The perfect day for a reunion

A look back at the 30-year reunion for White Violet Center for Eco-Justice

In a year of wild and unpredictable weather, September 26th was about as perfect as you could get for any type of outdoor activity.

For staff at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice (WVC), a ministry of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, it was a tremendous gift as most of us spent all day outside in one way or another.

Some were doing morning animal chores, some were selling our wonderful produce, flowers, and fiber at the Terre Haute Farmer’s Market, and others were at the Vigo County Public Library’s Family Learning Day with our alpaca ambassadors of sustainability.

By afternoon, we were preparing for our 30th anniversary celebration that was to be held at the lodge and adjacent green space that evening. The staff enjoyed a barbecue with some of the Sisters, current and former interns and volunteers, as well as a few community partners.

It was a way to say thank you and celebrate with some of those who have contributed to the success of this small but mighty educational ministry over the years.

Sister (and former intern) Tracy Horan began with a blessing followed by words from Sister Ann Sullivan, who spoke about the ideas and inspirations for White Violet Center.

Music filled the air as guests dined and talked, while Christina Blust, a former staff member, and current consultant and friend of WVC kicked off the festivities with music, along with Judah Minster, son of Candace Minster.

Candace has seen many changes and helped White Violet season after season for over 20 years. Our local Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College campus minister, Tim Tesmer, was also on hand to lend his wonderful voice and guitar playing to the joyous spirit of the evening.

Special thanks was given to Mary Riley, executive Director of Ministry of the Woods and Chef Ann Testa, for providing a delicious meal prepared with food from the farm for us to all enjoy together.

The evening was all about reconnection and reminiscing. Smiles, laughs, and a few tears were shed throughout the evening as all in attendance recounted their stories and memories from their time at WVC.

Throughout the evening, our WVC artist-in-residence Sister Ruth Johnson, who has been with White Violet Center from the start and still spends most mornings creating art with her best cat friend Sage, was on hand, doing what she does best; Creating and handing out wonderfully drawn masterpieces of flowers while dishing out the puns we all love.

When we sent out the invitations we gave the guests an opportunity to share their fondest memories and ways WVC might have impacted their lives.

I’m sharing some of those with you below, as they sum up the multitude of ways that White Violet Center has nourished learning and taking care of this land.

What is your favorite WVC memory or What does WVC mean to you?

• I loved the Hootenanny and other events that we had with live music, etc.            
• A continued bright future for the Sisters of Providence, and Terre Haute’s sustainability efforts.
• Having a baby alpaca named after me (was a favorite memory after 10 years of volunteering).
• Helping to socialize the baby chicks & seeing the birth of a new compost pile! It’s a way to give back to my college community & experience unique things.

• Hanging out on the porch with Bagheera (barn cat) most mornings and evenings and hanging out with the other interns. The WVC has taught me so much about the environment, farming, and animal care and I am very grateful for that.
• Volunteering in the gardens was so quiet and peaceful. I loved it!              
• It’s less individual memories and more just moments in time — being in the garden on a foggy morning, skirting/weaving/knitting with the others in the winter, celebrations with the sisters, contemplating life while shoveling alpaca poop, learning how to be present to the world in a different way. WVC gave me so much to carry with me after my time there. I think everybody should have to spend a year on a farm! It gave me experiential knowledge of doing the kind of work that requires you to get up every day and do what needs doing, no matter the weather, no matter your headspace, no matter what else is going on in the world. I am grateful for these lessons. 
• Anything other than when the milks exploded in the Farm Store fridge when I was very pregnant. 😝 But especially my morning chats with Sister Ruth and collecting eggs with Mary Riley. WVC holds the most special place in my heart. The diversity of life that comes through those purple doors, people at every stage in life can walk away from that place being a better person. The knowledge and compassion that not only the Sisters of Providence but also the staff, interns and volunteers bring is truly unmatched. I cannot wait to be reunited. 
• So many memories but faves include Midnight (barn cat) greeting me every time I went into the haybarn, conversations with Sisters at Lunch, going to the Farmer’s Market, birth of crias, celebrating the October birthdays with 5 cakes, and baling hay.
• It means I get to go to a place where I get to work with amazing people that are passionate about caring for all creation and that work hard makes this community and world a better place. I also spend my days with some of the people I am closest to and animals which makes my heart happy.

• I remember hours of sitting and kneeling on the ground in the gardens. We would be planting or weeding — later on harvesting. Sometimes, we would all be chatting, but, other times, it was just working in companionship and silence. The birds singing, a rabbit who slowly comes over to check me out, the heat of the Sun, alpacas humming, sounds of earth being moved- just me and a physical connection to the ground under me- I felt a certain knowing which I had never had before, that I was part of this Creation. It was just pure food for my soul. The whole experience was foundational in my life. It was so grounding and genuine. To start with seeds in the greenhouse, and watch them sprout. Then to see those same little seedlings yielding such beautiful produce — and to know I had a small part in that — it was absolutely amazing to me. The alpacas were fascinating and amusing to work with — to teach with clicker training, to feed and clean after, to connect with. I only had to be kicked once to learn my place! And the other people — it was a treasure to be with Sister Ann Sullivan and Sister Jean Fuqua, Tracy, Elizabeth, Tim,  Lara, Carrie, Keith — I know I’m forgetting names, but my heart connection for all of them is never forgotten. And thank you to Sister Mary Montgomery, for making this time of my life possible. Much, much love!

• Mud fight post cleaning the tomato beds after fall harvest! Golly!! So many good memories! It was a community of whacky and loving people who supported and welcomed everyone. We learned alongside the other, worked hard and laughed hard. It was a safe and peaceful time of growth during an otherwise crazy time in our world (COVID-19).
• So many … but getting to spend time with the wonderful people is always a joy. I particularly love the end of the season when the team collectively can relax a bit. I am still not over tomato-gate (too soon Tara?) and also the mystery eggs! Lifelong friendships. Lots of laughter. Doing my small part to help heal the world.
• “Parkour Chicken Catch,” my first experience treating the flock for mites with Spinosad (was a favorite memory). It is a practice of eco-justice/logical food production that exists to show up for the community, through our collaboration with Providence Pantry and Catholic Ministries, and to teach how to farm with organic certification. WVC is an example of sustainability.             
• There are far too many memories to count, and most of them too obscure to write down. My body remembers so much more than my mind does: soil blocks in my fingers, dirty boots tracking to the cafeteria (sorry!), roosters and alpacas sounding the alarms for folks walking their dogs.
• sweet potato harvests in a downpour, the stench of leaves stewing at the very bottom of the pile, the breeze through open windows at Marian hall on a quiet weekend, rotten tomato fights turning over to snowball fights, the mental ups and downs so integrated with the seasonal ones, and most of all the truest, most connective conversations I had ever had. Everyone who knows present-day Kourie has heard me say “White Violet Center (the alpaca farm. Yeah that one, you remember), is where I grew up.” I know I look back on my time there with some rose-colored glasses, but I truly consider it my home away from home. The love and support that thrives in the space really lends to the important personal growth spurts I had there. I shake my head imagining what kind of nonsense was coming from my brand-new-adult mouth at the time, but I was never shamed for the ways in which I needed to grow and learn – simply given the tools, support and time. I hope I can always return to this home and I am so grateful to be invited back in time and time again 💜
• So many!!! But probably Ruth interpreting the spiritual meaning of my alpaca painting and sparring with David. WVC is a place where creatures of all shapes and sizes, community and spiritual rootedness grow, in the spirit and legacy of Providence.
• “Learning the fiber arts from shearing and skirting to knitting and weaving.
• Going out to stoke the big wood burner that kept the alpacas warm in winter.”   It’s my treasured connection to faith and care for the earth.
• Bella’s birth! It was so sweet watching the reactions from the other female alpacas (lots of humming/encouraging nuzzles). “Stewardship for the community and Earth!
• Hanging out with the other interns! WVC is a wonderful place to work and live. My time at WVC has taught me so much and provided me with unique and valuable experience related to farming and building community.