14th Annual Earth Day Celebration at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind., April 21

The 14th Annual Earth Day Celebration
at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind., will
be fun and educational for the entire
family. Times are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (EDT)

Need a remedy for spring fever? Well, White Violet Center for Eco-Justice staff members have an awesome event planned and it will be here before we know it.

The 14th Annual Earth Day Celebration at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind., is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 21.

The 2011 celebration was cold and wet, so we're expecting good weather this year. Well, that's our prayer anyway.

Under those expected blue skies will be live celtic music by the Women of Erin; live animal conservation education with Silly Safaris; magnificent raptors — hawks, owls, falcons — up close in the Take Flight! Wildlife Education program with Mark Booth; a butterfly program by Dobbs Park Nature Center Naturalist Carissa Lovett; and alpaca shearing demonstrations.


See alpaca shearing demonstrations
at the 14th Annual Earth Day Cele-
bration at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods,
Ind., on Saturday, April 21, 2012.

Enjoy food from local restaurants and other groups; educational and informational booths; children's activities; spinning and weaving demonstrations; and shopping for handmade and eco-friendly wares made by local artists and other small businesses owners.

The theme this year will follow the United Nation's Declaration of 2012 as "The Year of Renewable Energy for All." Gain knowledge about the most cost effective solutions to energy needs from One Planet Solar and Wind, of Terre Haute.

Kids will enjoy fun and educational
activities at the 14th Annual Earth
Day Celebration at Saint Mary-of-the-
Woods, Ind., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
on Saturday, April 21, 2012.

See the Earth Day celebration schedule. Other details will be added to our website as they are finalized.

Admission is free. There will be free-will offering opportunities at the gates to help with the cost of the event.

Use this address for GPS: 3850 U.S. 150, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876.

If you've been to any of our past Earth Day celebrations please leave a comment below and let us know what you enjoy most about this springtime gathering. Hope to see you on April 21!

Caring for Earth: Climate Change as Moral Choice

Our actions reflect our values. Climate change is a complex issue that can be used to explore our values about the environment.

White Violet Center for Eco-Justice will offer Caring for Earth: Climate Change as Moral Choice from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 24, at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind.

The book, "Moral Ground,"
will be used as framework
to examine varied moral
stances in Caring for Earth:
Climate Change as Moral
Choice on March 24.

After introducing climate change as an issue, the framework of the recent book, "Moral Ground," will be used to examine the varied moral stances that underlie and support choices we make about our planetary home.

Presenter Sister Mary Lou Dolan is a member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet. She is the director of the Master's in Earth Literacy at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. She has taught biology at the College of Saint Rose, in Albany, N.Y. and has been a staff member at Spiritearth, an ecological spirituality center.

The cost is $35, which includes lunch. The book "Moral Ground" will be available for purchase. (Moral Ground, ed. KD Moore and MP Nelson. San Antonio: Trinity University Press, 2010 is available in hard, paper and Kindle editions and is recommended.)

The registration deadline is March 20. For more information or to register, contact Robyn Morton at rmorton@spsmw.org or 812-535-2932.
 
Click here to see other eco-spirituality offerings at White Violet Center.

What do I do with all this alpaca fiber?

We had a wonderful group attend the "Alpaca 102: What Do I Do With All This Fiber?" workshop on Feb. 18. We spent the day sharing the ins and outs of alpaca fiber for the alpaca owner.

The first three photos below show Sister Maureen Freeman, CSJ, director of White Violet Center, instructing the group on sorting fiber. (This happens to be Rosie's blanket of fleece.)

The next photos show Candace Minster, White Violet Center fiber projects coordinator, demonstrating how to wash and dry the alpaca fleece.