Focus on eco-justice

The Sisters of Providence at St.-Mary-of-the-Woods College want their White Violet Center for Eco-Justice to change people’s attitudes about human consumption and its impact on the environment.

Michele Conyer, sustainable agriculure and policy specialist.

The center, which hosts one of several area Earth Day celebrations this week, is located on the small college’s campus near Terre Haute. White Violet’s mission, furthered by its organic gardens and educational programs, is to demonstrate how human life is interconnected and interdependent with all other systems of life. “Eco-justice is a primary justice,” said Sister Ann Sullivan, White Violet Center’s director.

Unlimited consumption, dependency on fossil fuels and a mentality that “there will always be more” are not in tune with the laws of nature, at least not for a sustainable future. Fossil fuels, for instance, are a failing system, not only due to pollution, but because, eventually, they will run out.

“What’s here is all that’s coming,” Sullivan said. “We’re not going to have a new supply of coal. We’re not going to have a new supply of natural gas. We’re not going to have a new supply of ingredients for aluminum.”

The center focuses on teaching methods of sustainable living, a way of life in which humans give back as much as they take. The most basic level of sustainability is realizing that humans are part of the Earth, not masters, and with a little work, people can learn to live in harmony with Mother Nature.

“Food is huge,” Sullivan said. Paying attention to where it comes from and how it is grown are crucial. White Violet Center has 400 acres of state-certified organic land, including vegetable gardens, fields and orchards. They use no herbicides or pesticides, and only natural fertilizers.

The herbicides and pesticides used by mainstream agriculture operations kill the microscopic life in the soil, said Michele Conyer, sustainable agriculture and policy specialist at White Violet Center. This destroys the soil’s natural ability to generate energy. Fertilizer, a petroleum product, is applied to “restore” the lost energy. The trade-off comes in bad food and environmental degradation.

To rid the greenhouse, gardens and fields of White Violet Center of toxic chemicals, Conyer uses natural predator-prey relationships to establish a balanced environment in which produce can thrive.

“We invite all kinds of critters into the garden,” she said. “The more critters I have in the garden the better the garden is going to be, and that includes coyotes, deer and rabbits.”

Weeds are also welcome, Conyer said. If kept under control early in the season, they later provide shade from harsh sunlight, introduce nitrogen into the soil and help the soil retain water. “Instead of declaring war against the weeds,” Conyer said, “I’m learning how they can actually benefit the garden.”

The center, which also features a straw bale house, herd of alpacas, beehives, large composting site, berry patch, water garden, bluebird trail, classified forest and orchards, offers field studies to interested individuals. The cost is $300 for a week. There are also volunteer opportunities and internships for college students. The center sponsors a crop share, a program where local residents can pay a fee to receive dividends of locally grown, organic produce.

Group education programs are available throughout the year. Senior citizens and children alike can come to the center and learn about a number of topics, including butterflies, frogs and wetlands. Programs can be created to fit the individual needs and desires of groups. All of the programs work to foster a better understanding of humanity’s interconnection with nature.

“What I try to do is to make it as hands-on as I can,” said Jennifer Rider, environmental education specialist at White Violet Center. Participants use their entire range of senses to understand nature. Rider always relates the subject matter back to the participants, making a full circle, so that the connection between humans and nature can be made.

Regularly scheduled monthly workshops are also available, including vegetarian cooking and felting, a method used to turn Alpaca hair into cloth and yarn. For new Alpaca owners who want to learn how to take care of the animals, the center has a class called Alpacas 101. On Earth Day, celebrated this year April 17, the center hosts a festival celebration open to the public. Last year, over 1,500 people attended the event.

Anyone is welcome to stop by the center located 7 miles northwest of Terre Haute and about an hour from Indianapolis. The staff recommends calling ahead. White Violet Center can be reached at (812) 535-3131, ext. 543. Or visit www.sistersofprovidence.org/ministries/wvc for more information.