Green Festival Chicago or bust!

White Violet Center for Eco-Justice is excited about exhibiting at the 4th Annual Green Festival in Chicago at Navy Pier May 22-23. We’re looking forward to making new friends and spreading the word about our opportunities.

If you aren’t familiar with this Green America and Global Exchange event it really is worth looking into. (Chicago isn’t the only location. It also takes place at San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Seattle.)

This year in Chicago there will be 350 local and national green businesses and more than 150 renowned speakers. There are how-to workshops, a Fair Trade pavilion, a Green Home pavilion, an Organic Food and Gardening pavilion, a Community Action and Green Careers pavilion, a Sweet Spot Café, a Green Kid's activities and organic beer, wine and cuisine.

Read more about it at www.greenfestivals.org/chicago/

We’ve been asked to share a link to a free pass to the event ($10 savings!), so get that here.

Hope to see you there!

May 15 invasive plants workshop

If you’re interested in Indiana invasive species identification and their impacts; management strategies; and control options for private owners then don’t miss “Invasive Plants and Our Forests: What’s the Big Deal?” 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, May 15 at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind.

Purdue foresters Don Carlson and Ron Rathfon team up with Vigo County Parks Superintendent Keith Ruble and Purdue’s Habitat Specialist Matt Kraushar to provide important information on exotic invasive plants in Indiana. There will be an opportunity for hands-on experience after lunch.

The cost is $15 per person by May 7 and $20 per person after May 7.

To register, send name, address, e-mail and phone number(s) with check made out to Sycamore Trails RC&D to Sycamore Trails RC&D, 1007 Mill Pond Lane, Suite B, Greencastle, IN 46135-1887.

Workshop cooperators are Sycamore Trails RC&D, White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources Dept., The Nature Conservancy, Vigo County Soil & Water District, and Purdue Extension.

Thank you!

White Violet Center for Eco-Justice staff members would like to thank everyone who had anything to do with the 12th Annual Earth Day Celebration at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods last Saturday. No contribution is too small. It takes many hands to make a major event like this come together and it came together beautifully.

About 2,000 people attended this year’s event that focused on “Going local.” We appreciate everyone who attended.

We hope you won’t wait another 12 months to visit us again. Keep an eye our monthly events and activities. We hope to see you again soon!

See photos from the day here.

Welcoming the community

It’s such an honor to be a part of an organization that works so hard for what they believe in.

Our annual Earth Day celebration is tomorrow. It’s hard to believe it’s finally here.

This time of year is when some of what White Violet Center for Eco-Justice believes in is so obvious — supporting community businesses and organizations, education and living as sustainably as possible.

The list of event activities, exhibitors, vendors and volunteers is very impressive. The details are endless. The creativity and planning that goes into this special day is amazing. We thank God the weather is expected to be 64 degrees and sunny. Everyone works just as hard for an event that has bad weather as one that has good … so when it’s good weather it’s extra wonderful!

Thousands of visitors have attended in past years and we hope this is no exception. We look forward to seeing the individuals and families roaming this beautiful home of the Sisters of Providence, while making new friends, learning and having fun.

Happy Earth Day to all!

Quiet Directed Retreat May 6-10

This personally directed retreat provides the opportunity for time away from the usual activity of life to be quiet, to pray, to reflect and to experience the beauty of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

We have walking trails, gardens to enjoy or work in, and alpacas and bees.

The cost of $400 includes room, meals and daily spiritual direction. Check-in is 3-5 p.m. on May 6 and the retreat concludes with lunch at noon on May 10.

The registration deadline is April 22, so please register today. Contact Sister Maureen Freeman, CSJ, at 812-535-2930 or mfreeman@spsmw.org to register or for more information.

Earth Day celebration Saturday

This Saturday is the 12th Annual Earth Day Celebration at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods!
11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Live entertainment, fun activities for children, alpaca meet and greets, alpaca shearing demo, spinning and weaving demos, straw bale house and garden tours, food from local restaurants, plant sales, a bake sale, and more.

The theme this year is "Going local." A full list of educational booths and vendors and the event schedule are at www.WhiteViolet.org.

The event is free, but there is an opportunity to give a free-will donation at the gates.

We hope you bring your friends and family and have a wonderful time enjoying Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in all its spring glory this Saturday for this family-friendly event.