Alpaca farm open house Sept. 30

White Violet Farm Alpacas, at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, will join alpaca breeders across the United States and Canada in observance of the annual National Alpaca Farm Days 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 30.

See the Sisters of Providence alpacas up close (there are 53) and meet those who care for them.

Visit with the alpacas at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind., on
1-4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 30, in celebration of National
Alpaca Farm Days.

Shop for alpaca yarn, socks and gloves, and handmade scarves and hats. (It's not too early to shop for Christmas gifts!)

Enjoy felting, spinning and weaving demonstrations by Sisters of Providence and friends.

Attend open houses at Aris Farm Alpacas, Clinton (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday), Lookout Farm Alpacas, Terre Haute (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday), and White Violet Farm Alpacas and have your name entered in a drawing for an alpaca gift basket.

WVFA's open house will take place outside between Owens Hall and the alpaca pasture/barn.

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

For information about alpacas for sale, contact Tracy Wilson at 812-535-2934 or twilson@spsmw.org.  

Hope to see you on Sept. 30!

Sisters of Earth meet at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods

The Sisters of Earth Conference is currently taking place at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana where more than 100 women have gathered for “Sharing the Wisdom, Shaping the Dream: Deep Transition.”
Today’s focus is on connecting food, culture, and Earth’s survival, said Sister of Providence Mary Moloney, who is attending the conference that ends Sunday.

Friday's schedule includes prayer, song, a tour of White Violet Center and sessions with presenter Dr. Nettie Wiebe, organic farmer and agrarian feminist from the Canadian Prairie who speaks on themes of food sovereignty, ethics and ecology.

The following are some photos from today.


The morning of the Sisters of Earth Conference begins with meditation, song and introductions.

Jan Novotka sings and plays guitar as the day begins.



More than 100 women gather in Le Fer Ballroom at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana for the 2012 Sisters of Earth Conference.

The Cosmic Walk is part of the 2012 Sisters of Earth Conference at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Tours of White Violet Center for Eco-Justice are offered during the 2012 Sisters of Earth Conference. This group walks through the organically grown gardens.

This group gets a closer look at the alpacas of White Violet Farm Alpacas at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods during the Sisters of Earth Conference taking place this weekend. 

Vigo County 4-H alpaca show

It’s fair week in Vigo County, Indiana and that's a big deal to hundreds of 4-H'ers who have been working hard on their projects all summer (or longer).

White Violet Farm Alpacas is proudly sponsoring the Vigo County 4-H alpaca club this year.

The alpaca show was this morning and we’re glad to report it was a big success.

Read the article that ran in the Tribune Star on Friday about the alpaca program.

Here are some photos from today.

The obstacle course is fun for the 4-H'ers and audience. It was the last portion of the Vigo County Fair alpaca show this morning.

The 4-H'ers lead White Violet Farm Alpacas through the obstacle course this morning to complete the 2012 Vigo County Fair alpaca show.

Anna and Lady Isle jump together during the Vigo County Fair 4-H alpaca show this morning in Terre Haute. White Violet Farm Alpacas is the proud club sponsor.

Harlie takes a moment to get a close look at her 4-H alpaca show ribbons right after the Vigo County 4-H alpaca show this morning.

Anna received grand champion showmanship is her age division. She is pictured with White Violet Farm Alpaca's Lady Isle. Congrats Anna!

Jia earned grand champion in showmanship for her age division. She is pictured with White Violet Farm Alpaca's Mariah. Way to go, Jia!

Mariah and Hilde visit with these youngsters at the petting zoo at the Vigo County Fairgrounds this morning after the alpaca show.

Summer day camp at White Violet Center June 25-29

It's summer day camp time and White Violet Center for Eco-Justice has one for 3rd-, 4th- and 5th-graders June 25-29 at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind. Accepted are children entering the 3rd grade in the fall up to those who have completed 5th grade and entering 6th grade this fall.

White Violet Center for Eco-Justice at
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind., is
offering Organic Garden/Alpaca Farm
Summer Day Camp to 3rd- through 5th-
graders June 25-29, 2012.

Activities for the Organic Garden/Alpaca Farm Summer Day Camp include:
• Planting a garden;
• Visiting the alpacas;
• Creating a worm farm (see photo);
• Exploring the world of bees;
• Exploring the trails; and
• Games galore.

Times are 8 a.m. to noon. (Drop-off between 7:45-7:55 a.m. and pickup by 12:15 p.m.)

Drinks and snacks will be provided. However, lunch will not be provided. There is a maximum of 20 children for this camp.

The cost is $85 ($75 for White Violet Center CSA shareholders and Sisters of Providence and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College staff.)

The registration deadline is June 20, but don't wait until the last minute to reserve your space!

Make checks payable to White Violet Center for Eco-Justice. Mail parent's name, child's name, grade, address, and emergency contact number with payment to White Violet Center for Eco-Justice c/o Robyn Morton, l Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876.

See a few photos from 2011 camp week one here.

See a few photos from 2011 camp week two here.

Happy World Environment Day

June 5 is World Environment Day, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972.

The theme this year is Green Economy: Does it include YOU?


World Environment Day is June 5.
It was established by the United
Nations General Assembly in 1972.

What is a green economy? links to a web page that helps spell it out in layman’s terms. It explains that the financial crises that began in 2007 has taught us that it’s not business as usual. Truly, we need a more sustainable system.

Also, for more about World Environment Day, check out the Vatican website.

Comment below if you participated in a World Environment Day activity. What was the event or activity?

Garden intern's last day



Gideon Dollarhide, White Violet Center intern,
plants peas in the garden earlier this spring.

Today, we say "see you later" to a spring intern, Gideon Dollarhide, of Strasburg, Ill.

Gideon has spent more than a month working and learning in the organically grown gardens at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind.

"I love harvesting the vegetables," he said. "That feeds something deep."

During a going away lunch this week with the staff and volunteers of White Violet Center, Gideon shared a few favorite experiences during his short time at the farm.

"I learned how to work with a team and adjust to a different experience. I got to work in a greenhouse and high tunnel."

Now he's off to graduate from Lake Land College at Mattoon, Ill., with a horticulture and landscape production degree.

He's looking forward to an educational experience at the Missouri Botanical Gardens in St. Louis this summer.

He plans to attend Southern Illinois University (SIU) Carbondale to study plant and soil sciences.

Thank you, Gideon, for all your hard work! Best wishes for a sustainable future!


For information about being a White Violet Center for Eco-Justice intern, see the organic gardening and alpaca internships web page, check out our online application, or contact Robyn Morton at 812-535-2932 or rmorton@spsmw.org.

Beginning each day with a seed of hope

By Candace Minster, garden manager/fiber projects coordinator

Candace Minster, standing at left, gives a greenhouse reflection
during the dedication of White Violet Center's new greenhouse.

I've always loved greenhouses, especially in late winter.  As morning’s light begins a little earlier, we have to layer a little bit less, and the occasional warm, sunny day hints at spring soon to come. 

These longer days mark the beginning of the garden season. 

We get out the garden maps and choose what goes where and how much to plant.  Then we begin the process of fumbling with tiny seeds and plug trays, and watering religiously to coax the little plants into existence. 

One of my favorite garden chores is watering in the greenhouse.  Waving the wand over the flats, I like to search the soil for the first seeds to break through the surface. 

Even David and Gideon got in on the game with me, as we all try to be the first to spot the newest sprout.  Searching the seedlings for the one that is just...NOW breaking through fills me with wonder, excitement, and hope. 

At this point in the season, all we have are plans and hopes for the garden that is to come.  We look at the plots of cover crop and see only possibility.  We haven't yet struggled with the weather, pests, weeds, and diseases that try our patience in the hottest days.  We begin each day with a little seed of hope.

Young plants inside the greenhouse this morning.

In this way, the greenhouse becomes a house of hope.  It feels good to walk in from the cold and be greeted by hundreds of eager green leaves reaching upwards.  To be surrounded by such life when there's little growing outdoors is rejuvenating.  Besides, whether they be two-legged, four-legged, or rooted — it’s pretty hard to resist babies.
 
White Violet Center is dedicated to hope and healing for Earth and I see the greenhouse as the heart of our mission. It's only fitting that our greenhouse be a functional, vibrant place, inviting visitors to come in and take a peek. 

For years, we struggled with a beautiful, historic structure that was falling apart.  Each garden season began with a ramshackle attempt to make mini greenhouses within the greenhouse, stretch heating cables, plug in space heaters, and layer numerous layers of plastic.  Even though it was integral to the garden, it was time to let that that aged building go. 

Now, through many generous donations and with the able work of David and Dick’s hands along with other volunteers, we have this little house of hope.

To me, this building not only ensures that we'll have the best start for our garden plants, it also represents the hope that we have for White Violet Center's future — continuing to plant seeds of hope and healing for Earth for many years to come.

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.

Fiber Frolic 2012

It's been a busy couple of months at White Violet Center and White Violet Farm Alpacas! We have enjoyed having so many awesome people attend our workshops.

Here are some photos from our Fiber Frolic 2012 on Jan. 29 — felters made vases, weavers made scarves and spinners made yarn.

 

A few craft ideas

The iconic Hudson Bay Blanket.

By Candace Minster

As the fiber projects coordinator for White Violet Center, I’m always on the lookout for new fiber art ideas, so I follow a number of craft blogs and email lists.

Here are a few of my favorite craft ideas that I’ve seen over the past month or so. Please feel free to share some of your favorite craft ideas too!

I love fabric designer, Laurie Wisbrun’s, whimsical llama print fabric. (FYI, llamas are in the camelid family; cousins to our beloved alpacas.)

While it would be a shame to cut up a good book, I love this idea for repurposing damaged books into planters!

No concerns about fair-trade with these chocolates! Even though Valentine's Day has passed, this adorable box of crocheted chocolates would make a sweet gift any time of year.

As a weaver, I’ve always admired the iconic Hudson Bay Blanket. As a knitter and a mom, I can’t resist this pint-sized version.

New Zealand oil spill

Penguins

The staff at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice would like you to be aware of a major oil spill off the coast of New Zealand.

If you're a knitter looking for practical ways to help, you can knit sweaters for penguins.

Read more about these efforts at the Audobon Magazine online.

Wangari Maathai

Wangari Maathai

Those at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice are saddened by the news of the death of Wangari Maathai, who passed away on Sept. 25 in her home country of Kenya surrounded by her three children.

As founder of the Greenbelt Movement and as an Earth Charter commission member, she worked closely with thousands of people around the planet to create a world based on ecological integrity, social and economic justice, democracy, non-violence, and peace.

Her vision, dedication, and courage were recognized when she received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.

May her love of Earth continue in all of us. We hold her family and her life's work in our hearts.

Earth Charter Initiative tribute to Wangari Maathai.

White Violet Center anniversary celebration

White Violet Center's anniversary harvest dinner is Oct. 8.

It was September of 1995 when Sister Ann Sullivan was named the first director of the Sisters of Providence effort to establish Saint Mary-of-the-Woods as an eco-justice center. It was a pivotal moment for the Sisters of Providence. White Violet Center for Eco-Justice was dedicated and blessed on June 16, 1996.

This fall we are planning to celebrate the past 15 years of environmental justice work expressed through Providence Spirituality with a first-ever for us event.

Our 15th Anniversary Harvest Dinner will be Saturday, Oct. 8.

The hors d'oevres, local wine from Oliver Winery, in Bloomington, and beer from Bee Creek Brewery, in Brazil will be served and a silent auction will begin at 5 p.m. in the orchard at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. This will be a time to mingle with the alpacas, bid on fabulous items and visit with friends, staff, and sisters.

We’ll continue the fun with a delicious meal of locally-grown foods prepared by local chef Kris Kraut served in Reilly Auditorium, Owens Hall, at 6:30 p.m.

Attire is casual-nice. Tickets for this dinner fundraiser are $80 for individuals or $500 for a table of seven. Tickets may be purchased by sending donations to: White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, 1 Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876.

We hope you’ll join us for this special celebration. If you are unable to attend, but would like to give a donation in support of the future of White Violet Center, please use the same address above.

The Universe Story

New Cosmic Walk at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind.

A group of White Violet Center for Eco-Justice (WVC) staff members, volunteers, interns, and guests, and Sisters of Providence gathered for the inaugural Cosmic Walk at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind. this afternoon.


The Cosmic Walk is, “A ritual, a prayer, a time of remembering and being in awe of how the Universe began and how it got to where it is today,” explained Sister Maureen Freeman, director of WVC. “You can go in and out in six minutes or it could take three hours. It depends on the individual.”
Sister Maureen said the project has been in the works for several years. When Sister Kara McKenney was searching for an internship project this summer Sister Maureen recommended completing the Cosmic Walk. Sister Kara and another WVC intern, Matthew Bush, took on the finishing step of creating and putting up the signage and mowing the area.

Ribbon cutting:  S. Kara and Matthew.

Sister Kara and Matthew built the oak frames with the help of Tony Dubois, Sisters of Providence carpenter.

Matthew and Sister Kara cut the yellow ribbon that opened the walk today.

“I’m very happy to see people using it and to know that people will enjoy it for many years,” Sister Kara said.

Sister Maureen looks forward to the same.

Cosmic Walk.

“There are a lot of butterflies here right now, so you really feel that you are united with the Universe when you walk it today,” Sister Maureen said. “Divine grace surrounds us.”

The public is invited to visit the Cosmic Walk. For more information, call  812-535-2932 or email rmorton@spsmw.org.

"It's so hot that ... "

White Violet Farm Alpacas enjoying the water sprinklers.

The temperature at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind., is expected to reach 98 degrees today, with a heat index of 115 degrees.

It’s been like this all week and is to continue throughout the weekend.

With that in mind, the staff and interns who work outside every day have come up with ways to complete the following statement:

“It’s so hot that … “

—today is clean-out-the-pond day.
—it’s a three t-shirt day.
—we’re making the alpacas share their water sprinklers with us.
—the garden irrigation is working overtime.
—we pray for a hot breeze to cool us down.
—we’re watering the alpacas three or four times a day.
—even the fans in the barn are getting tired and “crying.”
—we start work earlier to try to avoid the hottest part of the day.
—we watch the sweat line on David’s hat get higher as the temperature rises.
—we fill the bird bath three times a day and the birds are enjoying the fountain.
—the okra plants look beautiful.
—Matthew is wearing a bandana.
—the fly catchers are catching them by the hundreds.
—we take breaks under the shade tree.
—we want to go home.
—Jim isn’t wearing a hat.
—the alpacas are making “lakes” in the barn because they don’t want to go out in the pastures.
—we know it’s summertime in Indiana!

How would you complete the statement?

Medical herbalism

Recently, White Violet Center hosted Matthew Wood as the presenter of a medical herbalism course at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Spearmint — excellent for digestion and intestinal complaints.

Matthew has a master's degree from the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine. He has lectured in all parts of the United States and taught in Canada, Scotland, England and Australia. He is also the author of four acclaimed books on herbal medicine. 

Robyn Morton, associate director of White Violet Center, captured the herb walk portion of the course in pictures. She also added useful information in the captions. See the virtual tour of the herbs at White Violet Center in this photo gallery.

The Seasons of the Year

We were all taught the seasons of the year when we were kids—winter, spring, summer, and fall. And we were taught these seasons regardless of where we lived, or if we really experienced those seasons. Whether you lived in Missouri, Alaska, Nevada, or Florida, everyone cut out tulips in May (even if there is still snow on the ground), and drew pictures of snowmen in December (even if your orange tree is still producing).

Most of the time, we don't think much about this, except as a joke. When I lived in northeastern Ohio, we joked that we had four yearly seasons—"not yet winter, winter, still winter, and road repair." Personally, I found that this captured the movement of the year far more accurately, while also reminding you that it didn't matter what time of year it was, you were still going to have problems on the roads.

Gardeners in particular operate on a very different set of seasons. We understand that non-gardeners don't really get this—it's more like a secret gardener-language. We invoke completely different seasons that the Standard Four, like "last frost date," "as soon as ground can be worked," "midsummer," and "mulching". In the Midwest, at least, we have as many different gardening seasons as the Inuit have words for snow.

I've been working on cataloging (as best I can) the various seasons we experience here at WVC, and I thought I'd share my observations with you. I think, when I started this list, I really meant for it to be helpful; I'm no longer sure that's the case, but I do hope it's still entertaining. Enjoy!

The Seasons (starting in calendar month January)

• "Seed catalog" season: technically this season opens in mid-December, for the particularly astute seed purveyors who realize that gardeners are now seriously garden-deprived and increasingly irrational, making the Christmas gift-giving season a potential goldmine for them
• "What do you mean you haven't gotten your first shipment of potting mix in yet?" season: roughly late-January to mid-February in our area. Later in the year we realize that, in general, this is really saving us from ourselves since it is still way to early to start those tomatoes
• "No, really, it's still frozen" season: what the gardener's spouse/significant other says to us when they see us out there, jumping up and down on the spading fork in some desperate attempt to turn the soil. Or, February.
• "Favorite nursery reopens for the season!" season: better than Christmas. The smarter of the gardeners open savings accounts in October to offset the damage done this weekend. Mid-March.
• "*Gasp* It's so beautiful!" season: when you finally do manage to turn that first spading fork of soil. 5-seconds in late March.
• "*Sigh* It's so wet" season: immediately follows "It's beautiful!"
• "Planting" season: runs roughly from late-March until June, and depends on a couple of variables, like rain, dryness, late frosts, rain, swampiness, work interference, rain, slow seedlings, rain, and rain.
• "Weeding" season: from mid-June until the day you die.
• "Canning & preserving" season: runs concurrently with "weeding"
• Midsummer, or "Fall seedling starts"
• "You threw away those old windows?! Those were for the coldframes I was finally going to build!" season: self-explanatory
• "No, I don't rake leaves, they're mulch for the garden" season: October
• "Next year I'll do everything right" season: November.
• "Early seed catalog" season: December.

And then we begin the cycle again....

True Cost of Food

Listed below are 10 significant messages Sister Maureen Freeman, director of White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, shared in her presentation, “The True Cost of Food,” at this year’s Human Rights Day at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Sister Maureen Freeman talks about The True Cost of Food.

1. We make a choice to help or harm the environment with every meal.

2. Be more active about what we buy. Find out where your food comes from. Read labels. (Is your fruit cup from the Philippines?)

3. Know your local farmers/farms. (Resource: www.localharvest.org)

4. Eat according to the season. (It’s strawberry season in Indiana. Woot!)

5. Learn to cook.

6. Buying local food saves 17 times the fuel costs as opposed to buying food in the supermarkets that have traveled an average of 2,000 miles from farm to table.

7. If you keep buying the food in the supermarkets (that have traveled 2,000 miles) they will keep supplying it. We vote three times a day.

Showing The True Cost of Food video on Human Rights Day.

8. We shouldn’t be against high fructose corn syrup, but we should be against the quantity of it currently in our food. It’s in “everything” today.

9. What it really costs to grow, ship and sell food is staggering. Buying locally keeps more of that money in your community.

10. 80-90 percent of our food depends on our pollinators, the bees. They are at risk because of Colony collapse disorder.

To watch “The True Cost of Food” video (15 minutes), presented by The Sierra Club Sustainable Consumption Committee, go to http://www.sierraclub.org/truecostoffood/.