Wisconsin FFA students visit

A group of 13 high school students from Wisconsin who are participating in the FFA Convention in Indianapolis this week will tour White Violet Center for Eco-Justice Friday morning.

They are interested in seeing how a small organic farm with alpacas is working toward being sustainable. Candace Minster will give them a tour of the gardens, beehives, our new hoop house greenhouse, the orchards, the fiber program and the alpacas.

We look forward to their visit and are glad they chose to travel here during one of their break-out sessions of such a fabulous convention.

Staff member called to military duty

U.S. Army Warrant Officer Tracy Wilson, our alpaca farm manager, was recently called up to active duty in the Indiana Army National Guard. She has already reported to duty in Terre Haute, Ind. Our hope is that Tracy will continue to stay in the United States for this tour of duty.

Tracy returned home in December 2008 from a tour in Iraq. She was also deployed to provide support for Operation Enduring Freedom in January 2004 where she remained stateside for one year in Jacksonville, Fla. Tracy began her military career in December 1989 when she enlisted for six years in the U.S. Navy as an electronics technician. She joined the Indiana Army National Guard in 1998 as a light wheel diesel mechanic in A Company, 38th MSB, Terre Haute.

Please keep Tracy and her family in your prayers.

To schedule an alpaca farm tour or for more information about our alpacas, please contact Sister Paul Bernadette Bounk at 812-535-2934 or Sister Maureen Freeman at 812-535-2930.

Celebrate Fiber!

Sycamore Farm Bed and Breakfast Inn in Terre Haute is hosting "Celebrate Fiber!" a one-day fiber event this Saturday, Oct. 10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

We will have a booth and will be selling our alpaca yarn, roving and handmade alpaca hats and scarves. We'll also have socks, gloves and felted art wall hangings by Sister Ruth Johnson for sale.

We have many Sisters of Providence, staff and volunteers who knit and crochet hats and scarves that are sold to help offset the costs of the hands-on environmental education programs at White Violet Center. We look forward to catching up with friends and meeting new ones at this event, so we hope to see you there.

Sycamore Farm is on the East side of Terre Haute, 2.5 miles north of I-70, exit 11, and one mile south of U.S. Hwy 40. The address is 5001 East Poplar Drive, Terre Haute, IN 47803.
There will be workshops, vendors and artisans. You'll find rug hooking, spinning, weaving, knitting, jewelry, stitching and antiques. The event is sponsored by Riverwools and A CommonCloth.

Last market of the season

Today will be our last regular farmers' market of the 2009 growing season. If you're in the area, please be sure you come by the north entrance of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods 3-6 p.m. to get some organic goodies!

Here is what we'll be selling today:
-Potatoes (red and russet)
-Pumpkins of all kinds
-Apples
-Greens, salad and cooking
-Herbs
-Flowers
-Peppers
-Radishes
-Honey from Tucker Farms
-Swiss Connection cheese and ice cream
-Royer Family Farm meats

On Wednesday, Oct. 21 will be our special "All Harvest's Eve" market at the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice greenhouse. Times TBA.

Thanks so much for your support this year!

First place alpaca

Providence Joseph of Carondelet received a first place ribbon in his class of 2-year-old gray males at the 2nd annual Heartland Classic alpaca show on Sunday, Oct. 4, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. He was the youngest in his class, having just turned 2 on Sept. 30. There were 10 in his class, so we're so excited to have done so well at this show.

Other winners from White Violet Farm Alpacas are: Providence La Luna with a 4th place, Providence Theodora with a 5th place and Providence Amber with a 6th place.

We also shared our alpaca fiber skills at this two-day show. Sister Jean Fuqua and Sister Maureen Freeman taught a fiber class on the first day that was well received.