White Violet Center for Eco-Justice facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | WVC |
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| Formation | 1996 |
| Type | Ministry of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana |
| Legal status | Not for profit |
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Director
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Lorrie Heber |
| Website | WhiteViolet.org |
The White Violet Center for Eco-Justice is a special place that teaches people about protecting our planet. It focuses on things like growing food naturally, connecting with nature, and helping communities. It was started in 1996 by Sister Ann Sullivan. The center is part of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, a group of religious women in Indiana. They created the center because they believe in living in a way that cares for the Earth and its resources.
At the center, you can find a group of alpacas. There are also 343 acres (1.39 km2) of land where they grow organic crops. They also have bees, a berry patch, and a farmers' market. The center has a special forest and orchards too. The White Violet Center offers fun field trips, workshops, and film series. These events help both kids and adults learn about eco-justice. Many interesting speakers have visited, including cosmologist Brian Swimme and author Judy Cannato.
The Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology sees the White Violet Center as an important project. It is also mentioned in the 2007 book Green Sisters: A Spiritual Ecology by Sarah McFarland Taylor.
What the Center Believes In
The White Violet Center has a clear goal. Their mission statement says they want to help people understand that everything on Earth is connected. They believe in hope and healing through their spiritual values. The center aims to lead and teach others how to protect, restore, and use all natural resources with respect.
The Sisters of Providence show this mission in many ways. They use a special biomass boiler to heat their buildings. This boiler uses natural materials for energy. They also make biodiesel fuel. The sisters have a big recycling program. They use smart irrigation systems to water their organic gardens and orchards. All these actions help them live in a way that supports the Earth.
Meet the Alpacas
The Alpaca Herd
The alpacas at the White Violet Center are known as White Violet Farm Alpacas. The center received its first six alpacas as a gift in 1998. The alpacas from White Violet have won many awards in shows. These awards come from groups like the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA).
Each alpaca is named after important people from the history of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. For example, there's Providence Theodore Guerin, named after the group's founder Saint Mother Theodore Guerin. Another alpaca is Providence Raphael, named after a past leader, Mary Raphael Slattery. Providence Pere Michel is named after an early gardener for the sisters. These names help remember their history.
Alpaca Fiber
All the soft fiber from the alpacas is used. Staff and volunteers at the center spin, knit, and weave this fiber into handmade products. The center also offers workshops. These classes teach people how to work with alpaca fiber.
