one of our busiest times of year! We couldn't do it without our fabulous volunteers and intern. A big thank you to you all!
In the alpaca pastures ...
Four alpaca crias were born this spring and two more are on the way. Of our about 65 alpacas many of them are for sale ... about 18 or so. Click on Alpacas at www.whiteviolet.org to see our sales list.
In the gardens ...
Our Weekly Wednesday Farmers' Market at the Woods (3-6 p.m.) is in full swing. The tasty organic vegetables offered this week are turnips, lettuce, radishes, and green tomatoes. We'll also have herbs and cut flowers. (We might have some carrots, green beans and potatoes.) In addition to the vegetables, we always have homemade lip balm made from our own beeswax; Royer Family Farm beef, lamb and pork; Swiss Connection cheese and ice cream; and fair trade coffees, teas and chocolate bars.
In the orchards ...
We've been dealing with some fire blight and such this year. The garden manager applied a clay spray this week.
In the Classified Forest ...
We now have an 18 year plan for the 320 acres of Classified Forest at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods owned by the Sisters of Providence. Read more about our recent DNR statistical survey under Agriculture at www.whiteviolet.org.
This is one of our busiest times of year! We couldn't do it without our fabulous volunteers and intern. A big thank you to you all!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)